Does your topbreak shoot to point of aim right out of the box?

[kcub]

Yes or no?

What is your make/model/caliber/barrel length?

If yours doesn't/didn't shoot to point of aim, what did you do about it?

What load does your gun shoot well with?

I'm hopeful this thread will document what configurations tend to shoot right, what configurations tend to shoot off, and what can be done to fix it if necessary.  I know pieces of information germane to this topic exist in other threads but there is an awful lot of wheat and chaff to sort through.

Even though Uberti makes most of what is currently available, there are still many different specs, makes, models, barrel lengths and variants that will have a bearing on the central question of this thread.  A gunsmith I know says the Navy Arms tend to shoot better than the Ubertis.  How many he has seen I don't know nor do I know the configurations that shoot well.

• original 19th century S&W
• S&W Schofield repro (circa 2000)
• Armi San Marco
• Uberti
• Navy Arms
• Taylor
• Beretta
• other

I have a new Uberti/Schofield/.38 Special/5" that I haven't shot yet.  It is nickel and pearly gripped and shore is purty.
I hope it shoots straight because I don't want to file on that front sight and thereby jack up the nickel finish.

[St. George]

There's no wheat and chaff to sort through - 'if' you'd bother to read - you'll find that most everyone agrees with the concept, and it's even delineated in all books on practical shooting.

Different revolvers shoot differently - depending upon the shooter, the load and the range distance.

They'll shoot differently if you shoot two-handed or from sandbags - as opposed to shooting one-handed and standing.

At the massive and 'close' targets commonly seen at C&WAS shoots - 'hitting' the target shouldn't be any sort of a problem, whatsoever - most misses come as a matter of an attempt at greater speed than the shooter's practiced for, and nervousness.

If you're afraid of screwing up the nickel finish of your .38's front sight - do what many do - replace it with one of silver.

These were never designed to be 'target' revolvers - men of the time shot differently, and instinctively - so don't think yours will be a tack-driver without a helluva lot of range time and ammunition expenditure on your part - 'after' you've discovered the load it happens to like.

And you're going to need to figure 'that' out all on your own - a favorite load for one guy doesn't always work for another, so their recommendations - while trying to be helpful - may not be what your weapon does its best work with.

In this instance - seeking consensus isn't going to be as productive as is practical work done on your own.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Irish Dave]

kcub:

St. George is right about the work that goes in to finding what will work best with your loads and shooting style.

FWIW, I'll be happy to share my experciences, however. I have no idea whether they are typical of others' or not.

I currently shoot a 7" Uberti New Model Russian in .44 Russian and a pair of Beretta (Uberti) Laramies -- one with w 5" barrel and one with a 6.5" tube.

The Russian shoots very close to POA with a 200 grain bullet and a medium smokeless charge. As is.

The 5" Laramie shot a bit high and slightly left with a similar loading and bullet. The Berettas have an adjustable rear sight, so filing the rear blade lower and moving it just a touch to the right, brought it into line.

The 6.5" Laramie shot quite high (probably partly due to increased dwell time of the longer barrel) and again just a hair left with the same kind of loadings. It was resolved in the same manner, but required much more reduction of the rear sight height.

On the other hand, I know that I typically shoot slightly left (a flaw in my technique no doubt), so others' experience with the windage element of the Laramies might be quite different.

Additionally, differences in grip shape and hold from the Schofield to the Russian to the Laramie (New Model No. 3) will cause differences in POA/POI relationships.

Your (and others) mileage may vary.

[kcub]

There's no wheat and chaff to sort through - 'if' you'd bother to read - you'll find that most everyone agrees with the concept, and it's even delineated in all books on practical shooting.

To what concept are you referring to?

Different revolvers shoot differently - depending upon the shooter, the load and the range distance.

They'll shoot differently if you shoot two-handed or from sandbags - as opposed to shooting one-handed and standing.

At the massive and 'close' targets commonly seen at C&WAS shoots - 'hitting' the target shouldn't be any sort of a problem, whatsoever - most misses come as a matter of an attempt at greater speed than the shooter's practiced for, and nervousness.

If you're afraid of screwing up the nickel finish of your .38's front sight - do what many do - replace it with one of silver.

Thanks for the useful info about the silver sight.  Does anyone make them?

These were never designed to be 'target' revolvers - men of the time shot differently, and instinctively - so don't think yours will be a tack-driver without a helluva lot of range time and ammunition expenditure on your part - 'after' you've discovered the load it happens to like.

And you're going to need to figure 'that' out all on your own - a favorite load for one guy doesn't always work for another, so their recommendations - while trying to be helpful - may not be what your weapon does its best work with.

In this instance - seeking consensus isn't going to be as productive as is practical work done on your own.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

It might be nice to know what types shoot best in case you want to get a matched pair for example.

[Shotgun Franklin]

If your gun happens to shoot pretty much right on as far as windage then it's fairly easy to change elevation within certain limits.
By changing to a lighter bullet at a higher velocity you might shoot lower. With a heavier bullet at a lower velocity you might shoot higher. Now a much higher velocity will tend to shoot higher because of recoil.  It takes some juggling of components. I have two Colt's, yes I know not what you're speaking of but just as an example, that shoot dead on with 200 gr bullets. By increasing velocity a bit they shoot a bit higher. This let me get spot on with my guns. Sometimes you can also change point of impact/aim by adjusting your grip. The higher you grip, often, the higher your bullet will hit (sometimes). This is as much an art as a science.

[St. George]

The 'concept' is the adjustment of fixed-sight revolvers to a specific load...

A matched pair can shoot as differently as ones made at any end of a production run - each will be different - the 'matched' business comes from finish and stocks - not inherent or optimized accuracy potential.

What shoots 'Point of Aim' for you - may well behave differently for everyone else who isn't exactly your height, doesn't exactly mirror your hold, doesn't have your eye-relief - and so on and so forth.

You adjust 'your' weapon for 'you' - and if it's close enough for someone else - they'll adjust 'their' Point of Aim.

The silver front sights are made from silver dimes - get a used one from a coin shop.

Some shooters will get a dime that's dated from the time frame and will mount them with the date showing - others will make them smooth and go with that - either works, so long as they are well-fitted and pinned tightly.

Silver 'will' tarnish - but that's not a problem - and you might find that a tarnished/blackened front sight gives you a better sight picture.

Before you do 'anything' put in some range time with several different bullet weights - adjust from there and shoot in the method 'you' plan on shooting the piece - I'd strongly recommend a few hundred rounds, in order for you to get used to the way it handles and to 'wear-in' moving parts.

Using a sandbag rest only lets you know how particular loads 'might' group.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Delmonico]

Guns made exactly the same, one after another in the same factory will not perform the same, each is it's own law.  Looks to me like a idea an editor in a newstand gun rag would have some writer do, take several bands of guns, thousands of rounds of ammo and decide nothing useful.

Besides in this poll (pole?) how are you going to know that everyone shoots to the same level of skill?  OK, I have an idea, send me one of each of those guns and lots of ammo plus powder and bullets and I'll be glad to give you an opinion, that way they all are done by the same person, oh and send a bunch of money for the indoor range fees, that way the climate is the same all the time.

[Texas Lawdog]

That sounds like a part-time job to me.

[Delmonico]

That sounds like a part-time job to me.

You're right, perhaps I also need wages.