is there a common point of impact for non-adjustable pistol sights?

[awayne]

well, this is very likely the most nooby thread of all time, but i couldn't find anything specific on point:

question: are all revolvers and pistols without adjustable sights sighted in at a common distance? say, for instance, 25 feet? 25 yds? or, does each manufacturer have a different point of impact?

 

[beatledog7]

Not sure about the distance, but I've read that they are usually sighted in for a particular bullet weight: 158gr for a .38SPL, for example.

I suspect the distance depends on presumed purpose of the gun. A pocket gun might be set up for a typical SD shot, say, 7-10 yds.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Allat a common distance? I shouldn't think so. But not unreasonable to inquire about.

As far as particular firearms meant for particular rounds for a particular POI? I'll bet all have a set of parameters in mind but I doubt many would publish it in writing given the flood of warranty issues that it would beg for.

 

[shiftyer1]

The sights are adjustable but they never go back if u screw up It takes a file. If you don't want to do that spend alot of time shooting the gun and learn where it shoots at the distance u want to shoot.

 

[9mmepiphany]

It used to be that fixed sighted service guns had their sights regulated to 25 yards with the standard service load...for .38spl/.357mag that meant 158gr; for .45 ACP it meant 230gr.

I'm not sure that is still the standard, I've heard of some guns now sighted for as close as 20 yards

 

[WardenWolf]

Many guns, particularly revolvers, are available in different calibers with only the cylinder / magazine and barrel differing. As a result, the elevation is only a rough estimation, and you must learn for your particular gun.

One thing I have noticed is that European pistols tend to have a slightly different sight perspective than American designs. They tend to shoot lower when you aim them as you would typically do an American pistol. As a result, you have to get used to a slightly different sight picture with the gun more fully covering your target.

 

[beatledog7]

Not to be pedantic, but it's about the shooter's eye. The attached is just a sampling of possible sight picture from the shooter's perspective, the red ball representing desired point of impact.

What we all have to do is figure out which picture is the right one for the gun, bullet weight, powder charge, range to target, etc. Then we have to consistently achieve the sight picture that works, over and over again (and without conscious thought in an SD situation).

This is what causes vertical stringing, and that's what most shooters have trouble sorting out, especially those who shoot more than one gun or more than one load.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I think 25 yards is a pretty good rule of thumb, particularly for a full size handgun.

 

[Jim K]

All S&W and Colt revolver sights are/were zeroed for 25 yards; for .38 Special, it is with the 158 grain standard load. I don't know which .357 load is considered standard.

Note that due to barrel time and recoil, higher velocity ammo will shoot lower, lower velocity ammo will shoot higher. (I know that someone will tell me I am wrong, but recoil begins when the bullet begins to move, so think a bit before cussin' me out.)

Jim

 

[hogshead]

Right Jim, and heavier bullets will shoot higher to. Kinda confusing ain't it.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

And also look at how much higher the front sight on a hard kicking revolver is then the rear sight.

If the barrel isn't pointed lower then the line of sight to start with, the gun will shoot well over the target.

rc

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think 25 yards is a pretty good rule of thumb, particularly for a full size handgun.

I think that's the way it goes. For old fixed you got your hold off, load, a file and a lead hammer.
And fix.. maybe a welder but you know what I mean.

 

[JohnKSa]

In my experience:

1. Fixed sighted full-sized guns, regardless of their point of origin tend to shoot to point of aim to within a tolerance of maybe plus or minus 3-4 inches at 25 yards. I've gotten a few that are off more than that, but they are definitely the exception.

2. The point of aim/point of impact varies only a little over typical handgun ranges of 10 feet to 25 yards. Not enough to be worth talking about.

 

[walt629]

IIUC Most manufacturers will quantify their wares with a particular load at a particular range. It's best to go to the manufacturers web site and do the inquirery as to what the specifics are for the firearm you have.

 

[Certaindeaf]

It's nice to land it where you want it. There are like five ways to land it given a certain sight picture/load. See above.
Or you could have adjustable sights.

 

[just for fun]

Untill recently 25 yards was considered the standard. I think Smith may have changed that up by submitting a 10 yd. standard for they're snubs.

 

[wally]

Note that due to barrel time and recoil, higher velocity ammo will shoot lower, lower velocity ammo will shoot higher. (I know that someone will tell me I am wrong, but recoil begins when the bullet begins to move, so think a bit before cussin' me out.)

Certainly true for revolvers because they have two recoils, one when the bullet leaves the cylinder and enters the barrel and the other (largest) when the bullet exits.

Instead of thinking about it, go check youTube for ultra slow motion video of pistols firing and you can see that recoil happens after the bullet is gone for auto loaders. You can clearly see the muzzle rise a bit when the gas vents the barrel cylinder gap in a revolver with the much larger recoil happening after the bullet exits.

Its also fun to watch slow motion of an Airsoft gas blowback pistol as the muzzle flip is downward because the momentum of the slide moving backwards is so much greater than the little plastic BB shooting out the front.

That heavier bullets shoot higher (at ranges short enough for the velocity time of flight drop to not matter) is easy to demonstrate with an accurate revolver. I've never seen a significant difference with my autos.

 

[9mmepiphany]

It has been my experience that recoil starts as the expanding gas pushes the bullet out of the casing and pushes the casing back against the breach block/recoil shield...Newtons Third Law

 

[Doghandler]

There's a lot of good and bad shooting on YouTube. There are a lot of seriously lousy muzzle flippers out there. There are also some folks who show good control. I'll just say that Mr. epiphany has already spoken the last word on recoil.

So, I did ask Ruger a while back what they use to "proof" the LCR. The answer I received was 124 gr +P. OK, but I had a funny feeling that the answer was sort of a "what ammo are we shooting today, Bob?" kind of answer. Oh, well, shoot high, shoot low, if your target is within range just be sure you hit it. If you can't hit it then get a bigger target or move it closer.

Remember, even the broad side of a barn can be out of range.