deputy125

especially on 3 and 4" models?????
why is it that smith, ruger and even colt when they were in the game stuck with the current notch and blade arrangment of "fixed" sight revolvers??????

i know costs have a part in it...........and i fully know well that fixed sight are more durable and more snag resistant than adj sights.......

but........a simple dove tail cut for a drift front sight.......or a dove tail cut for at least a windage drift rear sight would be a vast improvment over the current arrangment. ruger did at one time have a windage adj only rear sight on the .22 LR sp101......... and high standard had a dovetail drift sight for their revolvers.

This would sure aid greatly for fixed sight ruger GP's since they can't seem to put a barrel on straight ..i have personally had terrible experiences with fixed sight rugers not worth a hoot on windage...and i've been reading about a lot of complaints about sp101's with over torqued barrels causing windage problems..

smith is definately better than ruger at the ole' notch and blade ......yet smith would benefit as well.........

thay all have put drift rear dove tail sight on combat semi's.......for decades.........

Cruelshoes

Sorry boss man, but I am not with you on this one. I actually like the simplicity of the fixed sights on my SP. I think of this gun as a VERY short range tool. I am glad to have adjustable on my GP, but I will never take a long shot with the SP other than at the range.

XLCH

Cruelshoes, try some longer shots with the SP, it may surprise you, mine sure surprised me at a paced 75 yards and consistent 2qt.pop bottle hits. As fore the adjustable sights I wish they would.

sheepdog

...I won't own a wheelgun with adjustable sights...have had one Smith 696 in the last 30 years...didn't carry or fire it...I look at a wheelgun as a defensive(50 feet or less) weapon...any longer shots I'd want a rifle or shotgun...I learn the gun's POI and adjust me to it...if I carried a holstered gun in uniform, that might be different...I'd have to carry what was allowed...did carry a S&W M66...but would have rather had a 4" 65...I've heard of some misaligned barrels but haven't personally had one...I own only one 4"...my High Standard Sentinel...the rest are 2", 3", and I like 'em that way...I last qualified in 96 for Wackyhut with a 5" .38 Taurus M&P equivalent...after not qualifying with a revolver since about 73...dropped one point off of 150 without any famfiring...that's good enough to get me home!!!

Cruelshoes

Wackyhut! I worked for them 25 years ago while I was in college. Ahh the memories.

Danny, I will definitely take long shots in practice. I was only saying what I would use the gun for in the real world. Unlike my GP which I would also use for hunting, I don't realistically see the need for taking longer shots with the SP, outside of fun practice. I will practice those long shots for fun and for the "just in case" scenario of needing to in the real world. I just don't want to go adjusting sights for that particular gun.

44s Rock

My 4" GP has adjustable sights but I always carry it in a Sourdough Pancake holster, my M64 however goes in the pocket most often and would tear it up with adjustable sights. Guess it all depends on application and prefference!

deputy125

on 2" snubs, the current fixed sights for most folks are indeed adequate. Snubs......in my mind.....were designed from the get-go as a pocket piece. Be that coat pocket or pants pocket and the clean lines would create a clean draw from such places........

The snub to for most folks is strictly a short range defensive piece and the sights are adequate for that.......if the sights are even used.
i myself however demand more precision i guess.....part of this is from our qualification standards. And snubs right along with 380's and other compacts must be qualified with on the same course as the duty weapon. This is because a lot of folks (including me) when off-duty ain't carrying and trying to conceal that big duty pistol when out and about. And in our line of work, the handgun is expected to be just as much as an offensive tool as a defensive tool. A firearm that won't shoot straight means getting accustomed to aiming in the wrong place to hit the right place.....and that is on a stationary target......put that target into motion and, well, you get the picture......

Another part that is of a personal nature for me is i once upon a time shot NRA hunter/pistol regularly.....which means i am accustomed to long range handgun shooting so i know a handgun in my mind is more than just a short range deal. And accuracy and poa/poi is a huge part of the game.........comparing apples to oranges?......you bet it is but in my mind they are both still fruit.

I still believe that ruger.....who i have the biggest gripe with when it comes to fixed sights and regulation......could easily and at minimal costs install a front sight in a dove tail for drift to correct windage problems. This type of arrangment would not really alter the pocket charactistics of the piece and would serve the customer better since ruger must be screwing on barrels in dim lighting.......

Now on 3" and 4" barrel models.........we are getting beyond pocket carry and into the relm of duty carry.........again..."duty" as in an offensive and defensive piece. This is where again a dove tail front sight or perhaps a dove tail rear would benefit the shooter. With a 4" duty revolver, I do not like aiming at the "x" ring and hitting the "7" ring at 25 yards.......to be honest, i can't stand the weapon if it hits the "8" ring consistantly........."9" ring i can tolerate at that distance.

Like i said, duty autos are given a simple dove tail sight..........i believe revolvers could be given the same consideration with at least a dove tail front.

This may be more of a problem with ruger than anyone else.....perhaps if they would put and xtra light bulb on the assembly line they might be able to see what they are doing....

here is an example of a dove-tail rear sight on a snub of mine........and she shoots plenty straight.........





minimal.........yet effective and functional....and this is the rear dove-tail version.......a front dove tail sight on heavier barrel models would go one further of reducing the height of the front sight.

deputy125

by the way.........an interesting older article here about "how to" correct the windage problem on a GP100......ought to apply as well to the SP100 should anyone have a similar problem......

http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/repatriatedrugergp.html


that's right.....blame it on the bottom feeders......

sheepdog

...damn showoff@!!! just HAD to post that Sentinel to get me droolin'....that was SORRY!!!

deputy125

sorry about that.......but this little high standard is definately one accurate fun little weapon.......

i would not mind picking up a 5" version down the road......

sheepdog

...if I find you a 4,5, or 6 clean...wanna trade???

deputy125

afraid not........this one is promised to the youngest daughter................

Machinist

They get all the good stuff.

sheepdog

...I got one spotted...just a matter of when he needs more work done than he wants to write a check with...he don't shoot anymore...tick, tick, tick...

jody johnson

Simplicity had something to do with "fixed sights", as did durability. And, most "service revolvers"...and the M1911...were factory-regulated to hit at a known distance with "standard" ( and, there were few "optional" loads ) service loads. This seemingly made instruction easier for persons having to learn to shoot a handgun but who didn't really care about mastery of th' thing.

As years passed and more diverse loads were developed/marketed, and more folks got into handloading n' just plain shootin' lotsa handguns ( also more sophisticated handguns!), demand increased for adjustable sights. AND for the shooter who is "visually challenged" ( like us oldsters, me included!) most all adjustables are easier to see.

Altho'....I still enjoy shootin' plain-vanilla "service weapons" most all the time...and there's still an apparent demand for new fixed-sighted handguns.