Your experiences with fixed sighted revolvers ?

[goon]

I have heard horror stories of people buying fixed sighted revolvers and finding that they were sending their rounds into the next zip code with them.
What has been your experience with them?
All things being equal, would fixed sights keep you from buying a gun?

 

[J Miller]

goon,

I have had two early Uberti Cattleman SAs in .45 Colt that shot high. They needed taller sights. Windage was fine.

A bunch of 1911 variants with fixed sights, most of them were so close that I didn't care about the difference.

An early 40's S&W Victory Model in 38S&W caliber. It was dead on as I remember it.

As for fixed sights causing me to avoid buying a gun,.......no. Not as long as the revolver checked out and the barrel and front sight was indexed correctly.

As a matter of fact, I've had more trouble with adjustable sighted guns of all types, than fixed sighted ones.

Joe

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've had good success with fixed sights on my Colt Detective Special and pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 60.

 

[P95Carry]

Considering that in most cases, fixed sights reside on snubs and the like ... essentially easily concealable SD weapons.

By that token the required range parameters are on the short side .... say 7 - 10 yds. Further to that .. the POA/POI relationship can often be adjusted by ammo choice .... many such guns that are .38 spl for instance - being set up for a 158 grn bullet rather than the lighter ones that are available.

For the most part they work for me.

 

[Brian Williams]

I have a S&W 13 and an old M&P that are both fixed sight guns and I have no problems with them at up to 25 yards. I really like to shoot my 13 and it is one of my carry guns.

 

[sm]

My experiences have been GREAT!

It is what I learned on. Find the ammo it likes and don't worry about it. Most guns are more accurate than folks can shoot them anyway.

For CCW . SD and Serious uses, no worry of snagging, breaking, getting out of alignment - rugged and dependable.

I even hunt with fixed sights on revolvers or semis. [ Model 10 , 1911 style for instance].

I have watched the fix sighted gun used by the folks in LEO do quals...no problem hitting the target at 50 yds - as was part of the quals at one time. Yes yards not feet.

 

[one45auto]

All of my fixed-sighted revolvers are exceptionally accurate. Whether this is due to natural inclination or my extreme good fortune in having purchased the right models I can't say for sure. All I know is that where I put the sights is where the paper gets punched. But then as the old saying goes "your mileage may vary", and you may find another barrel/sight combination better suited for you.

 

[Ala Dan]

I've had absolutely 0 problems with fixed sighted
Smith & Wesson and Colt revolvers. Models have
included: 10, 13, 30, 36, 37, 38, 49, and 60 for
Smith & Wessons; and the 1917 .45 ACP, Cobra,
Detective Special, and Agent from the Colt line.

While I prefer adjustable, target type sights; I
wouldn't let a weapon with fixed sights deter
me from purchasing said weapon.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[wintermute76]

My High Standard Sentinel Mk II has no troubles holding a 2-3" group on the bull at 25 yards. It's a clone of the Dan Wesson model 14/15.

 

[ruger357]

I have owned dozens of fixed site revolvers and out of all of them I only had a problem with one that did not shoot poa.

 

[Majic]

With fixed sighted guns if you stick to the standard bullet weight you usually have no problems as that's how most factories regulate them. Just try a variety of ammo to see what shoots to POA or choose what ammo you plan to shoot, regulate the sights and stick to that.
I have never had any problems with fix sighted guns. In fact certain guns I refuse to buy if it has adjustable sights.

 

[Clemson]

I consider fixed sights to be less useful than adjustable sights. I like the sight picture better from S&W adjustable sights than from fixed. I like the capability of using any bullet weight or load that I want to without worrying about where the point of impact is going to be. I have never found adjustables to be "delicate."

I have exactly one revolver with fixed sights, and it had to be returned to the factory to have the sights regulated. Having said all that, the one with fixed sights is resident in my right front pocket as I type this.

They do have a place on defensive guns.

Clemson

 

[Pappy John]

I have experience with 3 fixed sight revolvers. Two Smith .38's and a Ruger .44. My 36 with 3" tapered barrel is absolutely right on the money and shoots nice, tight groups. The 642 shoots pretty close to POA, slightly low, but my in-ability to shoot it well leaves more patterns than groups. Both of these are using 125 gr. XTP's at max. standard pressure......no +p as they're both no-dash guns.

The Vaquero took some sight adjustment, as it shot low left out of the box with all the loads that I tried. I filed the sight blade down while at the range, a few strokes at a time between test groups, till I had the elevation right, then cold blued the raw metal. Then I used a vice grip with leather in the jaws to tweak the blade to the left. I got lucky twice, in that I didn't break it off with that bonehead move, and I got the windage tweak right the first time. I should have had Ruger turn the barrel....they probably would have done it for free if I supplied the test ammo. Once I was done messing with the thing it shot pretty well, though it was never an "over 25 yard" type of gun. That simple groove rear sight produced some of the most spectacular fliers that I've ever shot.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Goon,
never tried a fixed sighted revolver. I ponied up the dough for adjustable sights because I knew that 1) there would be more than one use and 2) there would be more than one load used in the gun.

