Bought a brand new nickle 1873 Pietta a while back and on its first trip to the range I couldn't hit crap with it, chalked it up to being unfamiliar gun to me. Next trip, loaded up some more appropriate 158 round nose 38 and gave it another try, from a rest. Still shooting consistently 4-5 inches right at 15 yards. I started looking at the front sight and I swear it looks bent, is this possible? And if so where do I go from here.
1873 Pietta shooting way right
- Thread starter misterzr
- Start date
The barrel may not be turned tightly enough into the frame. So the barrel and sight are "clocked" a little towards the 1 o'clock direction. It would account for the sight looking "bent" as well as shooting to the right.
If it's new take it in for warranty. If it's used then just about any gunsmith that has been around the block more than once can tighten it up to 12 o'clock in a couple of minutes.
If it's new take it in for warranty. If it's used then just about any gunsmith that has been around the block more than once can tighten it up to 12 o'clock in a couple of minutes.
If the front sight can be lined up ( assuming it is bent to the left) it should be easy to fix. If not you can apply Kentucky Windage which is what I do for most of my guns due to the fact that the sights can't be adjusted except with a Dremel...which I refuse to do.
Oops, you said it's shoot right. That implies that the sight is turned PAST 12 o'clock. That may require a shim washer or other solution. But it's still likely that it's the barrel being screwed in wrong and missing the proper 12 o'clock position.
I ve had several Piettta's over the years. I have never had one "with fixed sights" that shot actual POA. I've always had to compensate. I only buy revolvers with adjustable sights now, regardless of Brand. I'm to old for all the guess work. Its fine if you only have 1 revolver, but I had several and couldn't remember how to aim each gun.
I find that how I hold each revolver makes a big difference in how it shoots. I have an open top that tosses the bullets high and right if I take a pinkie under grip. If I choke way up on the backstrap so the hammer is into my web it will shoot POA if a fine bead is taken.
You might well have a wanky gun, but technique seems to be heavily involved in single action shooting.
It was a good few hundred rounds before I could hit crap with my first SAA (a Pietta).
You might well have a wanky gun, but technique seems to be heavily involved in single action shooting.
It was a good few hundred rounds before I could hit crap with my first SAA (a Pietta).
Part of the issue is that the replicas tend to use sights that are faithful to the .45Colt models. From asking around I find that folks with Piettas and Ubertis that shoot .45Colt either didn't need any sight adjusting or at most needed a slight trim. Those of us that shoot the .357Mag chambered guns typically need to get quite aggressive with a file on the front blade.
In my case I also ended up filing out a few thou on one side of the rear notch to make up for a 2" left @ 20 yards windage issue.
So fixed sights are adjustable. It's just that adjusting them requires more than a small screwdriver....Namely a file or in some cases a TIG welder .
In my case I also ended up filing out a few thou on one side of the rear notch to make up for a 2" left @ 20 yards windage issue.
So fixed sights are adjustable. It's just that adjusting them requires more than a small screwdriver....Namely a file or in some cases a TIG welder .
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
It would be good to see a photo or two to determine if it looks really off kilter. Next, let someone try the revolver without telling them it shoots to the right for you, see how it goes. You could also change your finger position on the trigger. If you've never experimented with this, it will show you how much you can move a bullet on target only by altering finger position.
Part of the issue is that the replicas tend to use sights that are faithful to the .45Colt models. From asking around I find that folks with Piettas and Ubertis that shoot .45Colt either didn't need any sight adjusting or at most needed a slight trim. Those of us that shoot the .357Mag chambered guns typically need to get quite aggressive with a file on the front blade.
In my case I also ended up filing out a few thou on one side of the rear notch to make up for a 2" left @ 20 yards windage issue.
So fixed sights are adjustable. It's just that adjusting them requires more than a small screwdriver....Namely a file or in some cases a TIG welder .
Your dead on. My 357's were the worst come to think of it.
My .45 LC is spot on, no adjustment needed. ( not to the sights anyway.)Part of the issue is that the replicas tend to use sights that are faithful to the .45Colt models. From asking around I find that folks with Piettas and Ubertis that shoot .45Colt either didn't need any sight adjusting or at most needed a slight trim. Those of us that shoot the .357Mag chambered guns typically need to get quite aggressive with a file on the front blade.
In my case I also ended up filing out a few thou on one side of the rear notch to make up for a 2" left @ 20 yards windage issue.
So fixed sights are adjustable. It's just that adjusting them requires more than a small screwdriver....Namely a file or in some cases a TIG welder .
