Help with s&w 638 sight picture...

[Sean Dempsey]

I'm still seasoning in my 638, got probably 100 rounds through it, maybe more. I can hit the target, but its pretty erratic. I think I am not using the correct sight picture every time.

So, is this gun the same as others with the TOP of the front sight and the TOP of the rear sight perfectly level with eachother? And is it a poa sight, or a 6o'clock sight?

 

[isp2605]

Same.
If your shots are erratic then it's not the sights.
More practice.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

sight paint helps as well. Hunter orange stands out nice.

 

[earplug]

My 638

MY pistols have been point of aim with 158 grain bullets.
If your having trouble grouping, try pretending to pull the front sight into the rear sight as you pull the DA trigger.
If the silver color is giving you a hard time I have good luck with A baked on ceramic coating.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought a 638 a few months back and had the same problem. The short distance between the sights might be one problem. I bought a st of snap caps and pulled the trigger between 100 and 150 time a night for a week. It showed me what I was doing wrong and the bonus was the trigger got a lot smother too. (I was pulling the gun to the left) I can now hit a 5" group @ 15 yards when I could only do that @ 5 yards before the snap caps. With a little more practice I'm sure I will do better and I'm sure you will too.

I used sight touch up paint from Birchwood to paint the front sight orange. That helped a lot too. Don't bother spending $12.00 on that paint since I found out after that model airplane paint from the hobby store workes just as well for $2.00. You can get any color you want too.

Get the snap caps and pull the trigger a lot. It will show you exactly what you are doing wrong and smooth out the DA trigger too.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I'll get the snap caps and paint, give that a try. It's a great gun, I just gotta get more and more used to it, 5 rounds at a time.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Sean- forgot to ask; what grips do you have on the beast? I switched mine to Pachys and it made a world of difference with the +P loads. The exposed backstrap on the factory grips transmits the recoil right into the thumb web and palm area.

 

[JMusic]

Get some 148 wadcutters and shoot single action off a bag for groups. Tell us then what you are seeing. I can hit a pop can at 20 yards with mine but could not at first. I found mine shot to the right almost 12 inches at that distance. Up or down is do to weight of bullet, most are regulated for no less than 148's. Side to side is do to one the shooter or the regulation of the barrel. If you consistantly shoot good groups but to one side or the other the barrel needs turned. S&W will do this for free. I had to send mine back. Don't let the gun store give you the "This is for close range only story"

Jim

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I have the stock grips, 2 finger. I got some Hogue grips with 3 fingers and a padded backstrap (the stock ones expose the frame) but I didn't like them.

I need to give the gun some focused, slow shooting before I analyze it too much. I LOVE the gun, its just such a different technique from the XD's, I need to really learn it.

Step 1 - take the 638 out by itself.... I'll report back. I'll bring out a beanbag and do the single action shooting too, see how it works.

 

[bpisler]

I filled in the rear sight notch on my 642-2
with flat black paint combined with the blaze
orange front sight really helps me with the
sight picture.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sean,
Don't bother with shooting Single Action since most of the problems come from the Double Action trigger pull. That was my mistake when I first started shooting the 638. Go right to DA but only after you take a good look at what you are doing while pulling the trigger. (with the snap caps)

I also replaced the stock Uncle Mike's boot grips with Pachmayr "Compac" grips. Covered the back strap, added a little on the bottom for the little finger and they are only slightly larger. A well spent $21 IMO.