shooting high

[TriumphGT6]

I gotta admit, the big guy is fun to shoot-- but he'd be a lot more fun if he would just, you know... hit what I point him at :mad:. (Is that too much to ask?)

See, here's the thing: Mr. .45 likes to throw 'em high. Not sky-high mind you, but enough that if I were to find myself in a serious social situation, and God forbid I were to hear my gut say something like "Shoot the SOB NOW!," I'd have to remember to aim for his chin to hit him in the Stupid-Box, at 25 yd.

Here's the tool as it stands today:
http://www.mv.com/ipusers/last/sight.jpg
What I'd like, is a rear sight exactly (almost) like this one, but shorter. I don't want to take a file to this one, because (1) I couldn't repair the finish and (2) I'm pretty clumsy with a file.

So, finally, we come to the point of this essay: does anyone know of a source of rear sights essentially like the one shown, and available in different heights?

[stumbler]

It looks like you are getting really good with the camera. Can we see the front sight? I have a Charley Daly that shot low. Sent it back to the Repair Depot (under warranty) and almost 1/2 of the front sight got filed to have it hit POA.

To raise the POI, you would normally move the rear sight to where your want, and the front sight is opposite. Raising the rear will lower your POI even more. Lowering the rear will raise the POI. Lowering the front sight brings the POI higher.

[TriumphGT6]

It looks like you are getting really good with the camera
Heh. It's either that, or a thousand words (and I'm lazy).

The front is a plain post. The sights are (I'm told) the only real external difference between the current crop of Series 70's coming out of the custom shop, and the original run. They have improved visibility; but I suppose Colt may have made the rear sight taller in proportion to the front, which would raise the POI. I don't really want a taller front sight, I want a lower rear. Besides issues of holster fit, a new front post requires a visit with a 'smith. I can drive the rear in by myself.

I'll mic them and post the dimensions this evening.

[brickeyee]

I think stumbler is off a little (probably a brain cramp). Front sites move the oppposite of POI shift, rear sights move the same. Lower the rear,lower the POI. Raise the rear raise the POI. Raising the front lowers the POI.
You could cnsider getting another rear like you have and then filling the exising one. As long as it is steel touch up blue does a good job. Touch up and a heat gun does a very good job.

[stumbler]

too late and two many beers.:o

[SAWBONES]

Your only easy options are to replace the front sight with a higher one or to lower the rear or replace the rear with a lower one.

Lowering the rear is a job best not done by duffers, since it needs to be done very evenly, and the notch may need to be cut deeper too.

[TriumphGT6]

Here's the dope, as best I can measure with the micrometer, freehand:

Front sight: .177" proud of the slide

Rear: .224" proud, .325" tall (from bottom of dovetail)

POI: 5" high @ 25 yd.

A little fun with algebra tells me I want a rear sight that stands about .04" lower; that is, .285" tall.

So my question is, does anyone know where such a tidbit might be for sale?

[stumbler]

I have to look, but I think I may have something. (I promise to look without a 12oz curl going on too) No promises.

[stumbler]

Sorry TriumphGT6, I don't have anything.

[Hawkmoon]

Basic question -- what do you use for a sight picture? I ask because I found that when using white dot "combat" style sights I am supposed to unlearn 50+ years of shooting and place the dot of the front sight ON the intended point of impact rather than line up the sights and put the bullseye on top of the front sight.

Are you by any chance using a combat sight picture with an old-style sight that wants to use a traditional (for want of a better term) sight picture?

[TriumphGT6]

Well this pistol has plain vanilla sights, no white outlines or dots or whatnot. As for sight picture, at the range I habitually dot the 'i', even with a combat gun. I realize this ain't no sissified target shootin' iron, but my ageing eyes do best when I dot the 'i'.

So what I'd like to see is, a nice little group of holes just below the black, where she was pointing when I pulled her trigger. As it is, I get a fairly large group an inch or so above the black.

I can theoretically fix the group size issue with practice, but I'd like to fix the group placement issue wih a shorter rear sight.

I phoned Colt today, asking for a price list from their custom shop. We'll see what they want for such work, and oh-by-the-way for a bit of Nimschke-style decoration too.

[Harlie]

Are skilled with hand tools, I'd just lower what's on the piece. You have a means to measure and deepning the notch it isn't difficult. I open all my rear sights to get more light on each side. And use a chain saw file to do the work and end up with a u-notch rear. As we age it's more difficult to see the light on each side of front thru rear opening on a standard sight, at least for me. I like my sight to allow hitting where they point, not above with a 6 o'clock hold. If it doesn't work out order the correct height from Brownell's.

[Sifu]

Just aim low.