Model P shooting extremly high

Marshal Deadwood · May 04, 2007, 10:04:12 AM

I recently bought a Cimarron Model P, 7 1/2 inch barrel, .45LC. It shoots appx 8 inches hight at 20 yards. Three different shooters, off handguns rest, off side rest, off-hand. All with the same result

I just do not see enough 'meat' in the top strap to correct this problem.

How would you,,,if there is a 'good' way....try to correct the POI with this revolver ?

Marshal Deadwood

Shotgun Steve · May 04, 2007, 11:15:44 AM

Aim 8 inches low at twenty yards..

Shotgun Steve

Irish Dave · May 04, 2007, 11:55:57 AM

You may be able to reduce the height some by going to a lighter bullet as it will typically print lower than a heavier one. (Heavier =Longer time in the barrel, more muzzle rise, etc.)

Unfortunately, when an SAA prints high, it is tougher to correct as, at some point, a taller front sight is pretty much the answer. Easy to take metal off, harder to put it on. I understand that some smiths can squeeze the front sight in a smooth-jawed vise of sufficient size and pressure to actually thin and heighten the font sight material. It can then be filed and recontoured to a better shape. It could also be welded up with more material and then recontoured and finished but that's not a simple fix, either.

I'd say try the lighter bullet. After that it's either a lower rear sight or a taller front.....or KY windage as mentioned above.

Marshal Deadwood · May 04, 2007, 12:38:24 PM

Well thanks guys.

Who knows, maybe I expect too much.

But being a handgunner all my life,,and a bit of an accuracy freak...this is ,,,frustrating to live with.

Were this indeed a hunting handgun...(what makes less need for accuracy in a cowboy gun anyways? ) id be distrubed. Very.

But, the lad at the store finally did tell me he would refer the matter to the 'boss' Monday,,,,so,,,we shall see.

Marshal Deadwood

Cuzzin Jack · May 04, 2007, 06:42:10 PM

Hey Dave, is KY windage anything like KYJelly?

Cuzzin Jack

Marshal Deadwood · May 04, 2007, 06:52:02 PM

Sure it is Jack,,ya just dont hold as high !

Marshal Deadwood

geo · May 04, 2007, 07:03:19 PM

well, there is ten'see elevation ( to go with kain'tuck windage) but i would just put a taller front sight on it. put a real tall front sight on and file the sight down until it indexes where you want it. but go too low on the front sight and you have to start over. the old timers would use a half of a penny. good luck, geo.

Cuzzin Jack · May 04, 2007, 07:07:15 PM

I think thats supposed to Kentucky windage and Tennessee elevation. Cuzzin Jack

Delmonico · May 04, 2007, 07:21:12 PM

In the day they were made to hit dead on at about 75 yards with the loads of the period. A hold at the top of the belly would put it in the face at the mid range trajetory at about 50 yards, between at shorter distances. Beyond that the hit would creep down to where at about 75 yards it would hit just above the belly button. at about 100 it caught you in the groin. The were set about right to hit a man size target out to 100 yards, the job they were designed for.

Marshal Deadwood · May 05, 2007, 11:53:56 AM

Well Delmonico,,,according to what you say, this one outta be about right to historical standards. Perhaps its not a 'problem' with the revolver, ,,,more just 'how it is.' And with any CAS shooting..it wont be that big a deal anyways...paticular SASS,,,Ray Charles could hit'm with this gun even.

I think I will give it more ' field test' at longer ranges...who knows,,,this might make a better field gun than close range competition gun.

Iv always handgun hunted with a model 29Smith of some configuration in .44mag. While I know a .45Colt is NOT a .44mag,,,have ya ever tried it out on a whitetail ?

It does shoot dead center as far as left to right varience.

Thanks,

Marshal Deadwood

Driftwood Johnson · May 05, 2007, 06:40:40 PM

Howdy

Have you tried that pistol any closer in than 20 yards? I'll bet the bullet is still rising at 20 yards. I'll bet closer in, the error in elevation will be much less. I don't think I've ever encountered a CAS pistol target out at 20 yards. I'm not saying that your pistol shouldn't hit where you want it to, but I suspect that close in like most CAS targets are, more like 10 yards, it will shoot a lot closer to point of aim.

I have just the opposite problem with a couple of New Vaqueros. They shoot very low at CAS distances. I will probably be filing a little bit of metal off the front sights to raise up the impact point with them. The advice to put on a taller front sight is technically correct, but not very practical. The front sight on your Cimarron is probably attatched with silver solder. Replacing it will mean heating the sight enough to melt the solder. That will discolor the blue, and so will soldering a new sight on. I don't think you want to damage the finish on your brand new pistol.

You don't mention what weight bullet you are shooting. Generally speaking, a lighter bullet will bring down the point of impact because the barrel won't rise as much before the bullet exits the muzzle. The same effect will happen with a lighter powder charge.

Don't touch the top strap. You don't want to do that. Lots of shooters have had good results carefully building up the front sight with a little bit of J B Weld. But I doubt if you really want to do that, it might come out looking pretty crude.

The bottom line is, with a fixed sight pistol, before you even think about phuysically altering the sights, you should settle on a load that performs as you want it to. If you can come up with a load that prints where you want it to, there is no need to touch the sights. Just imagine how bad you'll feel if you do something to the sights, and then at some point down the road you discover a load you like better, that does not print where your sights have been set.

Marshal Deadwood · May 06, 2007, 02:55:19 PM

Thanks Driftwood,,,,more experiments with loads is exactly were im headed before doing any thing that cant be un-done.

Just for giggles,,ill late ya'll know what happens. Might be of use to someone later.

Marshal Deadwood