Shot the 2nd Gen. 51 Navies Today

[Dusty Morningwood]

Finally got to shoot the new  (to me) 2nd Generation 51 Navies today.  Only had about an hour, so no real load work - just dumped in a full .38 spl. case of FFFG (ca. 24 gr wt) followed by a wonder wad and .380 ball.  At 25 yds (that is the closest option from behind the line at my range) it shoots about11 inches high and slightly to the left. 

In the photos I placed the tape measure at POA and ink pen pointing at groups.

Target 1a is with the more recent of the two (SN 166**) aiming at center of white circle.
Target 1b is with same aiming at lower right hand corner of target.

Target 2 is with the first one (SN 174**) aiming at the center of target, bottom edge. (In second post.  Won't let me post 3 pics).

ANy suggestions on tricks, loads, tweeks, etc.?

[Dusty Morningwood]

Target 2

[Fox Creek Kid]

First, the bad news: the 2nd Gen. Colts were not made on high tech CNC equipment, hence many shoot way off. The good news: find a quality CAS gunsmith/machinist who will dovetail in a higher front sight that will be adjustable for windage (obviously with the dovetail). Many original 1st Gen. Colts had dovetail front sights as your problem was common then as well. Don't worry about diminished value as you just did that when you pulled the trigger.    In conclusion, spend $100 for a quality dovetailed higher front sight and you'll be like a pig in slop. 

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I use 28 Grns FFFG BP and a .375 ball. It shaves a small ring and that's good enough for me.

I have not shot for groups yet, but mine seem to be shooting where I point them.

I point shoot CAS targets. Bead  on the target no rear sight and I'm hitting a whole lot more than I miss. I missed 4 today out of 40 shots(4 stages pistol only) I missed 2 Shotgun targets out of 16 too. (same 4 stages) I didn't shoot rifle as I don't have my Henry here yet.
I managed to dead center(with one of the 2nd Gen.s) a 3 inch pie plate on a hangmans rope holding a mannikin to emulate the Shot in the movie the Quick and the Dead where a young Sharon stone tried to shoot the rope to save her father.
Lucky shot?? Straw shot. You betcha!  but you don't make them if you don't take them. I hit that plate dead center and damaged the rope too. The RO said if he was ever hung he wanted me to shoot the rope. Blind hogs find acorns some days I guess.

I forced myself not to know which pistol Ii had in which holster as I wanted to see if they truly are alike as I thought. I'd load both at once and just jam them in the holsters, not noting which was which. Both did great right up the the last target of the last stage when the gun jammed on a tiny piece(I think) of cap that got into the innards. jammed it tight, like a cap under the hammer, except there wasn't a cap under the hammer. I had to forfiet the last two shots (was a 5 and 1 reload on the clock and the bullet was tossed to you by your pard. I shot C & B so they let me load 6 and cap 5 at the table. My pard threw me a capper and I had to cap on the clock) Gunned jammed and I had to forfiet two shots(2 of the misses.).

Took the gun down and never did see any pieces of caps anywhere. I cleaned the inner surfaces and the innards and oiled them and reassembled the gun and everything was fine. I was careful NOT to force any movement until I was able to disassemble the gun.

Some one asked which gun it was and I didn't even know until I looked at the S/N.....it was the 4 digit.
So much for the difference in the guns, they both worked so much alike that I cannot tell the difference in them at all.

[Dusty Morningwood]

I do not think I will modify the front sights unless I can find a way to mount in existing post hole (replace post if ever needed).  I wonder if lighter loads would bring it down some?  Maybe at closer CAS ranges the trajectory is not as high?  I had a shortened 58 Remmie with a conversion cylinder that shot POA at 5m, but at 10m shot about a foot high and at 20m...well, it went over the target.  A couple of writers in BP guides say around 15gr FFFG gives best results, but I wanted to start off feeding my Warthog jones!  Of course, all I really need to know is where to aim to hit the CAS pistol targets.  My Open Tops shoot a little high and to the right (Left, I mean Left!), so I aim at the lower right hand edge and usually hit most if not all of the pistol targets.

[Fox Creek Kid]

The following is just my opinion. I make my guns shoot to my POA and not vice versa. It's a pain in the rear to remember where each gun shoots if not sighted in. I regulate all my revolvers to shoot POA for this very fact. If not, and you need a precision shot, then you're SOL. If you only shoot SASS and their "garage door" targets you'll be OK, but some NCOWS shoots have really challenging pistol targets, i.e., 4 in. circle at 20 yds, and it's then you need a pistol that's sighted in properly. Maybe I'm anal about this but I won't own a revolver that isn't sighted to POA. OK, I'll step down from the soap box. 

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

FCK,
I don't think you are Anal about that at all. I just haven't had the time to go to the range and spend a day to sight my 2nd Gen's in.

I think both my 2nd Gens will hit that 4" disc at 20 yds and know for darn sure my Original Remy's will.  Not sure about the Colts yet, but they seem to group fairly well on the boulder out back. I do think I'm using the rear sights and not realizing it.I remember a couple of shots and sight pictures from yesterday and do recall the rear sights in the picture.

You are correct though some guns just don't shoot where you point them until you make them.
And you are correct about the SASS/CAS targets.  Big and close. You can almost just point the gun at them and hit them(how come I miss so many then...LOL)

[Fox Creek Kid]

Charlie, I had an Uberti '51 Navy once that was a diamond. It had the typical brass bead front sight and was DEAD NUTS on. I once shot a 15 yd. benched group that was the size of a quarter. Like an idiot, I sold it to a fellow who soon after died and his boy now has it and won't sell it back. Man, that was a stupid move on my part.    Note to self: NEVER sell a great shooting revolver. 

[Dusty Morningwood]

I may try buying a couple of Uberti hammers from VTI and have a good smith fit them to the 2nd Gens.  Then open up the rar sight notch.  This was suggested by another Pard and seems like a worthwhile try.