Fixed sight adjustment

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  • Last Post 15 January 2022
38splpete posted this 14 January 2022

My new Taylor (Uberti) SAA in 45LC shoots 6-8 in. high, and slightly right at 25 yds with loads using Lyman 454190 (250g) bullets and 5.5g Bullseye or 6.2g 700-X.  I don’t wish to shoot any significantly hotter loads.  Before I take a file to the front sight would a heavier bullet shoot higher?

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Larry Gibson posted this 14 January 2022

If it's shooting high at 25 yards you don't want to file the front sight.  That would only make it shoot higher.  Perhaps the front sight is set of for lighter weight 200 gr bullets at low bal SASS velocities?

LMG

Concealment is not cover.........

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Bud Hyett posted this 15 January 2022

Theory: A heavier bullet will stay in the barrel longer as the gun rises in recoil, that means a higher strike. If the bullet is lighter and faster, the bullet will exit sooner while the gun rises and thus strike lower.

I shoot a 200 grain semi-wadcutter H&G 200 grain wadcutter with 6.5 grains Unique in a Colt New Service, Colt SAA 2nd generation, and Uberti Schofield for the fun of it. These shoot on point of aim at 25 yards.

I shoot 7.5 grains Unique in my S&W Model 25's and Ruger Blackhawks with the SAECO 954 235 grain bullet with adjustable sights.

I hope to develop a heavier load this Spring for the long range Elmer Keith Memorial Match come this summer. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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38splpete posted this 15 January 2022

Sorry, sorry—I meant to say that the gun shoots 6-8 in. LOW.  I’m  aiming a couple of inches above the top edge of the paper to get my shots centered

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.22-10-45 posted this 15 January 2022

How are you holding the gun?  I have a Colt .38 Bisley revolver 71/2"  Gun was shooting way low and to left..i'm talking low as to bottom of cardboard backer..over a foot low.  This was with resting wrists over front edge of sandbag..gun not touching anything.  Sitting with elbows resting between knees & standing with a two hand hold all shot low..not as much as off bags, but still low.  I tried very heavy (200gr. bullets) this helped but still too low.  Almost ready to grab the file ....when the old light bulb came on..Colt never intended these guns to be shot off rests..so I stood on my hind legs like a man and low and behold gun piled them right under front sight with perfevt windage!  Don,t be in too big of a hurry to cut metal.

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Little Debbie posted this 15 January 2022

Assuming you want to stay with a traditional type and weight bullet you’ll need to try to increase your velocity some to get your point of impact higher. Traditional lead bullet loads in .45 Colt with 250-255 gr bullets usually travel 800 to 850 fps. I’m guessing your Bullseye load is probably traveling 600-650 fps. Slowly increasing this load a maximum of one grain might get you the elevation you require. Might center it too. Your 700x load should be in the right velocity range. That makes it curious that they’re grouping in the same place.

Absent loading to correct this, shortening your front sight would raise your point of impact. I’d do it at the range, filing a bit and cold bluing and shooting enough to make sure you know where you’re at. The cold blue prevents glare from giving a false front sight. You’ll usually shoot “away” from the sun.

And yes a heavier bullet should strike the target higher. That’s why I’ve had trouble shooting 300+ grain bullets in .45 Colt chambered Blackhawks. I’ve run out of sight adjustment, can’t run the sight down enough to get zeroed.

The nice thing about being a caster and hand loader makes it likely you can solve this by loading, not gun modification.

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38splpete posted this 15 January 2022

My first 700-X loading was 5.7g—it felt distinctly milder than the 5.5 Bullseye load, which is why I stepped it up to 6.2g.  I will try incremental increases with both powders and I also have some heavier bullets I might experiment with.  First though I will take .22-10-45’s advice and shoot the gun standing unsupported. It does seem contra-intuitive though—in shooting a rifle my experience has always been that with the same sight elevation setting the gun will shoot slightly lower going from the bench to standing.  I would like to add that I am liking this gun very much—its fit and finish are superb.  I really wanted one in 44-40 but nobody seems to have brass in that caliber.  Bud’s has the guns, though, and for less than I paid for my .45 at my LGS—I’m tempted to put in an order.

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ray h posted this 15 January 2022

38-pete,   I recently got some Starline 44-40 from Track of the Wolf and have another batch coming from Buffalo Arms. I called Starline and I was told they just finish a run of 44-40 and I think 38-40.

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