New to me model 19-3

[gatekeeper]

Picked up a new to me Model 19-3 Snub nose the other day. While shooting it the other day I realized the weapon is hitting low about 4 inches at 15 yards. The rear sight is adjusted as low as it will go. Does anyone have any thoughts on correcting the issue?

OK, the sight issue was a major Brain Fart on my part I guess the older I get the more of them I have.

 

[fyimo]

Congratulations on the S&W revolver purchase and you will enjoy it. I have no suggestions on the rear sight adjustment other to then bring the front sight up higher in your sight picture.

 

[UltraCarry45]

Raise the rear sight.

 

[armadillo]

What ammunition are you using?

Genreally speaking - lighter bullet/higher velocity in a handgun causes the bullet to strike lower than a heavier/slower bullet.

Most of the advice around this forum is to not shoot full power .357 110 or 125 grain bullets in a K-frame .357 revolver due to possible damage to the forcing cone. It is best to stick to 158 grain for full power .357 ammo.

 

[msr]

Raise the rear sight.

Hit the nail on the head.

 

[murphydog]

Yes, move the rear sight in the direction which you want your shot/group to move. Also, to limit the human factor as much as possible, try shooting off a solid rest single action to see where the gun prints. Usually 3 shots at a time will give you a good idea, then adjust the sights and retry the group.

 

[gatekeeper]

Thanks everyone for your insight.

 

[Brian41]

Congrats on your purchase and they're great guns for shooting and CCW. I have it's cousin, a model 66 and Model 19-3 in nickel and enjoy both.

Is your's blue or nickel? My nickel one is the dullest nickel I've ever seen on a S&W and wonder if that's normal for them. It's marked N on cylinder and frame but cleaning and polishing doesn't bring out the shine. I'm okay with it if they're dull like that but haven't seen another to compare.

 

[jhvaughan2]

What a coincidence, I just picked up a 19-3 snub in nickel on Saturday. Brian, I dot not have much experience with nickel but mine is quite shiny. (Like a spoon lure, it just hooked me.) I do not have pictures yet.

 

[myhardtop]

I would raise the rear sight first which will raise the front of the barrel. Just my two cents. A snubby at 45 feet will lower round placement.

 

[girvin02]

Is your's blue or nickel? My nickel one is the dullest nickel I've ever seen on a S&W and wonder if that's normal for them. It's marked N on cylinder and frame but cleaning and polishing doesn't bring out the shine. I'm okay with it if they're dull like that but haven't seen another to compare.

I have a nickel 19-3 and it is not dull. It is quite the opposite.

 

[Brian41]

What a coincidence, I just picked up a 19-3 snub in nickel on Saturday. Brian, I dot not have much experience with nickel but mine is quite shiny. (Like a spoon lure, it just hooked me.) I do not have pictures yet.

That's interesting and makes me wonder if mine was maybe hard chromed or something as it appears an action job was done as well. I don't know how to tell frankly. It's just a shooter class gun as I bought it right and someone ground off a department number or name from the crane and under the grip it seems.

Sorry gatekeeper as didn't mean to hijack your thread but your post brought my questions about my 19-3.

 

[shawn mccarver]

On the S&W micrometer click adjustable rear sight, you turn the screw in the direction you wish the group to move. You want the group to move up (you said it was shooting low), so you would turn the elevation screw counterclockwise, which will have the effect of raising the rear sight, which in turn will cause you to raise your front sight to get a correct sight picture, which will in turn raise your group.

Note that the directions are the same for the windage screw (i.e. turn the screw in the direction you want the group to move), however, turning the windage screw clockwise (right) will move the sight blade toward you (like it is backing out), which in turn causes you to move your front sight to the right, which in turn moves your group to the right.

 

[gatekeeper]

I got it corrected with every ones advice and my Laser bore sight.