Rear Sight: Would this concern you?

[scruffy]

This is the position of the rear sight blade on my new M66-8 after sighting it in at the range. I've had the gun for over a month and have not touched the sights until I adjusted them yesterday. Front sight is centered on the barrel and the barrel is not even slightly canted. Rear sight is also mounted correctly.

From day one, I had been consistently getting good 1" grouping but hitting about 2-3 inches to the right of POA from 30'. Ammo used was Remington .38 UMC 130gr MC. I used single action when sighting in, (no rest). I'm no expert, but have been shooting a long time. No matter how I adjusted my grip/stance, ammo, etc the results have always been the same. Finally I adjusted the windage on the rear sight to the left. I am now consistently hitting dead center POA in double and single action.

I have never seen a rear sight blade adjusted this far in one direction and that is my concern.

I love this gun as it has great balance, fits my hand perfectly and has the best out of the box double action trigger I have experienced with a revolver. Really don't want to send it into S&W as long as it's hitting where I aim. What do you guys think?

 

[Fishinfool]

If you are hitting POA consistently, I would not worry about it. Adjustable sights are adjustable for a reason. A canted barrel is only one of many reasons a gun might shoot "off". How you grip the gun, and pull the trigger can and will effect POI. It is often better to sight a handgun based on how you naturally and consistently grip it, then to try and modify you grip / trigger pull to bring the gun into compliance with centered sights.

Larry

 

[Hapworth]

It isn't preferred, but still short of extreme windage so I wouldn't worry and I certainly wouldn't send it in since you're otherwise very happy.

For better sighting in, though, I'd use a rest and either quality target ammunition or, if a defense gun, the load it will be carrying; the Remington UMC is a decent but overall cheap-ish plinker.

 

[scruffy]

If you are hitting POA consistently, I would not worry about it. Adjustable sights are adjustable for a reason. A canted barrel is only one of many reasons a gun might shoot "off". How you grip the gun, and pull the trigger can and will effect POI. It is often better to sight a handgun based on how you naturally and consistently grip it, then to try and modify you grip / trigger pull to bring the gun into compliance with centered sights.

Larry

Thanks, Larry. That was the exact same advice I got from a long time shooter and gun expert at my sportsmen's' club range yesterday.

 

[Ashlander]

That would bother me. I have an old 4" Model 66 (no dash) from 1975 and the integral front sight was actually milled off center by about a millimeter. That bothered me to the point where I carefully filed the left side of the front blade to center it up. It's a bit thinner now -- but at least I can look straight down the frame and barrel as the sights are coming up.

I suspect something on your gun is likewise off center.

 

[arjay]

I've owned one gun like that.Laying a straight edge along the frame on each side showed the barrel pointed left [emoji33]I sent it back and Colt fixed it.

 

[AveragEd]

There is a chart that I'm sure some poking around on the Internet will find that looks like a clock face divided into segments and tells you why your shots go into one segment or another and what you need to do to bring them back to center.

That said, I usually have to adjust my rear sights about half-way to their limit to the right. It's just something I do I guess - my groups are good, just slightly left. I would be more concerned about the apparent tilt of the sight blade - the left end appears to be higher than the right - because nothing you can do with gun hold or trigger control will correct that.

Ed

 

[Camster]

It would bother me-something is off center,but if you send it back for the barrel to be torqued over a wee bit,,it will probably come back with handling marks that will bother you more.That's the way it works.
Live with it.

 

[Qball]

The rear sight on my model 17 is even more to one side.
As said before.. it is adjustable for a reason

 

[TX-Dennis]

Am I imagining things, or is there a huge crack on the right next to the hammer? Could that be affecting point of impact?

 

[Camster]

Am I imagining things, or is there a huge crack on the right next to the hammer? Could that be affecting point of impact?

YES! A huge crack! ....aka the side plate seam. ;-P

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Am I imagining things, or is there a huge crack on the right next to the hammer? Could that be affecting point of impact?

