GuyWithGun
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- Aug 14, 2012
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- 55
I have Model 27 S&W that was my grandfathers. Shoots REALLY high (3 ft at 50 yards). Don't really want to alter the gun, but can't hit much with it either. Rear sight bottomed out, any ideas?
S&W 27 shooting high.
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Post a side view photo of the gun with a clear view of the front and rear sights.
Maybe we can figure it out.
Back in the day, some folks , especially cops, didin't trust adjustable sights.
So they screwed the rear sight down tight, and filed off the front sight to zero them with the load they wanted to use.
I have a 1950 Target .44 Special like that that belonged to a Kansas Sherrif years ago.
It is off with all factory .44 special loads I have tried.
But dead nuts zero with the more powerful old Skeeter Skelton load of 7.5 Unique and a Keith 240 grain LSWC.
rc
Maybe we can figure it out.
Back in the day, some folks , especially cops, didin't trust adjustable sights.
So they screwed the rear sight down tight, and filed off the front sight to zero them with the load they wanted to use.
I have a 1950 Target .44 Special like that that belonged to a Kansas Sherrif years ago.
It is off with all factory .44 special loads I have tried.
But dead nuts zero with the more powerful old Skeeter Skelton load of 7.5 Unique and a Keith 240 grain LSWC.
rc
BobWright
Member
Three feet high at fifty yards! That's pretty drastic.
First of all, what ammunition are you using? Light .38 Specials will print higher than magnum ammunition. And heavier bullet weights will also print higher. I say this to make sure you are going to sight in with the ammunition wou will use most of the time. Having selected the most used rounds, then you must do either one of two things: (1) Lower the rear sight, or (2) raise the front sight.
If you front sight is pinned, then a taller front sight is fairly easy to replace. You gunsmith can make one up, or S&W may have taller front sights available.
As an alternative, you can file down the rear sight blade. But with such drastic adjustment, its not likely you can file down the rear blade without having to cut away the frame.
Best bet, to me, would be to install a taller front sight.
Bob Wright
First of all, what ammunition are you using? Light .38 Specials will print higher than magnum ammunition. And heavier bullet weights will also print higher. I say this to make sure you are going to sight in with the ammunition wou will use most of the time. Having selected the most used rounds, then you must do either one of two things: (1) Lower the rear sight, or (2) raise the front sight.
If you front sight is pinned, then a taller front sight is fairly easy to replace. You gunsmith can make one up, or S&W may have taller front sights available.
As an alternative, you can file down the rear sight blade. But with such drastic adjustment, its not likely you can file down the rear blade without having to cut away the frame.
Best bet, to me, would be to install a taller front sight.
Bob Wright
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
A model 27 that belonged to his grandfather has the front sight milled as part of the barrel & ramp.
It is possible.
1. Someone replaced the rear adjustable sight blade with one of the wrong height.
They were available in several different blade heights.
2. It's possible someone tightened the rear sight all the way down and filed off the front sight to sight it in with the load they were using.
3. It's possible the OP is shooting some strange light or heavy bullet load instead of full power .357 158 grain Magnum ammo.
Need a side-view photo to even begin sorting it out.
rc
It is possible.
1. Someone replaced the rear adjustable sight blade with one of the wrong height.
They were available in several different blade heights.
2. It's possible someone tightened the rear sight all the way down and filed off the front sight to sight it in with the load they were using.
3. It's possible the OP is shooting some strange light or heavy bullet load instead of full power .357 158 grain Magnum ammo.
Need a side-view photo to even begin sorting it out.
rc
GuyWithGun
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- Aug 14, 2012
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I've tried factory 158 Federals, 180 Federals, and a light .38spl. Correct, the .38 shot the highest, but they were all WAY high.
Guess a more specific question would be "Is this most likely a sight problem or a gun problem?" Haven't decided what I want the gun to be yet. If I decide to make it a fighting gun, would bite the bullet and put a Big Dot on it. If want to just keep it for posterity, would like to just get it sighted in and leave it alone. For what it is worth, accuracy seems good to exceptional.
Guess a more specific question would be "Is this most likely a sight problem or a gun problem?" Haven't decided what I want the gun to be yet. If I decide to make it a fighting gun, would bite the bullet and put a Big Dot on it. If want to just keep it for posterity, would like to just get it sighted in and leave it alone. For what it is worth, accuracy seems good to exceptional.
243winxb
Member
What is the barrel length? Does the front sight have a red insert in it?
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Please read post #4 again, in case you didn't read it.
Then post the pic's of both sights I ask for in post #2.
Thank you
rc
BobWright
Member
rcmodel said:
The very early .357 Magnum models had interchangable front sight blades. But the newer Model 27s do have solid milled sights/ramps.
Even so, easy enough for his gunsmith to mill off the existing blade, cut a mortise in the remaining ramp, and install a new, taller blade.
Heirloom or not, a guns needs to be able to shoot to point of aim.
Bob Wright
The very early .357 Magnum models had interchangable front sight blades. But the newer Model 27s do have solid milled sights/ramps.
Even so, easy enough for his gunsmith to mill off the existing blade, cut a mortise in the remaining ramp, and install a new, taller blade.
Heirloom or not, a guns needs to be able to shoot to point of aim.
Bob Wright
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