Model 36 not shooting to POA

[saturner1]

I have a model 36 that shoots an inch low and to the right at 7 yrds. Isn't me, my model 60 cuts out the bull. What is a good place to start looking for the problem???

Thanks,

Steve

 

[H Richard]

What ammo are you using? A 36 should be regulated for 158 gr standard velocity.

 

[saturner1]

The same ammo that cut out the bull with a model 60. I have never seen an ammo type make a firearm shoot right of left from 7 yards.

 

[kennyb]

soooo what type of ammo was it?differant types can certainly make a differance in a particular gun

 

[saturner1]

Ammo Used

Remanufactured 38 Special 125 gr. JHP (100 Round Pack)

 

[OKFC05]

I have never seen an ammo type make a firearm shoot right of left from 7 yards.

It happens.
Suggest check barrel is straight, sight is vertical, then try various ammo. Would expect low hit from 125gr.

Of course, if you want all your guns to shoot the same ammo through the same hole, that's what adjustable sights are for. Unlikely to happen with fixed sights.

 

[saturner1]

I too would expect "ammo" to cause a verticle change in POI but not right or left. I will check for bent or rotated barrel. It isn't real apparent at first glance especially on an 1 7/8" barrel.

 

[H Richard]

The 125 will be traveling at a higher velocity, and that will impart a greater spin out of the barrel. That can cause the shift in horizontal as well as vertical POI. The change in POI would be in the direction of the twist, (rt hand twist impact to rt.). Try some 158 gr. standard velocity loads and see where the gun shoots.

 

[stevieboy]

How old is your 36? I have one of the no-dash models made back in '73. I love the gun but the front sight is at times almost impossible for me to see. I'm not sure why Smith put something on the gun with the approximate width of a razor blade but, that's what they did with the early 36s and I've learned to live with it.

When I first got the gun I shot everything consistently high. Several inches above my perceived POA. It took me a while to realize that it wasn't the gun nor was it the ammo that was doing it. The problem lay entirely in the way I lined up the sights. In order to be able to see the front sight I'd fallen into the habit of lifting the upper edge of the sight above the channel made by the fixed rear sight. Of course, that made me shoot high.

It took me a while to cure this habit. When I did, my gun shot perfectly well to POA.

Now, shooting left or right of perceived POA is another story. I've done that from time to time with my 36 and I've discovered that lighting plays a huge role in whether my shots are on target or go off to one side. Lighting from behind that hits my front sight unevenly will make the sight appear to be more to one side than the other. If I attempt to correct for that optical illusion I tend to place my shots in the direction that I've attempted to correct. For example: If there's back light that hits the right side of my front sight, it will appear to be further to the left than it really is. If I attempt to "correct" for that, I'll move my front sight to the right. The consequence is that I'll place all of my shots to the right.

Before I change my ammo, I'd try shooting the gun under different lighting. I'd also try shooting the gun off a rest or have a friend shoot it. The results may surprise you.

 

[Centenniel]

One inch? I honestly wouldn't worry about that small of a difference at 21 feet with that type of handgun.

 

[JSR III]

It may be that you have one of the guns designed for use in the "hood". In that case you have to hold the gun 90 degrees counterclockwise (assuming you are right handed) and then it should shoot correctly.

 

[saturner1]

That's funny. You aren't very far from the truth.

 

[n4zov]

One inch? I honestly wouldn't worry about that small of a difference at 21 feet with that type of handgun.

+1 Attempting to correct that small an error in a fixed sight gun may bring on more problems than it is worth.