Author Topic: Filing front sight to correct windage (Read 983 times)

pghrich · « **on:** May 02, 2012, 06:44:08 AM »

Hello, i recently received a new uberti hombre from stoeger to replace my old one thru a warranty issue. My old hombre was shooting great until the problems occured, when i got my new one i went to the club and began to test it for accuracy, and to my displeasure it was shooting 4 inches left and a little low. Well i wasn't worried about the elevation but the windage was a real problem,i tried every load i could think, i even had another shooter try and the 4 inches left was still there. I got desperate and started filing very carefully the rear notch to the right, this helped but not enough. The front sight on this gun is extremtly thick so bending it was out of the question, i started filing the front sight to on the right side to make it thinner.Low and behold now it shoots dead on out to 25 yards a little cold bluing and all is well, pghrich

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2012, 11:56:36 PM »

I allways start with the front sight. It can easily be replaced if you go to far. I dont like filing the sight notch unless its absolutely nessisary

BobJ · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2012, 02:06:52 AM »

Hmmm... my Uberti Patron shoots about 5" to the left. Still shooting different loads to nail down the windage precisely before I touch anything. I think they have a QC problem at the factory, I hear some of these things over and over, mostly with certain cap and ball models. Another poster here had a picture of a target he shot with his Patron, dead on right out of the box. Maybe mine was made on Friday or Monday.

guzzijohn · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2012, 03:07:58 AM »

BobJ'
That was my target (200 grain Magtech). From what I read and researched besides the springs and tuning the Patron is test fired for accuracy and sight alignment at the factory. Due to that, though a hassle, if I was in your shoes I would try to have Uberti correct your problem under warranty. Five inches is to much and I cannot see being able to find a load that will change windage POI that much. At least contact Uberti and ask what load they use for testing and try that. The Patron is aimed at the SASS crowd (no pun intended) and seems to shoot its best with 200gr light load, so try that if you have not already. Currently I reload using 230gr. round nose cast (Missouri Bullets) over eight grains of Unique. That load also shoots well overall but maybe not quite as well as the Magtech. Good luck, they really are nice revolvers.
GuzziJohn

BobJ · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2012, 04:47:26 AM »

That is prolly a good idea, will try to look up contact info. Bought it at Bass Pro, that may be the place to start. Just got a Lee 1000 progressive, using 230 gr cast w/ around 8 gr., Thanks.

I really love this gun.

guzzijohn · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2012, 04:55:39 AM »

Keep us posted please.
GuzziJohn

pghrich · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2012, 05:47:09 AM »

Hello BobJ, if your front sight is as thick as mine was you really have a shot at the filing trick, you must be very careful and tape all around it real good and when all done do a little cold bluing. I only took a little less than half the thickness off and i moved 4 inches, bty uberti [stoeger] is really good to deal with if you decide to go that route, pghrich

44 Man · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2012, 10:47:28 AM »

I have fired single actions for many years. Most would shoot to point of aim, but many have not. I have usually had barrels turned when the gun shot left and this is not a big deal. I have also filed the rear sight notch in the correct direction to help, or bent the front sight and sometimes both. One time I whacked the front sight of a nickled Colt against the bench leg and bent it when no one would turn it for me. (they were afraid of damaging the nickle plating) Then squared out the 'V' rear sight with a file. You do what you need to do to correct the problem and enjoy the gun. I've never been comfortable just 'holding off' a little. Glad you found a solution that worked for you. 44 Man

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2012, 05:55:55 PM »

Quote

Due to that, though a hassle, if I was in your shoes I would try to have Uberti correct your problem under warranty.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

What I didn't get was a repair from Uberti. They told me no could do to send it in and they'd replace it. Yeah right, everyone of them I've owned have been off so far left they were basically useless for other than making loud noises. Firecrackers are cheaper.

Good luck if ya go this route. Who knows maybe things have improved since I last contacted them.

guzzijohn · « **Reply #9 on:** May 08, 2012, 02:57:50 AM »

Quote from Greybeard:
"What I didn't get was a repair from Uberti. They told me no could do to send it in and they'd replace it. Yeah right, everyone of them I've owned have been off so far left they were basically useless for other than making loud noises. Firecrackers are cheaper.
Good luck if ya go this route. Who knows maybe things have improved since I last contacted them."

This is the first Uberti I have owned so I don't have experience with their warranty service. There are advantages to buying from local gun shops. On my first round of reloads I was getting some misfires due to what appears to be too light of hammer strike for the primer I was using. They would always go off on the second hit. Went back to the shop where I bought the gun and my reloading stuff. I mentioned the misfires and asked what brand of primers they would recommend. They gave me a recommendation which has worked 100% so far. They also said that if I continued to have problems to bring the gun in and their own gunsmith would fix the problem at no charge.
GuzziJohn

44 Man · « **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2012, 02:01:58 PM »

Guzzijohn, you can also just take the grips and the backstrap off the gun and take the mainspring out, lay it on the counter (the bow of the spring goes up), and whack it once or twice with a rubber or plastic mallet. That will straighten it just a bit and add a little more 'hit' to the hammer fall and should pop those reluctant primers just fine. Simple problem, simple solution. You must still have some of those 'other' primers yet to use up, so why not use them?
As an aside, I know Graybeard doesn't like Taurus very much, but I had a Gaucho that I bought used that had too short a front sight from the factory. I called, sent the gun in with an explaintion, and they replaced the entire barrel and even sent me a test target with a great group centered at 25 yds! So there are companies out there that will fix the problem, I understand Ruger will also. But many times the fix is much easier than sending the gun back. Just ask what you need to do and we'll try to help.

44 Man

guzzijohn · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2012, 03:01:40 AM »

Thanks for the suggestion 44 Man! Actually I do not have any of the old primers left. I was only buying one box at a time just in case this problem came up. We will have to wait and see how this El Patron holds up in the long run but I could not be much happier than I am with it at this time, especially for the money.
GuzziJohn