I carry a 637 S&W J Frame revolver daily. I can't help but notice that the integral front sight is too tall to line up for a proper sight picture. Are all J frames this way? It would seem to me if I milled the front sight down level with the rear, this would help me increase accuracy. Has anyone here had experience with this?
S&W J Frame Front Sight
- Thread starter P95loser
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Are you actually having problems shooting low with the gun?
Or just speculating on how you think the front sight "should" look?
J-frames have always shot pretty much point of aim for me with 158 grain ammo.
The front sight has to be higher then the front on any handgun, but is more pronounced on lighter, or shorter guns like the 637.
This is due to recoil being greater on the small light guns.
If the front sight were not higher then the rear, the gun would already have recoiled off target before the bullet gets out of the barrel.
Your choice of ammo will also affect where the gun shoots.
Lighter bullets will generally shoot much lower then heavy bullets, again due to differences in recoil.
rcmodel
Or just speculating on how you think the front sight "should" look?
J-frames have always shot pretty much point of aim for me with 158 grain ammo.
The front sight has to be higher then the front on any handgun, but is more pronounced on lighter, or shorter guns like the 637.
This is due to recoil being greater on the small light guns.
If the front sight were not higher then the rear, the gun would already have recoiled off target before the bullet gets out of the barrel.
Your choice of ammo will also affect where the gun shoots.
Lighter bullets will generally shoot much lower then heavy bullets, again due to differences in recoil.
rcmodel
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
If I didn't know it was true, I wouldn't have said it. 
You need to shoot & test the Corbons first before you do any sight filing.
rcmodel
You need to shoot & test the Corbons first before you do any sight filing.
rcmodel
SAWBONES
Member
It seems most J-frames are sighted for a point-of-aim hold having the top of the front sight aligned with the top edges of the rear sight, shooting a 158 grain .38 Special load.
MICHAEL T
Member
+1 on 158 gr. I belive as long as J frame been around they have the sight worked out My works fine with the 158 SWCHP load in it .
jaydubya
Member
"My works fine with the 158 SWCHP load in it ."
As does my 637 Airweight, though I don't shoot too many of them at a range session. OUCH.
Cordially, Jack
As does my 637 Airweight, though I don't shoot too many of them at a range session. OUCH.
Cordially, Jack
ArchAngelCD
Member.
It is a fact that S&W .38 Special fixed sight revolvers are sighted in at the factory for use with 158gr bullets. It is well known that you will shoot low with a lighter bullet.
If you want to carry a 125gr round the simple solution is to practice with that round, learn low low it shoots and adjust your POA to reflect the needed adjustments. It's all in knowing how your gun reacts with ammo you are shooting.
If you want to carry a 125gr round the simple solution is to practice with that round, learn low low it shoots and adjust your POA to reflect the needed adjustments. It's all in knowing how your gun reacts with ammo you are shooting.
You don't indicate how low and at what distance. J frames are pretty well regulated to hit POA/POI at 25 yds with 158 gr ammo. They'll shoot lower with lighter weight rds but even at 25 yds the distance is going to be measured in maybe at most 3-4" low. It's not like the rds will be going in the dirt or off target.
You should let someone else shoot it who has EXTENSIVE training and experience shooting small frame, short barrel revolvers. That's not someone at the range who just claims it but find someone who can actually shoot. If you haven't shot J frames that much people will often tend to dip the barrel in anticipation of recoil causing the rd to go low.
You should let someone else shoot it who has EXTENSIVE training and experience shooting small frame, short barrel revolvers. That's not someone at the range who just claims it but find someone who can actually shoot. If you haven't shot J frames that much people will often tend to dip the barrel in anticipation of recoil causing the rd to go low.
Master Blaster
Member
You may be flinching, do the ball and dummy drill. load a couple spent cases at random with the live rounds, give the cylinder a spin and gently close. When you hit the spent rounds all will be revealed.
Master Blaster is correct. Have someone watch you when you do the ball and dummy drill. You may think you aren't flinching but someone watching can tell for sure. With a short barrel it doesn't take much of a flinch to throw a shot. Snubbies are very unforgiving.
RON in PA
Member
My experience with Smith snubbies is that if you shot light weight bullets your impact will be low. As most of the folks who have posted on this thread have noted, you need to shoot 158 grainers.
Robert Hairless
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I've heard some people say that their J frames don't shoot to point of aim but I've never shot one that deviated from POA/POI at the short range for which I use them. I'm no expert though.
But I got curious and decided to nose around Marc Morganti's web site to see whether he offered any sight adjustment service for J frames. And there it is for the 642: "Mill front sight to point of aim."
Learn something new every wonderful day.
But I got curious and decided to nose around Marc Morganti's web site to see whether he offered any sight adjustment service for J frames. And there it is for the 642: "Mill front sight to point of aim."
Learn something new every wonderful day.
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