white dot front sight on new 43c

[hyena]

Decades long S&W revolver shooter here. I just bought a 43c, for fun and for cheap practice, since I usually carry a 642. I've got a question about the front white dot sight. Every handgun I own, revolver and pistol, micro to full size, when I aim it I put the top of the front sight in line with the top of the notch in the rear sight, and put that line right on the target where I want to hit. That's how I've done it successfully for 50 years.

I understand the big white dot style sight is designed for rapid acquisition, not precision target shooting. But when I lined it up at the range yesterday per my method, it shoots about 3 inches low at 7 yards. See the attached photo of a paper plate. Yes - it's an embarrassing group, but it will get better. I estimate the trigger pull at about 40 pounds on that gun. It'll improve with use.

See the other photo for a crude sketch with drawings A and B. A is how I usually line up the sights. At the range, if I lined them up as shown in B, it hit to center of the target.

So....do I just need to get used to lining them up different on this gun? I can't lower the white dot, unfortunately. No hasty decisions, but the front sight is pinned, and I could replace it with a standard ramp design, but how would I know what height to get? And can you buy pinned replacement sights of various heights?

Thoughtful comments welcome.

 

[COFFEEMUG]

I have 11 hand guns with 8 different sight pictures and I usually go through one Mag or cylinder (revolver) to get back to center.

I said 8 because the 3 S&W revolvers all have the same sight picture.

as for what hight ramped sight you need to measure from the top of the barrel to the top of the sight

you will need a vernier caliper to take the measurement

 

[OttoLoader]

Decades long S&W revolver shooter here. I just bought a 43c, for fun and for cheap practice, since I usually carry a 642. I've got a question about the front white dot sight. Every handgun I own, revolver and pistol, micro to full size, when I aim it I put the top of the front sight in line with the top of the notch in the rear sight, and put that line right on the target where I want to hit. That's how I've done it successfully for 50 years.

I understand the big white dot style sight is designed for rapid acquisition, not precision target shooting. But when I lined it up at the range yesterday per my method, it shoots about 3 inches low at 7 yards. See the attached photo of a paper plate. Yes - it's an embarrassing group, but it will get better. I estimate the trigger pull at about 40 pounds on that gun. It'll improve with use.

See the other photo for a crude sketch with drawings A and B. A is how I usually line up the sights. At the range, if I lined them up as shown in B, it hit to center of the target.

So....do I just need to get used to lining them up different on this gun? I can't lower the white dot, unfortunately. No hasty decisions, but the front sight is pinned, and I could replace it with a standard ramp design, but how would I know what height to get? And can you buy pinned replacement sights of various heights?

Thoughtful comments welcome.

From the side view per S&W web page,

Model 43C | Smith & Wesson

The front sight elevation appears to be set up to position the dot center even with the frame trough. (Your sketch B).

Also you appear to get better result with sketch B.


I would shoot some more (off a sandbag) and get the sight picture that works best.

If not to your liking then consider changing the front sight.

 

[scruffy]

The sight is an XS medium dot. If you use sight picture A, place the dot over the target (combat hold). If you use sight picture B, use a 6 o'clock hold. See how that works for you.

 

[Krogen]

Am I correct that there's only one dot and it's on the front sight?

My experience has been with three dots: a single dot on the front sight and two dots on the rear. When the dots are aligned horizontally, the flat top of the front sight is aligned with the flat top of the rear. In other words, aligning the dots results in a classic iron sight picture.

 

[hyena]

Am I correct that there's only one dot and it's on the front sight?

Only one dot, and it's on the front sight. The rear is a U shaped notch.