Author Topic: A Higher Front Sight...  (Read 665 times)

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Offline BCB

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A Higher Front Sight...
« on: October 10, 2010, 01:17:35 PM »
Anyone know of a source for a higher front sight for a Super 14” barrel?...

I have the rear sight adjusted down as far as it will go and I am still shooting high…

Any thoughts…

Thanks…BCB

Offline billythekid55

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2010, 02:21:34 PM »
What caliber and what are you shooting through it.  The reason I ask is when I shoot .38 Special through my .357 barrel, I have the same problem.  I have 2 .357 barrels.  I put a red dot on one and got a lower rear sight for the other barrel.  The .38 ammo will shoot 6" higher at 50 feet than the .357.  A gunsmith friend of mine told me he has the same with .44 special and .44 magnum.  The lighter loads with less powder do not go as fast, stay in the barrel a little longer and therefore shoot higher.  The recoil has a fraction of a second more to act on the bullet.  He called it barrel time.
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Offline BCB

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2010, 02:33:41 PM »
billythekid55,

You are correct as that is why I need the higher front sight…

I understand the “barrel time” stuff and I can’t increase the speed of the boolit anymore…

The reason:  I am shooting Trail Boss powder and it is meant for slow loads with cast boolits.  Accuracy is exceptional, but much too high for any practical shooting at 25 or greater yardage…

I think the only correction is a higher front sight OR a 'scoped set-up.  I really didn't want to put the money in a 'scope as I kind of like shooting this barrel with open sights...

By the way, the caliber is the 445 Super Magnum.  It becomes very pleasant to shoot using the Trail Boss powder…

Thanks…BCB

Offline billythekid55

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2010, 02:50:00 PM »
Can you use a lower rear sight?  That was the route I went.  Worked for the .357, but would not go low enough for the .38, hence the red dot.
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Offline BCB

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2010, 03:03:39 PM »
Yep, a lower rear sight would work, most likely, but isn't it 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other...

I really am not sure which would be readily available and which would be the less expensive...

Always something with this reloading...

BCB

Offline Hopalong7

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2010, 01:34:48 AM »
       TC makes or, at least made different height front and rear sights....3 different heights of each I believe.  Lots of us have removed sights laying around....get some measurements on what you're using, let us know and you may get some help.  A call to TC will also usually bring assistance. ;)
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Offline BCB

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2010, 05:27:58 AM »
       TC makes or, at least made different height front and rear sights....3 different heights of each I believe.  Lots of us have removed sights laying around....get some measurements on what you're using, let us know and you may get some help.  A call to TC will also usually bring assistance. ;)
Walt

Got me thinkin' and I decided to measure the height of the blades on the other barrels that I have...

All were the same as the one I am having problems with, EXCEPT one!  It is about 0.015" higher.  Might not be enough, but it is a start...

Attempted to purchase a screwdriver that was the exact width of the screw and the width of the slot, but nothing around here.  So I purchased the size that was the closest and used a sharpening stone and slowly ground it to the correct size...

The front sights have been changed--now to my range...

I first removed the roll pin that holds the blade in the front sight ramp, but I could not get the blade to budge.  That might have been easier if the blade would have come free...

Oh well, the switch occured...

Thanks to all...BCB

Offline BCB

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2010, 02:02:02 PM »
Well, I went to my shooting range today and tried the higher front blade...

I did make a difference, but not enough...

I shoot at 10 yards over my chrony and I was still hitting a bit high of point of aim, but I thought it might do better at 25 yards...

Nope not much better.  It still was nearly 10" high at that distance.  Nice 1" group, but a mile high.  Makes that load worthless....

It is the 429650 which weighs in at around 320 grains.  That is part of the problem.  A heavy and very slow moving slug...

I think the 44-250-K weighing in at around 263 grains might do better, but it still will be high.  Although I am getting about 250 fps faster than the 429650...

I didn't try any 44-250-K loads...

I thought that a 'scope might help solve the problem, but I doubt there would be enough adjustment to compensated for 10" at 25 yards!  But a 'scope might work with the 44-250-K.  I won't know until I shoot a few of them...

I really like this Trail Boss powder, but I suspect the problem I am experiencing will be common with open-sighted handguns.  Boolit weight adjustments will help, but probably not enough in some cases...

Good-luck...BCB

Offline P.A. Myers

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2010, 09:07:25 PM »
This is a common problem with iron sights. You can hand cut a front blade, drill the pin hole with the blade in the housing.  Make it really tall and shorten as necessary. Before you mount the blade [if it is steel], you can blue it with a torch.  Crude but effective.
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never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
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Offline BCB

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2010, 12:47:25 PM »
This is a common problem with iron sights. You can hand cut a front blade, drill the pin hole with the blade in the housing.  Make it really tall and shorten as necessary. Before you mount the blade [if it is steel], you can blue it with a torch.  Crude but effective.

I had given that a thought before I changed the entire front sight ramp just to get the higher blade from another barrel...

The only problem--once I got rolled steel pin out of the ramp/blade, I could not get the blade out.  Is it pressed in place?  I didn't want to use pliers or such to remove it.  Will a tap with a brass hammer loosen it?...

I don't want to ruin or cosmetically damage the blade as this project is not life and death for me...

Thanks...BCB

Offline P.A. Myers

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Re: A Higher Front Sight...
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2010, 03:30:29 PM »
Most are glued, with the same stuff they use on the screws. A lite smack with a soft hammer [plastic face] should loosen it up. A little heat may help as well. A soldering iron gets hot enough. I use the torch, carefully.
“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty -
never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense”
 Winston Churchill