'72 OT SIGHTS

[Joe Lansing]

    I have a '72 OT .44 that shoots 7" high and 1" to the right at 15 yds. I had a similar problem with a '61 Richards-Mason 38 spl. I fixed that by installing a higher front sight blade, canted to one side for windage. It's dead on now and a pleasure to shoot.
    My problem is this: I can change the front sight, as I did with the '61, but the rear sight is rather "petite" and needs to be opened up
to get a good sight picture. Also, to compound things, the old eyes ain't what they used to be. A good sight picture is what I really want without destroying the pistol's original form....Any suggestions?

                                                                              J.L.

[Coffinmaker]

I very very carefully opened my Open Top rear sights with a very narrow small file.  Clamp the Barrel in a padded vice, tape the top of the barrel and the forcing cone and ...... file away.  Slowly and carefully.  If your only an inch off for windage, I'd leave that alone.
I don't know what load your shooting,  but you can drop the point of impact by going to a lighter bullet with more speed.  I'd suggest trying that before you attack it with a file.

Coffinmaker

[Joe Lansing]

    I am using the 215 flat nose .44-40 bullet. Groups at 600fps and 800fps group alike. I am inclined to open the rear sight as you suggest, but I will probably have to raise the front sight.

                                                  J.L.