Rear Sight Height Measuring Rig

[jaymoore]

After a couple of years shooting IHMSA (again) with older revolvers that have the four position front sights, I feel the urge to try some revolvers without the fancy option. But remembering the trouble I had in the late '90s trying to remember sight setting clicks and changes between yardages, it seemed time to make something that could check settings and measure changes accurately.

Whittled this bit of plastic to slip over the top strap. Snug, but not too much on a couple of revolvers. Need yet to make a clamp for the depth micrometer, it's held right now by friction and kind thoughts as the top groove is only 0.040" deep.

Mk I prototype sight checker:

Hope to try it out at the range directly. Match this weekend.

 

[rct269]

Well, being a big fan of wretched excess, I think it's pretty slick! I'm sure my version would be much more complex, and require at least a small box full of expensive tools to install!

That said, I have a quick question: Given that you had difficulty remembering sight setting clicks and changes between yardages, just perzactly how are you going to go about remembering sight setting heights and changes between yardages----write them down maybe? And if that's the answer, then I have another quick question-----uh------??

Then again, maybe I'm missing something----or not.

Good luck!!----that being the skillful execution of good plans.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[jaymoore]

I used to write down the screw position in a little drawing. But at extended ranges or with different weight bullets, or even sometimes just a different lot of ammo, it wasn't hard to get a full turn off! Especially if I forgot to reset after shooting at 100yards or more. (Ft Benning had steel out to 300m...!!!)

Tried using feeler gages under the rear sight, but it was about useless. Annoyingly so.

 

[jaymoore]

Got some range time in. The tool works fine for "after the fact" measurements, but have some ideas for a Mk. I*.

Powder puff loads had a bit of drop from 25 to fifty yards. Note the hits about the feet and below. Cranked in about 0.020" and got pretty good placement. Cast bullets, standing, fifty yards. Not displeased with the new revolver! However, the load isn't consistent at 100yds, showing variances in drop with powder position.

If I can do that on match day...

 

[H Richard]

Years back (30) when I shot M.S., I used several methods. 1st was to draw a picture of the 4 animals, then draw a line across at the hold point and look at it just before I shot that position. It sort of worked, my eye's were better then. Then I bought a 29-3 with a 4 ***. front sight and took guesswork out of it. Been a long time since I sent any bullets downrange at a Silhouette. These days anything over 25 yards takes a scope!

 

[jaymoore]

No actual results, yet, as it turns out I did too much testing and didn't have enough ammo for the new revolver to shoot a complete course of fire. Did shoot the old revolver, but it's ammo is NOT compatible with the new ones. Bullets way too big. So big I don't even size cases. Results a bit off average, but I let hunting get in the way of practice for several months.

But, yes, the four position front sight would be highly welcomed on some new production revolvers! Not likely to happen, folk don't seem to try and stretch their accuracy boundaries with handguns much anymore.

 

[jaymoore]

Mk. I* ready for field test. It repeats well, going on and off the topstrap. Added elevation screw guide. (A sliding replaceable bit thing from Dewalt that was about. Actually have a longer one, but thinking that the 1" travel indicator will soon be replaced by a smaller 0.250" travel unit.)

Not pretty, but it seems to be getting close to full functionality.