What to do? 1956 pre 10 snub sight issue

[Grimjaws]

So I recently got a pre model 10 snub nose former police revolver. The previous owner for some reason filed down the front sight.
So now she shoots about 3.5-4" high. It has a great finish, solid lock up, functions great. No box but original grips.

So I had a few local shops take a look and no one wants to touch it. So I figure I have three options

1 - practice point shooting and ignore the sights

2 - send it off to Cylinder & Slide(two shops recommended them) to see if they can work some magic but it will cost

3 - sell it here to someone who has some metal working skills and have a project gun

What do you think?

 

[kimporter]

Personally I'd try different ammo,changing bullet weight may solve your problems

 

[RCL-09]

Did you try a different ammo?

 

[quinn]

Round butt M&P snubbies are so cool. If it were mine I'd probably leave it alone. Wish it could tell us the story...

 

[sikacz]

Doesn't look like very much was filed off. As others have noted check which ammo works best. Any idea how much it has been filed?

 

[Modified]

Seems like an opportunity to upgrade the sights.

Should be pretty straightforward to turn it into a half target: Half Target M&P, Update: Another Police Gun!

There's one my factory half targets as an example.

The Super Police is a heck of a nice set of sights, if you could get someone to do that front/rear job it looks great and is just a wonderful sight picture, while maintaining an era appropriate look to the gun:

Another King Super-Police! (Post yours!)

 

[Heinz]

The original one probably adjusted the sights for 100 yard shooting.

It is a snubbie, leave it alone! Three or 4 inches high on center of mass at 7 yards probably makes it more lethal.

 

[sigp220.45]

Find some 200 grain "Super Police" loads.

 

[ND Farmer]

Too nice to mess with. Six o'clock hold.

 

[Jim Watson]

It has already been messed with and messed up.
Modified #6 is right.
But it won't be cheap.

 

[murphydog]

A slower/heavier bullet as suggested above, or perhaps putting on a rear Wonder Sight.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Other way around , a lighter , faster bullet will lower POI .

My prediction is that in its LE usage , at the later part of the Revolver Era , that agency issued 110jhp , and the Dept Armorer filed down the sights as required .

Simple Solution - Lighter weight bullets , in conjunction with 6 o'clock hold


Classy solution - Period correct custom front sight , as in Modified's linked thread .

 

[1chessiefan]

Dear Grimjaws,
Tony South in Michigan does laser welding. I had him weld up a front sight that a prior owner had filed on. He does not do the finishing work so you would have to find a gunsmith to file or machine the front sight to its final shape and reblue it. I drove to his place and had to wait about an hour for him to do the work. Laser welding does not generate much heat and I could handle the barrel as soon as he was finished. He is a big gun guy and loves fine doubles. He mostly repairs molds and other industrial items. He laser welds firearms because he has a passion for fine firearms. His company is Micro Precision Welding in Mattawan, Michigan. I highly recommend him and his work.

1chessiefan

 

[steelslaver]

I was going to suggest having some one tig weld some metal back on. They could even tig on some brass. Laser welding would be better, but if the barrel was clamped in a couple pieces of aluminum or brass they would both protect it from marring and act as heat sinks if you used tig. a couple of small passes with a wait in between would do it. In fact you could file a shallow V in flat on top of sight and silver solder on a piece of 1/8" round stock.

 

[DWalt]

Beat me to it. I was also going to suggest finding someone who does micro welding. I don't personally know anyone who does, but I do know that it can be done.

 

[47knuckle]

Tony at micro precision laser welded a broken 22/32 heavy frame target sight together for me. Reasonable cost and quick turn-around. The built up portion may not "blue" to the exact color as the rest of the front sight, but will certainly look better than what you have now.

 

[chief38]

Personally I'd cut my losses and sell it. Then get a proper one that has not been altered. That is probably the simplest and best way I know.

 

[rincar]

Just learn to aim low with the gun. It will take a little bit of practice but you can do it. The front site gives the revolver character. Good luck and Happy shooting

 

[HeyJoe]

practice point shooting which you should be doing anyway, and practice with a lower site view.

 

[Sistema1927]

That is a birth year gun for me. I would leave it as is, and shoot the heck out of it. A COM sight picture at combat ranges would produce excellent results.