Sighting in problems with my S&W Revolver.

[menotseeu]

I have a Model 29-2 that I have has for years but never shot. I decided I might take this deer hunting in Iowa instead of my slug gun for a change.
When I went to the range to sight in the pistol, I find I am shooting low. Very low. When I try to adjust the the elevator screw up to bring the blade up higher, I find I cannot raise it high enough. It literally unscrews from the lower half. It appears I need a longer upper nut or a longer lower nut to get it high enough to bring my point of impact higher.
The front sight is non-adjustable.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
I have enclosed a picture so you know what I am talking about.
I actually used a tiny screwdriver placed under the sight to bring it high enough while using a laser boresighter.
There is also no room to shim under the adjuster. It slides into a slot in the frame.

 

[DPris]

Try a different height rear blade.
S&W or Brownells.
Denis

 

[rcmodel]

What bullet weight are you using, 240 grain??

Lighter bullets will shoot low.

Sights & sight parts here:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=650/schematicsdetail/N-Frame-29-3

The other option is to file down the front sight and cold blue it.

BTW: You can't use a laser bore sighter to sight in a handgun.
The bore will always be aligned way below the actual POI when sighted in due to the gun recoiling up before the bullet gets out of the barrel.

rc

 

[menotseeu]

RC,

I'm using a Site-Lite SL-150 Ultra Mag Laser Boresighter. As per there instructions it works with handguns. I have also used it on a Colt Python, 1911,
Beretta auto, and a few others. It has always worked well for me. My sights have always been aligned dead on the POI. I'm sighting in at 25 yards indoors with no loads so there is no kick back.

I also cannot file anything. It is made of polished nickel

I need a higher than factory blade, but not sure if S&W or Brownells has them.

 

[rcmodel]

It has always worked well for me.

Whatever you think.

However, as I said, the bore on any hard kicking handgun will always be pointing below where the sights are sighted in due to recoil kicking the gun up before the bullet clears the muzzle.

Trust me on this:
A laser down the bore will put the dot on the target well below where the sights are aligned on the target.

Have you actually shot your gun with hunting loads and it shoots low?

Or are you just thinking it will shoot low based on the laser sight in??

rc

 

[menotseeu]

I appreciate your comments and am not trying to be argumentative, but when I say "it has worked well for me" I mean on ALL my other handguns I have used the laser bore sighter and the sights have lined up with the laser. When I have gone to the field a couple times I had to fine tune the sights, but for the most part they were very close to POI.
Yes, I have shot the gun with hunting loads and it shot low. At that time I didn't have a bore sighter. This was years ago. I could not adjust the rear sights high enough to raise my POI. I just stored the pistol and didn't get it out until I thought I might use it for deer.
I then checked it with the laser and the POI was way below the sights after I had adjusted to the up most limit.
I find it strange that it has worked on my other pistols. Large caliber.
The laser down the bore put the dot on the target within 1 1/2" at 25 yards where the sights are aligned on the target for ALL my other pistols.
They also make laser bore sighters specifically for the 44 Mag and other high caliber pistols.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Menotseeu,

Try a 250-300gr load. They tend to shoot higher while 210 on down will shoot lower.

I have also found changer grips from wood to rubber affect where the shots go.

Deaf

 

[45_auto]

Trust me on this:
A laser down the bore will put the dot on the target well below where the sights are aligned on the target.

What you say is true.

It is also true that the Sight-Lite 150 system that the OP is using includes a computer program into which you enter the data for your gun and the ammo. The computer then prints out a custom laser boresighting target.

This custom target has the laser target spot well below the target point for the pistol sights.

It should work if everything in the computer program is correct.

However, I'm with rcmodel. For something as simple as sighting in a pistol, I wouldn't even think about trusting a computer program. Go try to actually sight the gun in with the ammo you're going to use before you start trying to modify it.

 

[DPris]

Both companies I mentioned sell different height blades.
Figure out which height yours is & look at those listed on the Brownells website for a higher one.
They're ALL S&W factory blades.
Denis

 

[45_auto]

Stock sight height on an N-frame is .160.

Blades avalable are .101, .125, .146, and .160.

I believe that the different blades Brownells has available are all shorter than stock. Most people need them for shooting reduced loads, which can shoot significantly lower in a long barrel.

Only reason I know is because I was just shooting my 8 3/8 Model 29 this afternoon with some light loads (8.5 gr Unique, 240 gr bullet, about 950 fps). They shot about a foot high at 25 yards with the sight cranked all the way down. Checked Brownells when I got home to see what was available.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=...scending)/Products/All/search=SIGHT_BLADE_KIT

Looks like Midway has a .196 blade but it's out of stock.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/750428/smith-and-wesson-rear-sight-blade-196-black-k-l-n-frame

 

[DPris]

They may very well be shorter, but considering guns have been turned out with something other'n normal parts over the years, not to mention swapouts by previous owners, I'd at least find out what's on the gun now & go from there.
Denis

 

[earplug]

Pull the trigger on some live rounds

I would need to practice with live rounds before hunting deer using a handgun with open sights.
Changing the rear sight blade is a gunsmith operation if you don't have the slotted screw driver and all the right parts and skill.

 

[menotseeu]

However, I'm with rcmodel. For something as simple as sighting in a pistol, I wouldn't even think about trusting a computer program. Go try to actually sight the gun in with the ammo you're going to use before you start trying to modify it.

I DID try to sight it in as I explained.

Thanks for all your answers. I have the tools and skills to change it. Been doing gunsmithing, on a limited basis for over 37 years. I've never run into a pistol I couldn't sight in, in the field. The laser was just to confirm.
Thanks again to all.

 

[rcmodel]

The computer then prints out a custom laser boresighting target.

Shows how much I know about laser bore sighting a handgun!

Nothing. Nada. Zero.

Shooting them with the load in question to sight them in is all I have ever done in the last 50+ years of shooting & gunsmithing handguns.

rc

 

[gamestalker]

There are s many different and inexpensive sight options that will solve your problem. S&W, as well, a bunch of after market blades and front inserts are available.

I would get on the phone with Midway and explain your delemna to them and they'll have the answer's for you.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Try blackening the front sight ramp with an ink marker so the red insert is no longer visible, all the way to the upper front corner. The top of the insert is lower than the front corner of the sight. If you use the insert to index your front sight with the rear, sometimes that can throw your POI off.

I have the tools and skills to change it.

At least it is pinned on and not machined integrally to the barrel.

 

[ironhead7544]

For a temporary fix try the 270 gr or 300 gr loads. They will shoot higher. Some rear sight blades were made higher. I think the long barrel front adjustable sight model had one.

 

[Remllez]

You can try taking a fuller sight that is to say instead of everything being level on the sights try raising the front blade above the rear sights. Shoot a few times to confirm and right down load and position of the front blade for future reference.