Adjustable Revolver Sights yes or no?

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Guillermo

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How many of use use the adjustable sights on our revolvers?


The back story is this.

A financial windfall is coming my way and beside it has been a few months since I bought a gun. So I am looking around for an old Smith or Colt to buy.

I found some nice looking Model 10s for 225 bucks. I also noticed a couple of Model 15s for 265.

As I contemplated the purchase (still not made) it occurred to me that I have revolvers with adjustable sights and those without. While I find the deeper rear sight useful when shooting targets, the adjustability is not a factor.

Of course for punching paper the more-easily-snagged sight is not an issue.

So the questions are
What is your experience and preference?
Why?
 
I think it depends upon how the revolver will be used....

For a concealed carry revolver I prefer fixed-sights and a short barrel...like the classic .38 snub-nose revolver.

But for a house/truck gun, one that sits on the nightstand or in the console, adjustable sights and a longer barrel just makes more sense.
 
I much prefer adjustables on a .357, but on a carry .38, not so much. Being able to regulate a .357 from .38 to magnum via the elevation adjustment is very nice IMHO. I own a M10, a Taurus 85UL, and a little Rossi 68 at the moment for .38s and none have an adjustable sight. Between 10 and 15, I THINK, especially since it's a range gun, i'd go with the 15. I do have a 10 anyway, but even if i didn't, I'd probably go for the 15 I think. Not sure why, though, maybe just tired of looking at the 10. LOL! Can't make a wrong decision there, don't think. I never carry my 10, a 4" gun and I have a 3" magnum medium frame Taurus that's a fine shooter, carry it in a JIT Slide holster, and it HAS adjustables. Not a problem IMHO. The 10 is an inheritance and a range gun primarily, but it's a danged nice shooter and very well made gun.
 
"Use" adjustable sights, as in "how many actually tweak the adjustment to fine tune POI during a range outing?" I do. One of the things I like about revolvers is the versatility in ammo selection, but to take full advantage of that versatility, POA needs to be adjusted to accommodate different POIs. Easiest way to do that is with adjustable sights.

That said, I've used fixed sights to good effect as well, so long as I can see and align the front sight through them. In some cases, they're too narrow or not deep enough...or maybe that the front sight is too wide or not visible enough. Either can be fixed, though.

Me? For range use I'd go with the M15, assuming similar condition.

Don't forget pics and the range report! :D
 
(SHHHHHHHHH...there is a little secret and that is that if I decide to go with fixed sights then I have to decide Model 10 or Official Police)
 
You can always

not adjust adjustables, but you cannot adjust fixed. Just my $.02.
Gratuitously, if you do not already have one, consider a Model 19, a beautiful gun.
Good luck.
 
Cheat with a Red Dot

I have a fixed sight four inch S+W M-65 that I drilled and tapped for a red dot sight.
It turned out to shoot as well or better then my M-14.
I can always take the scope and mount off if I need a K frame .357 to carry.
 
consider a Model 19, a beautiful gun

I LOVE the model 19.

Have owned a couple.

The last one I gave to my daughter for her 15th birthday.

My thought was that if she could only own one handgun for the rest of her life, that would be the one. Of course she says that it is just one of many. (love that kid!)
 
All my handguns have adjistable sights. Caveat - none have a barrel length under 4" and I don't carry.
OT - I have a 19-3 I bought new. Since I had a 20+ year haitus from the shooting sports it's got a low round count through it. Loaded with wadcutters in 357 cases it's my favorite shooter.
 
So the questions are
What is your experience
Been shooting revolvers since sometime before 1960. I'm especially a S&W J Frame fan and probably shoot them more than all my other guns put together.

and preference?
Since all my guns, even dedicated carry guns are shot on the range, I find it irritating when a fixed sight gun does not shoot to point of aim.
Yesterday, shooting three S&W J Frame and two S&W K Frame pistols, three shoot nicely to POA but a J Frame and a K Frame hit a few inches left and left and down.
If I could have my preference ALL my handguns would have adjustable sights. I know where these guns are shooting but it's a pain trying to remember what shoots where.

So I could sight in the gun to hit POA and I wouldn't have to remember there a particular gun shoots.

For instance I have three Polish P-64 pistols. One shoots left, one right and one shoots to POA.




.
 
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Some fixed sight revolver sights are regulated for a certain weight bullet, powder combo, to hit where the sight is placed on the target at a specified distance, 158 gr for .38 S&W Special, 250- '55 gr .45 Colt. etc

If you handload and want to shoot a bullet powder combo other that the one for which your revolver was regulated, you will either need to hold over or under,file or add to the front sight height, to get the bullet to impact where the sights point.

It is a whole lot easier to have an adjustable sight.
 
I've got some of both. I LIKE the adjustable sights at the range, and I DO adjust for different ammo, etc. HOWEVER, my fixed sight .38 & 44 revolvers generally group will and shoot to point of aim out to 10-15 yards which is about all I could ever hope for.

Ya' pays your money & ya' make your choices. Don't think you could go WRONG with either.
 
I find it difficult to stay in the black at 100 yards with a Detective Special. There's something to be said for real sights.
 
I do fine with the fixed sights on my J-frame...But I had a 3" SP101...it was very accurate, but it hit 3" low and 3" left at 25yds. After I found a deal on a Model 19-4, I sold the SP101. No problem CCW'ing the Model 19 with it's adjustables.
Along the same lines, I used to own a Ruger Vaquero Bisley 44mag. I really wanted to like that revolver, but again, it's fixed sights were way off.
Get the Model 15...They are a real joy to shoot. Mine makes me look good every time I take it to the range.
 
I've only got a couple of handguns that have adjustable sights, but oddly enough I've never adjusted them. They shoot to POA at the ranges I usually shoot them, so I've never fooled with them. When I'm looking, it's not really a factor in what I'll buy.
 
Generally speaking, I only use the adjustable sight to zero after I've found a good handload. After that I almost never make adjustments. But I don't hunt or shoot long range. I do have better luck picking up the shallow rear notch with my old eyes than I do a trench sight.

Been shooting and carrying pistols for 30 years. All mine have fixed blade rear sights. Only started shooting revolvers since joining this forum and getting brainwashed. But I do like the ability to adjust the sight to a consistent load rather than search for a load that matches the sights.
 
Had both over the years and I prefer fixed. Simple reason, all my fixed sight guns are dead on accurate. If I had adjustable sights and a bad day on the range ~ it would be a temptation to start adjusting. I certainly would not knock a Model 19 or a Model 15 S&W and have owned both at one time. However, my favorite S&Ws are the Model 10 and Model 60 with fixed sights. I also own two Colt Detective Specials and a Police Positive Special, all with fixed sights.

Just personal preference.
 
Well, I've got both a 10 and a 19 as well as a 28. I've found that fixed and adjustable sights can live within a collection very well thankyou. I've also got a couple of fixed sight SAA's for CAS events.

I got into reloading a short while back and one of the first jobs was to make a load for the 10 that shot to POA. Once that was done I filed down the sights of the two SAA's to work with the same loads that the 10 likes. Now I've got three guns that all shoot nicely with the same load.

The 10 and the 19 see about equal range time for practice as well as shooting in our club's Speed Steel events. I'm also getting into IDPA and as soon as I gather up enough speed loaders and make or get a suitable high mount holster and speed loader holders I'll be using the 10 for IDPA fun.
 
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