Iron sight questions

[foxcaller]

I am rather iron sight challenged so I have a question about them. I have several different sets of iron sights that came off Contender barrels that I have purchased over the years. The rear sights all are adjustable with diferent size blades, either high, medium or small blades as you can hopefully see in my pic. The front site is also a blade type (no photo) with two different blade sizes, high and low I guess. OK, issue I have is that on a recently purchased 357 mag barrel I have the rear low style blade and the high style front blade and I cannot get the bullet impact to get where I want it. The groups are too high in general with all the loads I have tried. I am using the six o"clock hold method of sighting in and I have the rear sight as low as it will go and I still need it to go lower. I guess I could change my sighting method and cover my target with the sights but that is not going to help on small targets as it blocks them out and groups are all over the place. So question is: will the different size blades on the iron sights (front, rear or both) help me at all if I were to change them out. Any input will be greatly appreciated......Thx...

[Grumulkin]

Putting a lower front sight on will raise the bullet impact point and vice versa.

In a handgun, if it's shooting high, increasing the load (if it can be done safely) will lower the bullet impact point.

[Curtis]

So question is: will the different size blades on the iron sights (front, rear or both) help me at all if I were to change them out.

Definitely yes!  My info lists the correct sights for a 357 10" heavy barrel as:  #5 front and medium rear.  A #5 front sight is .595" high and the medium rear is 0.200" (the blade only).  If you have a different barrel, post the specifics and I'll consult my list again.  Hope this helps.

Whenever I remove iron sights to install scopes, I always label what they came off of so I don't have to sort it out later if I sell the barrel or decide to go with open sights.

Curtis

[foxcaller]

My barrel measures .720 at the muzzle and .812 at the breech. The rear sight blade is .225.  The front sight is .560, providing I measured correctly. I took it off the barrel and just took the measurement off the sight like that. It does look like the front sight blade has been filed down a little though.

The other sights I have measure .530, .490 for the front and .145, .150, .300 for the rears.
According to your info it looks like these are not the correct irons for  this barrel, do you agree?
Live and learn, I honestly had no idea that iron sights were different at all!
thx for the help. 

[Curtis]

I think you should stay with the rear sight you have and look for a taller front sight.  That should bring your groups down to where you want them.

Curtis

[foxcaller]

Thanks for the help to both you guys. i wll be shopping for a higher front sight.