Sight adjustment problem

[Teaser261]

Hi All, newbie here.I recently acquired a 19-5 .357 mag supposedly from the '70's. Trying to sight it in @ 7 yrds, i had to adjust the elevation screw so far, it came out of the thread before I could put wad cutters in the center shot. What am I doing wrong or do I just need a longer screw. I am new to wheel guns. The front blade sight looks way too long for the gun,or is it possible the rear sight was changed. Thanks for any reply.

 

[DR505]

So you raised it all the way as the shots were hitting low? What barrel length?

 

[mkk41]

Wrong rear sight blade?

 

[snubbyfan]

Welcome from the panhandle of West Virginia.
Bullet weight and load makes a difference as far as point of aim and point of impact go.
My wife's 4" 66-3 is sighted for her carry load a 110 grain .357 magnum jhp. With 130 grain .38 special fmj it shoots low, 158 grain lrn a little higher but still low, with 110 grain .357 magnum jhp it shoots to point of aim. If I tried to sight it in for the 130 grain .38 special jhp, I'd probably need a longer screw.

 

[zonker5]

If you want to shoot that round a lot you might consider putting in a taller rear sight blade. They are available from S&W for $11 or so.

-Z-

 

[old bear]

Hi All, newbie here.I recently acquired a 19-5 .357 mag supposedly from the '70's. Trying to sight it in @ 7 yrds, i had to adjust the elevation screw so far, it came out of the thread before I could put wad cutters in the center shot. What am I doing wrong or do I just need a longer screw. I am new to wheel guns. The front blade sight looks way too long for the gun,or is it possible the rear sight was changed. Thanks for any reply.

Sir, I'm not sure if you are ending up with your rounds high or low on the target, but here is the proper way to adjust your rear sight for elevation.

"Elevation is the screw on top of the sight over the top strap of the frame. Turn screw counter-clockwise to raise the rear sight, and clockwise to lower the rear sight."

Best of luck

 

[scooter123]

Were you shooting from a rest or shooting "free". If you weren't using a rest it's quite likely that you have a bit of a Push Flinch. If you don't believe that is possible leave a couple of chambers in the cylinder empty and see what happens when you pull the trigger on an empty chamber.

BTW, the reason that I think you've grown a flinch is rather simple. The model 19 has a VERY wide range of elevation adjustments to accommodate all the bullet weights available in the 357 Magnum. If you actually ran the rear sight up enough to max out the adjustment at only 7 yards you are flinching. No ifs, and, or buts about it.

I would suggest that whenever you adjust your sighting you use a bench rest to steady your hands and help minimize any tendency to flinch.

As for combating a flinch, that is something I have lots of practice with. First, double up on the hearing protection by using plugs and muffs. Doing that will reduce our natural response to a loud noise by flinching. Second, do a bit of reading on Meditation or Zen, because learning how to achieve a truly relaxed state is one sure way to help control a tendency to flinch. Then concentrate on making yourself relax completely throughout the entire process of firing the gun. Note, if you feel yourself "tensing up" as you increase pressure on the trigger you are halfway there to curing a flinch. What you then work on is forcing yourself to relax when you feel that urge to tense up comes on.

 

[H Richard]

Here is an "Analysis" diagram. Intended for a right handed shooter. Print off a copy and carry in your range bag for reference.

 

[linde]

. . . I had to adjust the elevation screw so far, it came out of the thread before I could put wad cutters in the center shot. What am I doing wrong or do I just need a longer screw. . . The front blade sight looks way too long for the gun, or is it possible the rear sight was changed . . .

Adjusting the rear sight blade higher raises the strike of the bullet . . . so I'm assuming you were hitting low. I can't imagine needing a longer screw at 7 yards . . . regardless of the bullet weight . . . IF the front and rear sights are factory original.

Your comment that "the front blade sight looks way too long" begs for pictures so we can comment. A change in the rear sight blade could also make a profound impact on POI/POA. I don't have my factory chart with me but barrel length will be needed to come up with the correct rear blade height.

Russ

 

[old&slow]

You didn't say if your groups are low or high ?

Remember you want the rear sight to go in the direction you want your group to go.
ie: if your group is low . you want your group up , move the rear sight up.
if your group is high you want your group to go lower ,, mover your rear sight lower.

Or someone could have changed the factory sights ?

 

[shawn mccarver]

Sighting in should be done at 25 yards, not 7 yards. Use a bench rest and sand bag at first to get close.

I suggest that once you get the sights reinstalled properly (you said you ran the screw completely out), then actually count clicks and center the sights both on windage and elevation and start over with the sights in their center position on both windage and elevation.

If you are not able to hold a 2 to 3 inch group at 25 yards, then have someone who can do so actually do the shooting, and then you test it from there to make the last adjustments so that it works for you.

As others have said, a picture of your revolver showing the front and rear sights would be helpful.

 

[tlay]

If raising your rear sight does not raise the bullet strike as far as you need it then try a heavier bullet. But as said before sight it in on a bench with a good rest. As a new shooter you will take a while to get used to the gun.
I would suggest that you practice with 38 special until you get the hang of it. Use a full wadcutter bullet. These are good for target practice and do not have much of a kick. Even after you get used to the gun 38 special rounds are great for practice. If you are going to use this gun for any type of CCW make sure you practice with the rounds you are going to carry. And if you fire 38 special rounds make sure you clean the cylinder really well before you fire 357 magnum through it. The 38 rounds will leave a ring in the cylinder from firing and will make the 357 rounds difficult to load and extract. Good luck!

 

[tonyd4004]

if your sighting the bulls eye above the front sight that may be a problem...I sight in with the front sight at the top of the bulls eye ring and even with the top of the rear notch

 

[Skeetr57]

I know of at least one S&W .357 that came with sights that always shot low. I bought a new 586 with 6" barrel that shot low for me. When I asked the dealer, who was also a police distributor, about the problem, I was told that the gun was intended for some type of combat game and the sights were set so that a neck hold on the target would give a center hit on the silhouette target. My fix was to mill the top of the front sight. I adjusted the rear sight to the middle of its range and fired from a sandbag rest at 25 yds. I measured the distance from the center of the group to the aim point, 10" as I recall, and did the calculations to determine the amount to be milled from the front sight. That fixed the problem, and that 586 is the most accurate handgun I have ever owned. Since I had a milling machine and some touch up blue, the fix cost me nothing.

 

[Teaser261]

Ok, so I believe it i a 2 1/2 inch barrel. I used a a laser bore sighter to presight the firearm, I was shooting 158 gn .38 special wadcutters ( can't use magnum rounds in the indoor range and it was snowing out) and my rounds were hitting way high. And after I read all your replies, I feel like an amateur. Thanks for all the replies

 

[tlay]

Everyone has to learn sometimes. It doesn't show that you don't know anything but that you have not done it before. In no time you will have it down. Because you asked questions shows you want to learn. Just remember lowering the rear sight lowers point of impact. Moving it right moves point of impact right.

 

[snubbyfan]

Personally, I don't like to sight guns in using a bench rest. It takes the dynamics of the shooter out of the equation. Particularly if it's to be used as a self defense firearm.
With my wife's 66-3, I adjusted the sights holding it in a 2 handed weaver stance shooting her carry load. I handed it to her and it was dead on for her. Had it been different, I would have then adjusted it for her gip dynamics.