Uberti 1858 New Army

Areebasack · November 17, 2010, 09:21:10 PM

I have a Uberti 1858 New Army Revolver that I got new in August 2010. I have shot around 70 bp shots using pyrodex 30gr pellet as well as 777 fffg 25 grain powder with a .454 Hornady ball. I also shot around 200 rounds with the R&D conversion cylinder using 45 colt rounds (Ten X, Magtech and Remington). The gun fires great and only had a few misfires with bp when it got dirty. Quick cleaning and recapping and it fired fine.

The problem that I would like advice on how to correct is that the gun consistently shoots high and to the left, the point of impact is high and to the left of where I (and my friends) aim. In order to hit my target I must aim at 5 o'clock of the target. At 20 yards I must aim about 7 inches to the lower right of the target in order to hit it. I am looking for advice from anyone who has a similar problem and what they did to fix it. Thanks in advance for any help.

Pettifogger · November 17, 2010, 10:42:40 PM

If you are intending to use it for CAS matches the pistol targets are usually ten yards or less. If you want to correct the windage and elevation the best bet is to remove the front sight, dovetail the barrel, and use a dovetailed front sight. That way you can drift it for windage and use different height front sights for elevation. A lot of Uberti 58's come with dovetailed front sights. Is yours a post screwed/pressed into the barrel or is it a dovetail?

Areebasack · November 18, 2010, 02:44:23 PM

The front sight is a dovetail mount with the sight blade fixed in it. It appears that the 'blade' is part of the dovetail base...single unit.

I think you are recommending removing this sight and replaceing it with a similar dovetail sight that will match the fit and that the 'blade' is not fixed but can be adjusted left or right. How do I remove the existing dovetail and do you have a recommendation for a replacement? Thanks again.

Raven · November 18, 2010, 06:23:32 PM

The idea is to drift the sight you have to the left to move the group to the right. Your local gunsmith can weld a little to the top of the sight to move the group down. Or you can cut the rear sight notch a little deeper to move the group down.

Also by experimenting with the amount of powder in your load and the wieght of your bullet you can change the point of impact.

Raven

Wolfgang · November 18, 2010, 07:06:20 PM

Difficult to cut the rear sight notch much deeper. I did have one of mine shoot to the left and I filed the rear sight notch into a square notch a bit to the right to correct that. You can try moving the rear sight notch a bit to the right and add on to the height of the front sight to correct the point of impact.

Raven · November 18, 2010, 08:52:15 PM

Wolfgang you are right!
Forgot which forum I was on and was thinking Colt on the rear sight $:-\$
By drifting the front sight at the range he will at least have a measurement on how much to move the rear sight.

I would spend a little time working up a load for the pistol first.

Last weekend I test fired a 1st. Model Richards I built for a customer. With the handloads he provided the gun shoots 7" high and 6" to the left at 25 yards. With Ten X .44 Colt Black Powder loads it shoots to point of aim.

Raven

Montana Slim · November 18, 2010, 09:51:24 PM

I've found slightly working the rear groove in the frame to be of help in this regard. If you widen & square the opening you will allow the front to nestle in better & allow you to hold it down, where it should be.

Kind of a surprise, I haven't seena factory Rem NM shoot high..they seem to leave the front sight plenty tall.

Regards,
Slim

Areebasack · November 21, 2010, 06:02:14 PM

Folks: Thanks for all of your replies and suggestions. I sighted the gun with a barrel inserted laser and re-verified it is shooting left of the sight aim. I "drifted" the front sight to the left using a vice with wood blocks on both sides of the barrel. Just moved it as little as possible, probably 1/16". I then re aimed with the lazer and it looks to be right on target. I'll be shooting it later this week and will let you know the results. Not worried about elevation at this point, one challenge at a time. Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving.

Areebasack · December 03, 2010, 12:00:51 PM

Update: I shot last week with 200 gr Magtech .45 colt cartridges. These are good for target shooting with little recoil. After drifting the front sight to the left it now shoots where I aim. I'll be trying C&B shots later and will experiment with the load as well. Thanks.

hellgate · December 30, 2010, 05:59:32 PM

A heavier bullet will generally print higher in a pistol. When you get to shooting the .454 balls again they will hit lower than the 200gr 45LC bullets. The heavier bullets have more barrel travel time coupled with more recoil allows the barrel to rock up higher before the slug exits the gun. Years ago I tried in vain to get several bullet weights to print at the same POA so I didn't have to keep changing the sights. No can do (at least I couldn't). Various charges and powders and bullets generally had the light bullets hitting low and the heavier ones higher regardless of velocity.