Need some advice on sighting my revolver

[mugsie]

I purchased an 1858 New Army Target Revolver from Cabelas. It's great to shoot and groups well at 25 yards. My problem however is it shoots high about 6-7 inches. I'm using a .454 lead ball over 22 garins of Goex BP. I tried upping the amount to 25 grains - still high. Same thing going slightly lower. The gun has an adjustable sight since it's a target madel. I purchased the sighted model just to be able to get away from his type of problem and now I'm fighting it. The rear sight is cranked all the way down so lowering it any more is out of the question. The front sight already looks like a rudder on a 747 so enlongating it would only catch more wind and make the gun harder to control! Any ideas? More powder? Cabelas recommends a max of 35 grains, which I think may be too much. Peitta resommends 15 grains which is too low I would think. I'm kinda stumped at the moment.

Thanks for the help....

 

[Shultzhaus]

I have exactly the same revolver. all I can recommend is, aim a bit lower. I'm not trying to be cute, but most of those BP hand guns do shoot high. If you are inclined to try the 50 yard range, it might be right on. Are you sure the rear blade is seated at the bottom of the holder? If the two small adjusting screws are loose, the blade can ride up in the slot. You could also take the blade out, and file the notch deeper. If you ruin it, vti will sell you a new one for $5.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Try 15 grains. Target loads are on the light side. Use Cream of Wheat as a filler. Fine-tune from there.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

At 100 yards the sights are right on, bet me...actually yours will shoot two clicks low at 100.
First try it at 40 feet 10 paces as is tell what ya get.

SG

 

[scrat]

I agree with SG. these revolvers were made to shot accurate from 75-100 yards. unlike modern handguns and rifles they dont have an adjustment. so what i have done was scribe a mark at the Vnotch and at the tip. that way i have something to adjust at for different ranges. otherwise when you shoot close you just have to aim low.

 

[sharps59]

If you have done all you can w/ the rear sight then either a higher front sight or you have to bend the barrel.

 

[Omnivore]

You could also take the blade out, and file the notch deeper.

If you're using the sights correctly (aligning the top of the front post with the top of the rear blade) then merely increasing the depth of the notch will do nothing. You'd shave down the entire top of the blade to lower the POI, or you'd increase the height of the front post, or you'd find a way to set the entire rear sight lower into the frame (I don't know how these sights are mounted, so that may or may not be feasible).

 

[Shultzhaus]

Omnivore - Thanks for waking me up. Sometimes the obvious escapes one who has one foot in geezerhood.

 

[Omnivore]

Shultz; Believe me-- I've done a lot worse myself, many times. Now to be super clear on this; once you shave the top of the rear leaf, you may indeed have to deepen the notch, 'cause you may have rendered it pretty shallow doing the first bit. So you just gave a possible second step is all.

 

[Shultzhaus]

I guess none of us will ever walk across the pond at the sports club. Some more thoughts on that rear sight. recently after a session at the range, I went through my usual clean up in the utility tub. When got everything back to the work bench, I discovered that sight blade was gone. Of course I had already drained the tub. I had to tighten those tiny windage screws once before, and never checked them again. Lucky I have extra parts. I would advise anyone to keep checking those screws, as I think a 4 or 5 cylinder range session does seem to loosen them. Need a very small screw driver, like in one of those jeweler's sets.

 

[sundance44s]

I always use the wife`s clear fingernail polish on the screws of my Itilian repros ..The trigger guard screw on all my 1858 Remingtons were getting loose from fireing , the fingernail polish is just enough to keep them tight .

 

[Shultzhaus]

Fingernail polish sounds like a good idea, and that can be cleaned off with acetone, (I think) if need be. On my Rem that trigger guard screw was put on with an impact wrench in Italy. When I finally got it loose, I had bitched it up somewhat. I do have gun screw drivers. Sent to VTI for all screws for that gun. Guess which one was the only one out of stock. I'm due to pick up an Army 1860 on Friday, and I will disassemble it, and see if I need screws for that one also, and try again for the '58 Rem parts.

 

[sundance44s]

Shultzhaus ya might try here for your small parts , I`ve been getting mine from here and they are quicker shipped and cheaper http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/products/accessories.tpl

 

[Shultzhaus]

Thanks - I added Taylor's to my favorites list

 

[WARDER]

I Had A Army San Marco Doing The Same, I Was Able To File The Rear Adjust. Sight Underneath To Let It Down Further ,works A Treat Now