.357 Speed Six shoots low

[tbeb]

My .357 magnum Ruger Speed Six with 4" barrel and fixed sights does not hit POA, at 21 feet, with .38 special +P 158, 148, and 125 gr. bullets (Federal lead hollowpoint, Safestop wadcutter, and Federal Hi-Shok). 158 gr. hits 1 3/4" low. 148 gr. and 125 gr. hit 2 1/4" low. This gun is for home defense and I don't want to use .357 magnum loads. Best way I can think of to correct is to file the front sight down.

I may load up some 200 gr. lead truncated nose bullets in .38 special cases, to see if they hit dead on.

Do you have any suggestions? A reload that might hit point of aim... Factory ammo that hits high for bullet weight... Or anything else.

 

[Mark whiz]

I've found that shorter barrels often tend to prefer hotter loads or at least faster powders.

For example, I'm currently trying loads of Accurate Arms #5 in my .38s (4" Security Six and a 2" Rossi). An identical load that shoots on the Bull in the Ruger, is about 1.5" low & to the left with the Rossi. I'm slowly bumping up the load for the Rossi to bring it's POI up................... but I'm getting close to the max charge, and it may just be too slow of a powder to be practical with it.

As something for you to try with handloads - for .38Spcl loads, my 4" Security Six likes 4.0gr of Hodgdon Universal with 158gr Lead SWCs. An equal amount of Unique should work about the same. The Rossi likes 3.2gr of Red Dot with the same bullets.

Shy of loading some of your own...................your best bet would be to try some more types of loaded ammo.....................maybe some Corbon rounds or Speer Gold Dots.

If none of those work - file that front site down a bit...................SLOWLY!!!

 

[critter]

You are on the right track with heavier bullets (which will almost assuredly hit higher). Also, LOWERING the powder charge may raise the bullets as they will be slower and spend more time in the barrel during recoil.

Tinkering with handloads CAN 'zero' your gun. Now, do you want to use handloads for self defense? If not, you can also 'zero' your gun by CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY filing down the front sight to coencide with the POI of your one and only SELECTED favorite round.

Many folks find that the difference in POI that you have is good enough for 'government work' and leave it as is.

Your choice. Good luck.

 

[HSMITH]

Forget about it. The differences are much less than you will be able to hold under stress. If you can put two in the boiler room of Mr. Badguy quickly call it close enough. 2" is not going to make a difference in the outcome if they are reasonably well centered on the torso.

 

[cheygriz]

HSmith is spot on! At combat range, 2 inches is meaningless. The 158 GR +P LSWCHP was FBI standard for about 20 years, because it works. Stick with it!

 

[tbeb]

Before I posted my thread I, too, thought a bullet hitting 2" low when target shooting would be okay to use in a stress filled, self defense situation.

If 200 grainers hit dead on, then I may use them for practice. ("Critter", I did load some 158's & 125's to standard pressure, and POI did not rise.)