Beretta 70S sights

[olywa]

I've got an older Model 70S in 22 caliber that I'm very fond of. Trouble is, it shoots about 3" high at 20 yards and I have the adjustable rear sight bottomed out. I'd like to know if anyone can recommend a good Smith who could upgrade the sights for me so that I can see them better than the stock set (old eyes need help). I really love the quality, fit and finish in this little pistol. It's great little grouse getter but I'd like to quit aiming 3 inches under everything I want to hit. Any recommendations?

[Mikey]

olywa:  I just checked the slides for my 70S in 380 and they have a fixed front sight cast as part of the slide.  A gunsmith would have to weld a spot on your front sight and then work it down to get poi to poa at whatever distance you preferred.  But, he should add enough material to get poi to poa with the rear sight at its mid-point.  

All that being said, he would have to be good at it so as not to ruin the looks of the slide and sights.

I recently obtained a 2nd complete 'upper' for my 70S in 380.  At first it wouldn't fit my frame until I stoned the barrel channels, then had to stone them a 2nd or 3rd time to get the piece to shoot to poa at 25m, and then it was fine.  You might try that route to see if you can bring the poi down a couple of inches at 25m.  Any of the work you had completed would not be visible.  HTH.  Mikey.

[olywa]

Thanks for the reply Mikey. The 70S in 22 caliber is a little bit different in that the front sight is mounted to the barrel rather than the slide. The front top of the slide has a slot cut through it to accommodate the front sight's movement when the action is engaged. Same principal though, the front sight needs to be raised and I would have to find someone who could do that. I was hoping to find a good gunsmith who could also fab a new rear sight blade for me that has better definition than the current one. If I can't get that done I may just end up trying to find a later Model 87. They're not that much bigger and they have a decent set of 3-Dot fixed sights on them.

I just hate to give up on that little 70S. It's the best little pocket pistol I've ever had. Smooth as glass.

[Mikey]

olywa:  if that 22 bbl has channels cut into the sides of the barrel at the chamber end like the larger caliber series 70S pistols do, they could probably be properly stoned to bring the piece to hit to poa.  That being siad though there is a lot of variation in 22 lr ammo and if you go the channel stoning route I wouldn't bring the poi down any more than 2" - that would leave you with hits about 1" high at 20 yds.  Good luck - those Berettas are sweet little pieces and a lot of fun to play with.  HTH.  Mikey.

[R. Tillery]

FWIW, the M70 slides are FORGED, then milled, not cast.