Sighting in a model 18

[sdk]

Hello,
I've had my model 18-3 22 lr for a while but am just starting to use it. When I purchased it, it appeared to have had very little use and I believe that it's in excellent condition except for the following. I'm sighting it in using CCI Mini Mags or Federal Bulk 36 gn ammo. I'm shooting at 10 yards in single action. The center of the groupings are consistantly higher than the poa by about 2" and the rear sight elevation adjustment is bottomed out. On the windage the groupings are now centered but the windage adjustment had to be adjusted far to the right. The right edge of the sight blade is about even with the right edge of the sight base. It appears that the sight blade had to be adjusted about .040 to right of center. I have similar revolvers (2 model 617's) that didn't require these extreme sight adjustments which kind of vindicates the shooter. Does this mean this gun needs to be sent back to S&W for a possible barrel alignment? I'm interested in hearing some opinions of those more experienced than me. Thanks.
sk

 

[shawn mccarver]

My advice: center the sight (both windage and elevation), and then let an experienced shooter sight it at 25 yards. Strange things happen when trying to sight in at too short of a distance. The K22 was originally designed for bullseye at 50 yards.

 

[pinoakflats]

rear sight blade

I had an 18-4 with a similar problem. Finally discovered that it had the wrong blade in the rear sight frame. There's an old thread on here from a few years ago that I started. Someone posted the specs on the blade in the thread.

 

[crankyoldlady]

Are you shooting from a rest?

Also, you may want to try standard velocity ammo.

 

[pinoakflats]

Link to thread

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...l-18-rear-sight-elevation-screw-question.html

Here is the link to the thread that I mentioned, July of 2014

Good luck!

 

[sdk]

Thank you to all who replied to this post. I think that the suggestion from Shawn Mccarver that I have a more experienced shooter do this at 25 yards may be the most logical next step. My next question is shouldn't a gun be sighted in at the distance that it's mostly shot at, which in my case is 10 yards?
Also, I believe that the sight blade is .136 which is the correct one based on the link that pinoakflats provided and no, I'm not shooting from a bench rest. Thanks again for the replies.
sk

 

[crankyoldlady]

When I sight in I use a pistol rest which eliminates the human factor. This gives me a baseline.