.45 Colt front sight

[oldschool]

Finally got some decent outdoor range time with my 4-5/8" .45 Colt OM Blackhawk. I've been loading some 280gr LSWCs & 255gr LSWCs to around 950 fps. At this speed, the gun is printing about 2"-2.5" high. I'm sure if I drove the bullets faster I could bring the POI down, but I really like the lower recoiling loads. On my matching .41 Mag, I had the front sight base milled & a higher (.45 Colt) front sight blade pinned. Not sure if Ruger makes a higher front blade than the one I used.

Can anyone suggest how much I need to add to my front sight height to drop the POI? My rear sight is adjusted all the way down. How about a gunsmith to do the work? I really don't want to spend a lot on this gun, as it's a shooter (hunter) grade gun and gets carried a lot in the field.

[dlhredfoxx]

oldschool- do you use a 6 o'clock hold when you shoot or do you aim to dead center target? And I think a hotter load may print a higher POI anyway so not sure hotter loads will bring your POI down any... not in my experience anyway...

PS- I've got your exact same gun and it's one of my favorites. Mine shoots a bit high as well, maybe 2-3 inches at 25 yds... and I've never done anything with it but aim a bit low...

[oldschool]

I've always aimed dead center. In a handgun, the hotter load comes out of the barrel before it has time to recoil as much, thus printing lower. I have additional complication, as well. Due to an accident years ago, I can no longer use my left hand to assist my right in controlling the recoil.

[AxeHandle]

We need to get Sixshot to post pictures of his method... He builds up the sight blade with some sort of epoxy mix.

[wildwillalaska]

Oldschool, if you want to send that gun to me I can fiddle with it and see if I can't find a load to shoot poi in it--if not, I can always just send you some cash in exchange for the old carry piece that won't shoot right--she's got several sisters in this house.

My main shooter OM 45 wears a Bowen target rear sight that I found I had to adjust all the way down as the sight blade was a bit higher than the factory one. Before you went grinding the front base on such a cool collectible old Ruger, I would consider adding one of Bowen's rear sights for $89. If that doesn't work and still frustrating, send her North to Alaska, I'll take care of her.

Will

[hammerdown77]

If he's only a couple inches high, he may be able to file down the top of the rear sight blade, then deepen the notch the same amount (or as deep as can be done in the base). Effectively lowering your rear sight a little more.

This is a cheap option, since you're just filing in the blade insert, and that's easily replaceable if you screw it up.

I would think going to a Bowen would make it worse.

[bigmuddy]

The tallest blade that Ruger makes for pinned sight Blackhawks would be the one they list for a 7.5" Stainless 45 Colt. That blade is pretty tall and I cannot imagine needing one higher. Changing loads may help, but I understand wanting to stay with those you currently are using. I would think the 280's are shooting higher? Going to "faster" loads, in my experience, only helps if it is achieved with lighter bullets. If you just increase velocity, you also increase recoil so the "jump" seems to stay about the same. I recently slowed down the loads in a 44 Special Colt and brought it to POA. Same bullet going 200 fps faster was hitting way high. There are a lot of variables at play here.

Sixshot uses JB Weld if I remember correctly to build up the front blade. He is more skilled than I. My attempt ended up with a mess!

I did bring the POA down with my OM Ruger 45 as hammerdown suggested, filing on the rear sight blade. That is a good option to start with. As he says, screw ups there are a cheap fix. I ordered spares before I started. I sure wish Ruger would go to a pinned front sight in the blued model as they do in the stainless. I always wondered why not?

Lastly, but you can try going with lighter bullets and keep the velocity as is. That will bring it down. I was amazed how much lower I could hit with a 230 gr. bullet vs. a 255.

Good Luck

Dan

[groo]

Go with a lighter bullet.
If 2in high at 25 sounds right for a battle sight..

[tek4260]

This is a typical Ruger problem. Then highest front sight for one is .595" and I have changed several out to the taller sight. I have drilled and installed pins then added JB. I have also soldered on a piece of 1/8" key stock using a pin like the JB as well.



Here is the difference between the factory on my 45 and the .595" I replaced it with



Here is a sight I pinned prior to adding the JB weld. PS don't use JB Quick, use regular JB Weld.

[COR]

Gary Reeder offers an interchangeable front sight system and that will solve your problem. You can just get a taller blade and many different styles too. He has a quick turnaround and the price is very reasonable.

[oldschool]

Jun 20, 2012 6:10:09 GMT -5 COR said:

Gary Reeder offers an interchangeable front sight system and that will solve your problem. You can just get a taller blade and many different styles too. He has a quick turnaround and the price is very reasonable.

I wish you hadn't mentioned that. I *really* like that gold bead front sight....

[oldschool]

Jun 20, 2012 5:57:05 GMT -5 tek4260 said:

This is a typical Ruger problem. Then highest front sight for one is .595" and I have changed several out to the taller sight. I have drilled and installed pins then added JB. I have also soldered on a piece of 1/8" key stock using a pin like the JB as well.

Thanks for the dimensions and the ideas. What kind of solder did you use for the key stock? Something like Brownell's Hi-Force 44 low temp solder?

[Kurt]

If you take the amount of change needed and divide it by the distance to the target in inches, then multiply the answer by the sight radius, you will get how much the sight needs to be adjusted in thousandths of an inch.