Pistol problems

[Hecter]

I recently purchased a cimarron 7th Calvery revolver. The gun shoots 6" high at 50ft. with mild loads. How should I correct this problem? I know I need a higher front sight ,but who can do this and have the gun look like new? By mild I mean 850fps or so with a 250gr. bullet. I don't want to shoot anything faster with this gun. With 250gr. bullets that is. Thanks for the info. Mr. Miller. Your expertise has explained this problem and solution.

[Terry Murbach]

PUT ON A HIGHER FRONT SIGHT.

[Buck Elliott]

I recently purchased a cimarron 7th Calvery revolver. The gun shoots 6" high at 50ft. with mild loads. How should I correct this problem?

Shoot 6" lower...








Or try lighter bullets.

[O.S.O.K.]

You say mild loads - that's likely your issue right there. Speed them up some and the point of impact will drop. How much I can't tell you - depends on how much faster you push them.

I think that's what Buck is getting at with the lighter bullets - lighter usually = faster. But I'll let him elaborate.

If you really want to shoot these mild loads (like for CAS) then you need to have a taller front sight installed as already said.

[J Miller]

Hecter,

For some reason known only to the gods, manufacturers have been putting too short front sights on .45 Colt revolvers since 1873.
A theory I have is that they were deliberately sighted that way so the shooter could aim for the center of the body vertically, usually about the belt line and still have a good torso hit. Makes sense from a military combat point of view which is exactly what your gun replicates.

Now, first of all go and purchase some standard pressure .45 Colt ammo and set the light loads aside. Standard pressure ammo is made by all of two companies. Winchester and Remington. NOT ANY of the cowboy loads are standard pressure.
NOTE: I'm talking about the Winchester 255gr lead, and the Remington 250gr lead bullet ammo. None of the others.
Then shoot the gun at 25 yds. This is the traditional pistol range for sight in.
Do the math. Brownells web site has a front sight height calculator.
Call VTI or Cimarron and ask them for the tallest front sight they have. If they don't have anything tall enough, you'll have to make one. It's easy. The hard part is rebluing the gun after the sight is soldered in. Rebluing is something I never bother with, they all get used and eventually you'll never know it was altered.

Of those .45 Colt revolvers I have owned, ALL of them but three have had to have taller front sights fabricated and installed. The three that didn't probably would have if I'd kept them long enough to put them on paper.

Joe

[Lastmohecken]

I recently purchased a cimarron 7th Calvery revolver. The gun shoots 6" high at 50ft. with mild loads. How should I correct this problem? I know I need a higher front sight ,but who can do this and have the gun look like new? By mild I mean 850fps or so with a 250gr. bullet. I don't want to shoot anything faster with this gun. With 250gr. bullets that is. Thanks for the info. Mr. Miller. Your expertise has explained this problem and solution.

Go to a lighter, faster bullet. Load some 200gr semi-wadcutters, and you will shoot closer to impact, probably. What is your sight picture like? I would assume that you are currently putting the top of the front sight level with the top of the hog wallow of a groove. Whatever your sight picture, sight it differently with a finner bead, or shall I say, put the top of front sight way down low in the hog wallow.

[Griff]

I post this and I'd be chops busted... That'd be the Cavalry Model... Either a taller front sight or speed up that ammo. Velocity can be increased by upping the powder charge (be careful about pressure generated) or dropping bullet weight.

[jnyork]

Not being disrespectful, Hecter, and not to be a spelling nazi, but it's "cavalry" . Calvary has an entirely different meaning.

[Chas.]

I agree to shoot lighter and faster. The muzzle flip may be getting you, i.e. the muzzle starts to rise befor the bullet is out.

[pokey]

... That'd be the Cavalry Model...

yup.

and the rest of this fine advise, too.

[J Miller]

The Cavalry model is a replica of a gun that was designed to shoot 250gr bullets over 30grs of black powder. This load is somewhat anemic by black powder standards and is basically what the modern standard pressure smokeless loads are based on. To drop to a lower weight bullet defeats the purpose of the pistol.
If the recoil is causing the gun to shoot high, then the shooter needs to adjust his grip and learn control of his pistol, not compensate by going to an even lighter load.

You wanna a nice load out of that smoke machine load 250gr bullet over a full 40gr charge of black powder. That will give you some recoil to think about.
Modern smokeless loads are wimpy by comparison.

Joe

[Hecter]

O.k. I can't spell . But after reading all of the advise I have been given I believe A larger front sight is what I need. I'm not going to load any stiffer loads because the wood grips are not comfortable in my hand. I have the front sight buried as low in the rear notch as I can so a change of sight picture with the present sights is not the answer. I really like the 250gr. load I shoot and would like to stay with it. Thanks everyone for all your advice.

[Ray]

Deleted.

[J Miller]

Many many times the windage issues are shooter caused. Especially with single actions. That is why we always suggest the shooter make totally sure he/she is not the problem before they drop the cash for a fix.

With elevation problems it's rarely the shooter, almost always the ammo ( bullet weight / velocity ) or front / rear sight height related.

Been there, done that, got taller front sights on my pistols to prove it.

Joe

[Grizz]

or just shoot the 150 yard berm.....

Grizz

seriously, it's instructive and interesting to discover where your gun wants to shoot. then as Buck pointed out, you hold under for the easy close-in shots...

[J Miller]

I recently purchased a cimarron 7th Calvery revolver. The gun shoots 6" high at 50ft. with mild loads. How should I correct this problem? I know I need a higher front sight ,but who can do this and have the gun look like new? By mild I mean 850fps or so with a 250gr. bullet. I don't want to shoot anything faster with this gun. With 250gr. bullets that is. Thanks for the info. Mr. Miller. Your expertise has explained this problem and solution.

Hecter,

250 @ 850 is the classic standard pressure load I was referring to. I should have been a bit more detailed in my response. Most of the cowboy loads are running 250s @ 750 or less or even lighter bullets at 750 or less.

You're welcome, I'm glad I could be of help.

Joe