Revolvers--hurray for fixed sighted models

UncleEd said:
To me a handgun and a revolver in particular
is a tool for defense at close ranges, 15 yards and under.
Click to expand...
S&W considers any of their revolvers with adjustable sights a "target model". I find it hard to consider a revolver with a two inch barrel a target gun, but whatever. I don't mind adjustable sights on a revolver, as most of my shooting is at targets, so most of my revolvers, and a few of my semiautos, have adjustable sights. But I have no argument with what you say about a handgun being a tool for defense at short range where adjusting the sights seems a bit silly.

I do have four revolvers with fixed sights: fixed sight revolvers.jpg
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
2.5" revolvers with adjustable sights.......smh.
Click to expand...
My old shooting mentor shot a S&W 19 with a 2 1/2 barrel in UIT based DSB half matches getting about 95% repeatedly, so why not? He borrowed my S&W 14-2 for state and national matches shooting 97 to 98%.

I prefer adjustable sights on revolvers since I use them for range work. I learnt in Haiti that six shots are not enough.
 
Here is my vote. While theoretically adjustable to windage, this sight configuration is snag free and offers an excellent sight picture.
Kimber-K6-S-DAO-3-inch.jpg
 
UncleEd said:
Not a hunter or bullseye shooter or someone who wants to see if a handgun can
duplicate the accuracy of a rifle. To me a handgun and a revolver in particular
is a tool for defense at close ranges, 15 yards and under.
Click to expand...
If that's your need & only use for a handgun, then fixed sights make some sense....but only if the piece shoots to the sights with the defensive load you've chosen....if it doesn't, IMHO, you're SOL. Glad it works out for you, but I'll stay with adj. models that let me tune the POI to the POA & handle a variety of weights, speeds, & grip techniques etc. The argument that adj. sights are "fragile" just doesn't match my experience. YMMv, Rod
 
Like the rest of you I have both. I like my adjustable sighted revolvers and have shot them to well past 100 yards. But for the most part I shoot and adjust and never touch them again. What I really like about adjustable sights is that the sight picture is better than the fixed sight models. That being said I like my fixed sight guns. My favorites are my models 65 and HB model 10. Both shoot to POA at around 20 yards with 158gr bullets. S&W really got their sights right on those guns.

With my 442 I just put the lime green front sight on the target and fire. At 10 yards it hits close enough. Whats funny is that at 40 yards I can keep all my shots in a head sized group which would easily be all in a mans chest at that range. I have a 3" model 36-6 38 Special and it has adjustable sights. And its silly accurate for what it is. Its my favorite trail gun. and S&W only made 615 of these guns.
 
I like the rugged simplistic look of the fix sighted revolver. And seem to generally shoot them better. But I buy more adjustable sighted ones hoping it improves my accuracy.
 
I have about an even split between fixed and adjustable sighted revolvers, but I seem to always gravitate back to fixed for carry. I think it's because I started learning to shoot on fixed and they just feel the most natural to me. Likewise, I have semi-autos but they just don't feel like an extension of my body as fixed sighted revolvers do.
 
Even though I rarely ever adjust them, I prefer adjustable sights on my revolvers. I think it gives you a better sight picture that you can't get on the majority of older fixed sight revolvers.
 
No hurrah from me. My uses for revolvers has always been hunting and target shooting and now only target shooting. I prefer the ability to set the sights for my favorite load. Self defense? yes, on any hand gun, otherwise it's a no for me. Use and enjoy what YOU prefer is the way I see things.
 
Most of my revolvers are older S&Ws with fixed sights. In .38 special and .357 mag.

Sights on the .38 special guns are generally regulated to match POI and POA when firing relatively heavy-ish bullets at middle-of-the-road speeds. This is a good approach for range use and my 158-grain LSWC reloads. But not for carry using modern defensive ammo.

The only fixed-sighted revolver I actually carry is a 442. Gold Dot 125 grain +P expands really well in water jugs when fired from this gun.

1696180004074.png

Its one of the few factory loads that will expand.

But POI is 4" low at 10 yards. That's just too far, even for a snubby in a "get-off-me" role.

I just wish that I could find defense ammo that expands reliably AND matches POA and POI from a .38 special snubby.

Any suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Funny. I prefer adjustable sights, but almost never adjust them. I treat them as if they were fixed. I might take a used gun I've purchased and bring the rear blade back to center, and probably drop it all the way back down, or more likely I'll shoot it first and see how it does. Most of the time I never touch them. I could just as well use fixed sights, but the guns I like don't come with them. Besides, I like the way they look.

I also freely admit that I'm a short range shooter, and at nothing but a piece of paper, so a miss isn't really a big deal.
 
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