Schofield sight picture

[westfi1]

     I am a new member and this is my first post.  I have a Navy Arms Schofield and I am confused about how to use the rear sight.  Is the proper sight picture to align the top of the front sight with the top of the large U-shaped upper opening, or with the top of the tiny notch in the bottom of the larger U ?  This is not addressed in the literature that accompanied the revolver.  Thank you very much.

[St. George]

Treat it as you would any sight picture - but remember this - the Colt Single Action Army and the S&W Schofield were operationally used in a 'point and shoot' fashion and not the NRA 'National Match Course' manner.

They were drawn and shot fluidly by the Trooper, the weapon being fired when everything lined up naturally by a one-handed shooter - though they were accurate when shot single-fire.

In short - it's kinda like old-fashioned 'Kentucky Windage', where you figure out your weapon's point of aim, and adjust accordingly.

There's a bit of 'try and see' involved, so get a few boxes and get out to the range.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Christopher Carson]

     I am a new member and this is my first post.  I have a Navy Arms Schofield and I am confused about how to use the rear sight.  Is the proper sight picture to align the top of the front sight with the top of the large U-shaped upper opening, or with the top of the tiny notch in the bottom of the larger U ?  This is not addressed in the literature that accompanied the revolver.  Thank you very much.

Welcome.

Yep, ya gotta work out what works for you... since your grip, stance, recoil control, and eyesight are part of the equation, too.

Try top to top, 6 o'clock hold, see where it shoots.  Then adjust as necessary (e.g., center hold, proud front sight, load changes, etc.) until you know -- and like -- where it shoots.

-Chris

[Virginia Gentleman]

While these guns can be aimed deliberately with some difficulty, I would have to agree with the others that they are both a point and shoot proposition, with tight group size not being a factor on a human or horse sized target.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I am going to disagree a little bit. The New Model Number Three, which was very similar to the Schofield, gained a reputation as probably the most accurate single action target revolver ever made. According to S&W aficionados anyway. There were many records set with them that would be difficult to equal today. In capable hands, they were definitely not 'point and shoot' guns, but were used by champion pistol shooters in the late 19th Century. They were also known to shoot high, mine does. Not that I'm any kind of champion pistol shooter, of course.

I see no reason why a Schofield would not be just as accurate.

I would say take it to the range and sight it in sitting at the bench over sandbags. Place a target at the distance you expect to be shooting. Choose the sight picture that works best for you and see where it prints when you hold it that way. Adjust your sight picture as required. Then try the same thing the way you will normally shoot it and see where it prints. You will answer your own question.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I feel so lucky with my present Schofields.

The previous owner of them, a Territorial Governor in his own right, took a file to the back sight and made the half oval just a little deeper and wider to improve the vision. Then he took off the standard front sites and replaced them with a pair of brass sites that I am guessing are just a little bit taller .....

Result ... the guns are nail drivers .... and if there is any error, it would have to be chalked up to the operator ...

[Flint]

It's not a question of whether the Schofield is inherently accurate or not, it's a matter of sights.  Actually, of all the model 3's, the Schofield has the most visible.  Look at a Russian or later S&W breaktop, the rear sight is tiny.

Just because the Military used a "point and shoot" technique from horseback for combat doesn't mean the revolvers were not accurate enough for target shooting.

For quick shooting in a CAS match, the larger notch is about all you'll get time to see.  If you want to check the POI aganst the POA, try it on a paper bullseye target, carefully aiming, and see where it shoots.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Flint,

That must be why I am so slow ... I shoot like I am on a target range ... but I rarely miss ....*S*