Author Topic: Never trusted Vaquero sights, BUT . . . (Read 1462 times)

Old Griz · « **on:** October 11, 2003, 07:09:10 PM »

I have never trusted the fixed sights that come on the Vaquero, or any other SA revolver before. I have always bought Bisleys or Blackhawks with adjustable sights. HOWEVER, today I bit the bullet (pun intended) and bought the .44 Vaquero Bisley that has been calling my name at my local gun dealer's for a couple of years now. It has a 5.5" barrel, simulated ivory grips, and the case colored (acid wash) finish on the frame. Now I already have a .44 Anaconda (4"), and two standard .44 Bisleys (7.5"), and I really didn't NEED another one, but this one has been calling to me ever soooooooo sweetly. . . And it has waited so long, just for me . . .

Now, my question is: can it be adjusted if it doesn't shoot straight? :cb2:

DzrtRat · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2003, 09:48:43 PM »

Yes, it can.

I recently bought a Vaquero, and with my handloads it was shooting about 6" low and 6" left. I filed the front sight down (easy does it 'cause a little can go a long ways!) until it was shooting horizontally even with the bullseye, and then had my 'smith turn the barrel slightly to make it shoot to point of aim. This also closed the cylinder gap to .002 so I'm getting a little better velocity, too.

Work up a good load, sight the pistol to shoot it the way you want, and you're good to go.

~Rat

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2003, 01:41:09 AM »

I like to use kentucky windage for the first year I have the gun. Ive filed sights before and found loads down the line that I needed a higher sight for. MAKE SURE you are satisfied with the load you shoot. You can very the verticle alot by the speed of your load. Slower will shoot higher and by bullet weight. Heavier will shoot higher. Your horizontal can be changed quite a bit by the grip you use. Thats another reason I dont get carried away to soon. Get use to the gun and you may find with the right load it shoots to where it should right now. I love the vaquaros and the load experimenting is half the fun. Once you find a light load that shoots to point of aim try getting a heavy one to hit the same spot. With the sights filed on my .45 I can shoot a 320 grain bullet with 24 grains of 110 to the same spot as a 250 with 8 grains of unique.

MONGO · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2003, 03:50:46 PM »

Whew, I don't know about filing, but before I gave any file a chance on my new firearm, I'would bench it with a hard rest or solid bag with your loads and make sure it's the really off.

DzrtRat · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2003, 06:10:16 PM »

Quote

Whew, I don't know about filing, but before I gave any file a chance on my new firearm, I'would bench it with a hard rest or solid bag with your loads and make sure it's the really off.

I figure with 500+ rounds of hand loaded ammo through the pistol, I know where it's hitting. Yeah, it's important to make sure of where it's hitting, and it's good to make sure of what load you're going to use the most, but once that's done I want my guns shooting to point of aim. Any "kentucky windage" on my part might be for an occasional heavy 300 grain load, but the load I'm going to shoot 99.9% of the time is a 250 hard cast at 1400 fps.

Once you have the load figured out and know where the gun is shooting, I actually see no point in NOT adjusting things so that the gun shoots to point of aim unless for some reason you're not sure about the load. What good are sights that only get you pointed in the general direction of your target?

MONGO · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2003, 12:41:49 PM »

Now, I know. I'm not a gunsmith, so do you file the rear bit by bit to true the horizontal POI and then what about elevation.

DzrtRat · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2003, 02:27:05 PM »

MONGO,

No, you don't file the back sight at all. To adjust the horizontal impact, you either turn the barrel or have a gunsmith do it (I had a 'smith do mine). Depending on where the gun is actually shooting, this can be pretty simple or in extreme cases can involve making adjustments for cylinder clearance of the forcing cone. To adjust the impact up you simply file the front sight a little at a time until it shoots where you want it to.

Worst case would be the gun shooting high and right. It's pretty hard to add to the front sight, and if the bullet impact is to the right you'd have to turn the barrel almost a full turn to compensate. This would almost invariably move the barrel back far enough that the forcing cone would have to be cut back and re-reemed. I've yet to have to do this, but it's happened.

Take care,
~Rat

M. Stenback · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2003, 02:38:40 PM »

DzrtRat:
>>>>>No, you don't file the back sight at all. To adjust the horizontal impact, you either turn the barrel or have a gunsmith do it (I had a 'smith do mine). >>>>>>>

Got to disagree a bit with you here. I have a Stainless Vaquero that I moved the impact about 5 inches at 25 yards and it also improved the sight picture by giving me more light on each side of the front sight. I don't know how much I removed as I did it with several shooting sessions after each small bit of filing. To look at it one would think that it had not been filed on but the point of impact moved over and it was easier to sight with. Stenback

quicksdraw45 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2003, 02:20:11 PM »

I have to agree with MStenback
I have adjusted the by opening the rear sight knotch , I only needed 2 inches though .

swifty · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2004, 08:19:34 AM »

I had a Vaquero in the 45 LC it shot 6 inches low and 6 inches left of point of aim at 25 yatds. I traded it towards the purchase of a S&W 686 357 mag. The Vaquero is solid as a boat anchor but the S&W has a much better trigger, adjustable sights etc. I also bought a used ruger Bisley blackhawk in mint condition . If it doesn't show a lot of promise I plan to unload it pronto and not put any more money into the gun.I have the itch for a Freedom Arms model 97 either in the 45LC or the 41 magnum.
PS I have a Ruger super redhawk in the 44 magnum. I have had 3 occasions where the hammer would fall but the firing pin did not strike the primer with enough force to dent the primer and discharg the gun. Once was when I had dead aim on a deer. My cylinder as some fore and aft movement and the gun has a short firing pin. After going through all possibilities I beleive its a combination of reasons reloading technique ie;over use of primer pocket uniformer and a high primer plus a slightly
loose cylinder and a short firing pin. If it continues I plan to dump this Ruger as well.

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2004, 01:29:53 PM »

I bought 2 series 55 stainless Vaqueros about 10 years ago. Both shot low and to the left. I have been loading for the 45 Colt for about 30 years and knew the load I wanted to use. I filed the front sight until they both shot point of aim as far as elevationand then sent them to Ruger with targets to show where they shot. A couple of weeks or so they came back and both shoot to Point of aim. I will put these guns up against any S&W K frame target revolver. They will both keep their shots in the ten ring of the NRA 25 yard slow fire pistol target.

Worst thing is that the load I had used all those years was with Unique. About 5 years ago I switched to Titegroup and I had to work the load to where the guns shot.

Pete