I do have one fixed sighted semi-auto though. I never drifted the rear sight over for a good sight picture. I use Kentucky (or Virginia, or whatever state you like) windage. (Just don't use California windage or NYC windage because you'll shoot way too far left )

-Jim

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

The only one I own is a mid 50's S&W mdl 36, it prints all it's ammo 3"-6" low at 25 feet.

 

[foghornl]

My Vaquero seems to shoot a bit to the left (about 2" @ 25 Yds), Single-Six is dead on. I don't shoot my snubby .38 well enough to tell.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Another happy customer

My cheap old Speed Six has always done well, including the steel target the Angeles Shooting Range had at their pistol range back in the 1980's (something like 75 yards). Misses (lots) were close, and pings were more often than I expected. [OK, I did shoot single action for this target at that range.]

The J and K frames I've been lucky to shoot have been really good as well. My 640-1 makes me look a lot better than I am, even with that "shallow" rear sight groove.

(And all my autoloaders are fixed sight too. )
I'd like to think todays manufacturers would make good on a bad pistol.

 

[G. Glock]

I'll take fixed-sight guns over adjustable sights any day if the sight picture is any good at all and the gun hits where it should. It's just one large bump (sometimes sharp) you don't need.

With a Colt/Clone SAA, I can hardly stand to even LOOK at adjustable sights. It's almost hurts me as much as seeing a scope on a Hawkin rifle. I'd rather a sigle action shoot 12' to the left than have adjustable sights on it.

 

[JNewell]

That's the thing, though -- POA/POI issues may be fine, but many fixed sight revolvers (J frames, SP101) have fair to poor sight pictures IMO. This is the trade-off for compact, low-drag top ends. If you want bad sight pictures, though, go back 40 years or more. Some of those guns make me wonder how anyone ever hit anything unless it was standing still at high noon.

 

[grendelbane]

I have to agree about the sights on some old guns. Why they made them so skimpy, I do not understand. Of course, the grips on old wheelguns leave a lot to be desired also.

I like fixed sight S&W revolvers, especially for social purposes. Nothing to get broken, or knocked out of line. I am fortunate that all 3 of my S&W's shoot to point of aim with the ammunition I prefer. J, K, and N, I suppose I ought to get a 581 so I can have an L frame fixed sight gun.

The model 58, with its fixed sights, is probably the best serious revolver ever made.

A modern day 658 would be even better.

Of course, we need a 190 grain JHP @ 950 fps to make it perfect.

 

[denfoote]

Fixed sight revolvers

...many such guns that are .38 spl for instance - being set up for a 158 grn bullet rather than the lighter ones that are available.

I have indeed found that to be the case, although my experience with revolvers is limited to just two.
All you have to do is adjust the elevation on your front sight and "learn" where the spot is that gives you the correct POA for the ammo you are using. That is where sending a lot lead down range comes in!!!

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I prefer them on my carry guns. They're more durable, and with practice 50+ yard shooting can be done. I just had to tailor my carry loads to match the sights on my sp101. Once I arrived at a good load for this gun(14.9grs of 2400 under a 158 gold dot hp). This load will do one hole groups at 10 yards, and shoots flat clear out to 75 yards. That's THE load for this gun.

On a gun that is used for anything else, I prefer adjustable sights.

Disclaimer: The above load is on the warm side, at or above max in most books, and may be dangerous in your gun, approach with caution.

 

[Mannlicher]

My experience with fixed sight revolvers has been mostly positive. I have had a few that just did not like anything I fed them. The worst was a 3 inch Model 60. My gunsmith fixed it, but would not let me watch. He said it would make me ill to watch him whack the barrel into shape with a lead weight. Regardless of what he did, it the little Smith now shoots dead on, with 129 grain HydroShocks, or 125 grain Winchester Whitebox JHP.

 

[Mannlicher]

My experience with fixed sight revolvers has been mostly positive. I have had a few that just did not like anything I fed them. The worst was a 3 inch Model 60. My gunsmith fixed it, but would not let me watch. He said it would make me ill to watch him whack the barrel into shape with a lead weight. Regardless of what he did, it the little Smith now shoots dead on, with 129 grain HydroShocks, or 125 grain Winchester Whitebox JHP.

 

[grendelbane]

Good point! There really are no fixed sight guns. There are just guns that take extreme measures to adjust the sights.

I have filed sights. Once, I even soldered a piece of steel onto a front sight.

I have been lucky with my model 13 & 58. Both shoot to point of aim with the ammunition of my choice. If I had to make a 100 yard shot today, I would use my S&W 13. It has been 20 years, but I actually shot a 8" group at 100 yards. (With a rest).

At least I know that the sights have not shifted since then.