Not imagining things. That's the infamous sideplate crack, where they just screwed the sideplate onto the frame, instead of welding it and refinishing, a somewhat more expensive process. Most of us just put up with it, since it does NOT affect the POI, and makes cleaning a little easier.

As far as the rear sight, I, too have seen worse. While I guess I would prefer it to be perfectly centered, if it shoots to POA now, and you like the gun, I would leave well enough alone.

I suppose you could try to get S&W to replace your gun with one with sights that might be better centered and probably with a DA pull that isn't as good. I wouldn't.

 

[shottist]

Change your ammo. This is a non issue

 

[Tom S.]

There is a chart that I'm sure some poking around on the Internet will find that looks like a clock face divided into segments and tells you why your shots go into one segment or another and what you need to do to bring them back to center.

That said, I usually have to adjust my rear sights about half-way to their limit to the right. It's just something I do I guess - my groups are good, just slightly left. I would be more concerned about the apparent tilt of the sight blade - the left end appears to be higher than the right - because nothing you can do with gun hold or trigger control will correct that.

Ed

It's here:
Post # 56

 

[scooter123]

Change your ammo. This is a non issue

As hard as it may be to believe or understand this is very worthwhile advice. I have my 625 JM sighted in for 230 grain plated RN but sometimes shoot my carry ammo which features a 185 grain Speer Gold Dot at 1050 fps. Every time I shoot with the SD load I have to remember to aim 3 inches left at 10 yards. What is really baffling is that the POI is the same in the vertical direction, it just goes right with the lighter/faster bullet. As for why this happens, I have not a clue. I'll also state that I am mainly a right handed shooter and my history is that when I'm having flinching and trigger control issues I always go in the classic Low Left pattern.

 

[Qball]

Have a few other people shoot your gun,
i bet no one hit exactly the same spot as you.

 

[buckyjames1]

Sights and alignment definitely can be off on a new weapon. I just went and looked at my 686+ and my rear sight does not have quite as much difference from white outline border as yours does. Seems the left side has alittle bit more spacing in between outline and actual inside border.

*I know that white outlines are merely a reference point but 1mm could be causing it?

If you like the pistol, consider emailing S/W? Or..if your not on a budget consider new sight purchase:

1. LPA TXT Target Blade Rear Sight Smith & Wesson Revolver (Stainless Finish) - Speed BeezSpeed Beez

2. Smith Wesson Rear Sight Blade K L N

3. S&W Rough Country Rear Sights : + Bowen Classic Arms +, Parts Store

All kinds of options out there plus, instead of factory, you can decide what blade widths you want. Thicker for faster target aquisition, thinner for more accuracy.

*Edit* Look at the lower right side of rear site base. It seems as if the right side of the base (bottom) is off as well. I think..as per the picture...the rear sight is misaligned a bit. Check your trigger as well, does it seem symmetrical? wanky trigger can cause your trigger finger to pull/push wrong too.

One last thing then I'll shut pie hole:
Trigger pull on a revolver, If its alittle heavier than your used to or, your like me and use autos alot more, I tend to push the trigger as the hammer is coming back on that "longer" pull. Try dry firing and pay attention to your sight movement. And although groups are consistent, it just means your consistently doing the same thing as the hammer is falling. Play around with more and less finger pad on the actual trigger. Grip and stance could be spot on but this gun may require you to adjust more/less finger pad on trigger. Hope this all helps out with the problem.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Hard to tell from a picture but the white outline notch looks to be in line with the hammer and the sight body shifted right. The sight body also doesn't look level to the rest of the frame.
Could be the picture.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Here is what you need. A couple of good whacks will do it. . . .

I usually tell people that watching a gunsmith beat on a fine S&W with a babbitt is not something for the faint of heart.

 

[scruffy]

When I took the picture I was only attempting to show how far left the blade was adjusted for me to hit POA. I did nothing taking the photo to try and line up front & rear sights or angle it to line things up.