Fixed sight handguns different bullet weights?

[EdinCT]

I have a Ruger Bisley 44 mag with fixed sights that I regulated for 9 gr of Unique and a Keith SWC. It shot to point of aim at 75 yards years ago when I could see. (Even bent the front sight a little) It gets a lot of safe time now but the other night while looking for something else on the bench I found 500, 200 gr cast bullets I forgot were there. I would like to shoot them but if I recall they shot 6" low and two or three to the right at 25 yards.
Anyone ever have success with different bullet weights? I had a load of 200 gr XTP's over Bluedot that shot real close years ago. (Should of written that down)
Should I try to match the velocity of my normal load or do you think its more of a hit or miss thing?

[Griff]

Google is your friend: Lots of Articles to Read.

[GunnyMack]

Lower velocity = higher POI so if you can push those 200's about same velocity you should be ok. As for windage that ya just gotta try.
Just like fixed sights on double rifles sights are regulated for one load.

[marlinman93]

Never had windage issues when changing bullet weights in the same gun. No reason weight should change the windage, regardless of velocity. If they shot to the left or right before, then any bullet should shoot the same direction, but lower or higher.

[Blaine]

Kentucky windage.

[GunnyMack]

Edin mentioned that his 200 gr load shot to one side, in my head I don't see how but figured I'd mention windage is what it is. Just gotta learn the load.

[Sixgun]

Lower velocity = higher POI so if you can push those 200's about same velocity you should be ok. As for windage that ya just gotta try.
Just like fixed sights on double rifles sights are regulated for one load.

Right on Gunny! I was playing with a Model 27 with an 8 and 3/8" the other day getting ready for a revolver silhouette match using 150's for the chickens, pigs, and turkeys, but I needed the 180's for the rams.

150 Lyman's at 850 hit about the same elevation as 180's at 1100.

It's not always the case but you just got to experiment....another reason why most of my shooting sixguns have adjustable sights.

Paint your front sight and the groove in the frame with flat black paint...helps align the sight picture.----6

[EdinCT]

I guess I will have to get serious and load multiple 5 shot rounds like it was a new gun. I bought this fixed sight revolver because when they are on they tend to stay that way forever. But now my eyes are ageing the sight picture isn't so hot. I do have sight black like Six recommended. This is one of the few guns that doesn't stay in line for windage I have encountered.
I hate Kentucky windage with a passion, its like a cold pretty woman, they get old fast, a gun isn't of use to me that doesn't hit where its pointed. Might be why those bullets are still on the bench.

[AJMD429]

Never had windage issues when changing bullet weights in the same gun. No reason weight should change the windage, regardless of velocity. If they shot to the left or right before, then any bullet should shoot the same direction, but lower or higher.

True if all is ideal, but consider this:

The reason the slower/heavier bullets shoot higher is that the gun has more of a chance to recoil upwards during the bullet's time in the barrel, which is why large-bore magnum revolvers usually have front sights that are quite tall - the effect is to have the muzzle angled a bit downward, so as the bullet is sort of flung upwards by the arc of recoil, it will be on a linear trajectory to hit the target. So, we know that elevation is definitely affected by the load, to the extent that it affects recoil in the upwards direction.

Hopefully, there isn't much side-to-side movement of the gun during recoil, but I'm sure there really IS, since often a hard-kicking gun shoots to a different point of aim (including windage) with two different shooters. So, if the gun is moving not only upwards, but slightly towards the left, a heavier recoiling load might shoot to the left - a two inch shift at 50 yards would only require a 0.02" shift to the left with recoil of a 4-1/2" barreled gun (approximate 6" sight radius), since [ 2"/600" equates to 0.02"/6.00" geometrically ].

When I think about geometry like that, it's a wonder we can hit anything very accurately with a handgun.....0.02" is NOT much movement, compared to recoil.....!

[Sixgun]

Another thing you can do for windage and elevation without permanently alternating the gun is ...( not for duty or hunting guns where rough treatment sometimes happens ) is to degrease the front sight real good and mix up some JB Weld epoxy and "add" it to the sight making it slightly taller and wider than the original. Let it sit at least a day in dry climate....preferably next to a wood stove....

Then...go to town with a file. If the sighting issue is windage just file the "weld" more on the side you want the bullet to go. That makes the opposite side thicker and it will make you sight more towards the Bullseye. Front sights work opposite as opposed to the rear sight.

If the gun was shooting high ...test it with the new "weld" and file the top until you get the bullet to hit where you want it to. If you the gun was shooting low, your pelosi out of luck unless you file the original sight.

I've done this to 44 magnums and used em like that for years or until I got unlazy to replace the sight.

To get the sight back to original, just hit it a bit with a propane torch and it will pop off like nobody's business.-------6

[EdinCT]

Update I tried a load of 9.1 gr of 231 and it shot about 8 inches low, windage was good though and nice 1.5 inch group. Also loaded 7.5 grains of Unique and 11 gr of the same with the 200 gr bullets. The 7.5 fell right in with the 231 group, But the 11 gr group was only 2 inches low. So its getting better! Don't really feel the need to go hotter. I bet it is in 1100fps range that would be almost 44wcf carbine power.