Sight regulation on a fixed sight .357 Mag Freedom Arms Model 97?

The 200 gr would probably hit higher.
High enough?
Would a "hot" 180?
I don't know.
Do you want to limit yourself to one nonstandard load?

If it were an "ordinary" fixed sight gun, I would say to choose a load an file the sight to zero.

Yeah, I'd call or email FA as well.

From dialing in my SAA style replicas for cowboy shooting I also found that the guns shoot to different elevations when held one handed or with two hands. If you're holding with a firm two handed hold and FA set the guns up for one handed shooting that could produce the low printing you're getting as well.

If I remember my Elmer Keith correctly, a slower, heavier bullet will hit higher at short range (50 yards and under). The slower bullet spends more time in the bore allowing the gun to rotate up more before the bullet exits.

The old method was to file the front sight until you get it to hit your point of aim. That's why they generally make the front sights a little taller than they need to be. I would imagine F/A would reduce the front sight for you after you pick a load and a range to zero on.

Give 'Sixguns' by Keith a read.

Well, it's a two way street where the weight and muzzle velocity work together.

For a given pressure the heavier bullets will tend to print higher.

For a given bullet weight the slower ones print higher.

So I suspect the BB 325 stuff in your old Vaquero was hellishly fast despite the heavy bullet and the speed ensured that it was out of the barrel early in the recoil rise.

1. Pick a load you intend to stick with.

2. Get a fine cut file and 'adjust' the front sight.

That's the way it is done.

rc

For pistol rounds, the higher the VELOCITY, the lower the point of impact until you get out there (beyond 100 yds w/ magnums) where bullet drop becomes a factor. Has nothing to do with bullet weight other than heavier bullets typically, but not always, are propelled at lower velocities. Buffalo Bore ammo will confuse you if you compare their ammo to other ammo based on bullet weight. Ignore the weight, look strictly at velocity for point of impact.

Exactly what rc said. I had the same issue with a repro 1873 in .357. Absolutely everything I shot was about 8" low. I picked a middle-of-the-road load and looked at where it was hitting. I carefully filed down the sight, fired, filed, fired, etc., until the group was where I wanted it. To begin with, the sight was absolutely huge... it looks much better now and after a touch of cold blue on the sight, no one can tell it was even shortened.

One other hint for you: if you file the sight, cover everything with tape that you don't want to file. It is extremely easy to miss with a file and the slightest touch anywhere will go right through the bluing.

All this can be avoided and have a much better resale with adjustable sights. It is after all, a FA.

But, I do believe that is not an option for the OP.

He ask about a fixed sight gun he already owns.

His adjustment is.

1. Pick the load he plans to dance with.
2. File the front sight till it shoots where he is pointing it.

rc

rcmodel said:

1. Pick a load you intend to stick with.

2. Get a fine cut file and 'adjust' the front sight.

That's the way it is done.

rc

Click to expand...

I agree, that's the way it was meant to be done and is supposed to be done.

Buying a small 4 inch smooth cut file for such work makes it easier to guide it. That and tape around the sight with either two layers of masking or use duct tape. A single layer of masking tape can be cut too easily to risk.

And yes, adjustable sights make it easy. But they also ruin the lines of a classic SAA style gun. I really like my Super Blackhawk for how it shoots and how I can work with different loads. But WOW, is it ugly compared to the slick lines of a fixed sight Vaquero or any other fixed sight SAA clone.

Adjustable sight F/A model 97s have much better lines than a Blackhawk. They look more like a Colt flat top.

Have a GOOD gunsmith install a dovetail front sight. I think they can look great and would solve your problems. Check out a couple of the guns on the Bowen page (I would imagine there's someone out there who is good and who will do it for less than $200, but it's a FA...)

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/gallery.html
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/ruger_single_action_options.html

Or if you'd rather just sell it and buy something different, PM me

As rc said the front sight could be filed, it was made tall for that reason.

The thing about the front sight is that it is so finely finished and contoured that it seems criminal to hit it with a file.

Click to expand...

I would make a jig for such a task, to ensure the blade is cut flat and square. The danger is taking to much off, I would take off a bit less than needed, wet/dry sand paper can easily be found grits of 220-2000 this will give you the polish you can tightly wrap the sand paper around a flat surface.
Be sure to get a real good idea of what you think the blade length should be And add a bit to that for error and polishing.
I don't envy your task

Take a trace of it with a bit of card stock and a pencil. In the old days a file was used to give the sight that same nice shape. There's no reason the same file that trims it to get the gun shooting correctly can't also trim it afterwards to restore the same nice curve. Just leave the top 1/16" so the sights are still regulated and shape the rest so when you hold the card back in place the curves are still similar.

A mask made from pop can sidewall stock with a slot to fit the sight makes a fine anti-oops protector.

"...that it seems criminal to hit it with a file." Then don't. Try a sight picture with the front sight up out of the notch a wee bit. Fixed sight guns have been common for a long time and not everybody files and bends to a single load.

All other things being equal, and at relatively short effective handgun ranges, faster bullets will print lower. The bullet leaves the muzzle earlier in its "rise arch" so it hits lower than it slower brother.

If you can't regulate your POI with load variations, that leaves physical sight modifications. Before grinding, and forever changing the metal, make that phone call.

Pick a load to zero with, shoot lots of groups to establish how low it's hitting and at what distance, send it off to F/A with your targets and have them trim your sight. They have a very fast turn around and it probably would be very affordable. I broke a spring in my 97 and they had it back to me in 10 days.

You can use a dab of paint white or red on the rear of the front sight to indicate the height for the load you are using. Clean off the paint dab and repaint for a different load.