S&W revolver rear sights: Millett versus factory S&W

[Blazin Bill]

Background: I currently have a 0.360" Millett rear sight on an early 1980's 629, but with the rear sight bottomed out the bullets are still impacting 3+" high at 15-20 yards, which is completely unacceptable. The front sight is not original and modifying it is not an option. I can get a 0.312" rear from Millett (I will have to drill & counterbore the new sight), but thought perhaps I should opt for a factory rear sight. I am much more concerned in performance than price. It is not important to me to maintain the gun in an original configuration.

Questions: How does the elevation range of adjustment compare between an original S&W rear sight and a Millett rear sight, in other words which has more range of adjustment? How do they compare from a durability standpoint?

Extra Info: This application is for an older square tang rear sight, so I can't get one of those nice Bowen Rough Country rear sights. And the LPA rear sight is too big & bulky. If there's another option I am missing please enlighten me.

 

[Blazin Bill]

Background: I currently have a 0.360" Millett rear sight on an early 1980's 629, but with the rear sight bottomed out the bullets are still impacting 3+" high at 15-20 yards, which is completely unacceptable. The front sight is not original and modifying it is not an option. I can get a 0.312" rear from Millett (I will have to drill & counterbore the new sight), but thought perhaps I should opt for a factory rear sight. I am much more concerned in performance than price. It is not important to me to maintain the gun in an original configuration.

Questions: How does the elevation range of adjustment compare between an original S&W rear sight and a Millett rear sight, in other words which has more range of adjustment? How do they compare from a durability standpoint?

Extra Info: This application is for an older square tang rear sight, so I can't get one of those nice Bowen Rough Country rear sights. And the LPA rear sight is too big & bulky. If there's another option I am missing please enlighten me.

 

[sceva]

You can buy just the .312 rear sight blade from Millett ( series 100 rear sight blade ) and switch it with the one in your sight. You don't need to buy another complete sight. They come white outline, two dot and black and are available in various slot dimensions. They will send instructions for changing the blade or you can download them from their website and there is no nut to stake on. There is a tiny retainer clip on the end of the windage screw to work with though.

http://www.millettsights.com/controller.php/catalog/front_sights_rear_blades

 

[Blazin Bill]

Originally posted by sceva:
You can buy just the .312 rear sight blade from Millett ( series 100 rear sight blade ) and switch it with the one in your sight. You don't need to buy another complete sight. They come white outline, two dot and black and are available in various slot dimensions. They will send instructions for changing the blade or you can download them from their website and there is no nut to stake on. There is a tiny retainer clip on the end of the windage screw to work with though.

http://www.millettsights.com/controller.php/catalog/front_sights_rear_blades

Thank you for all the info. You have been FAR more helpful than Millett's customer service phone line was this afternoon, that guy didn't know anything. I called to ask him if I could just change out the rear blade.

 

[Hoptob]

Bill,

My Millett sight came with a warning on the box saying that it is not compatible with mountain gun...

Mike

 

[Spotteddog]

Bill,
Two questions. What is the current front and rear sight heights? And, what's the load you are running that's hitting that high above POA? I ask, only because I home rolled some jog next to them 255 SWC @ about 675 FPS in .44 Special that hit just exactly that high, with the factory sight cranked all the way down.
BTW-WELCOME!

 

[tomcatt51]

Originally posted by Blazin Bill:
Background: I currently have a 0.360" Millett rear sight on an early 1980's 629, but with the rear sight bottomed out the bullets are still impacting 3+" high at 15-20 yards, which is completely unacceptable. The front sight is not original and modifying it is not an option.

The front sight is not original? You're worried about preserving it? OK. I'm a fan of the stock rear sight. Blades are available in a variety of heights and being steel, the notch width and height (the .160 and .196 are the ones you can deepen) can be easily adjusted with a file and then cold blued. I've used the Millets but like the stock S&W.

 

[Blazin Bill]

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
Two questions. What is the current front and rear sight heights? And, what's the load you are running that's hitting that high above POA? I ask, only because I home rolled some jog next to them 255 SWC @ about 675 FPS in .44 Special that hit just exactly that high, with the factory sight cranked all the way down.
BTW-WELCOME!

The current front sight is quite tall; a gunsmith, Andy Cannon, built it. The front sight is beautiful and would require fairly serious work to modify it, so I don't want to go there.

As for the loads: I did not chronograph them...I fired max 44 Specials loads and then some warm Magnums (comparable with factory ammo). All shooting was with cast 240 LSW's.

 

[Spotteddog]

I can see why you wouldn't want to modify an already "custom" front blade. But "seems quite tall" is too nebulous a description of info for us to be of help? The installed height on both the front and rears needs to be known to try to get near the ball park. The actual height of the original F & R would be of just as much value, if they're still around? FWIW-heavy slow .44 Specials always print higher by 1 to 3 inches than the .44 Mag's do. But if the Mag's are doing it too? The sights need attention.

 

[JoeHatley]

in other words which has more range of adjustment? How do they compare from a durability standpoint?

Yes, the Millett rear sight has more adjustment range than the S&W, windage and elevation. It's also all steel and holds up well.

I've used Millett replacement rear sights on S&W, Ruger, and Dan Wesson revolvers. Some of mine were installed over 20 years ago and they still look and work like new.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[Blazin Bill]

Originally posted by JoeHatley:

in other words which has more range of adjustment? How do they compare from a durability standpoint?

Yes, the Millett rear sight has more adjustment range than the S&W, windage and elevation. It's also all steel and holds up well.

I've used Millett replacement rear sights on S&W, Ruger, and Dan Wesson revolvers. Some of mine were installed over 20 years ago and they still look and work like new.

Good Luck...

Joe

Joe,

Thanks for answering my questions.