Single Action shooting low

[BigAl52]

I have a Uberti El Paton with an action job from the factory. Its 45 Colt and shoots low. Anyone here put the file to the front sight on these or do you just hold high.

[fortyshooter]

That is a normal occurrence with a lot of SA six shooters with fixed sights. I would try different loads and adjust the front sight with file to get your favorite load to point of aim. Better low than high! Also how is the windage?

[Team Roper]

I have a pair of Ruger Vaqueros in 38/357 that I have had to find the load I like and then file the front sight to accommodate that load because they were hitting low to start.

[BigAl52]

Need to take it out again with some loads Forty. I think Im going to adjust it to the 250gr bullets but from what I can remember the windage was good.

[RanchRoper]

I would just hold a little high...but that's just me.

[The Wiz]

I hold mine high.

[fortyshooter]

Try the 12 o clock hold and see what happens. How low does it shoot and from what distance?

[BigAl52]

Its about 3 inches low at 15 yards. Ive never really cared for that 12 oclock hold if you are shooting a smaller target you are covering up the target. I might just sell the gun and shoot the Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt.

[Shakey Jake]

I filed the front site of my Ruger Vaquero. I didn't have any qualms about doing it. Just go slow.
Jake

[North Country Gal]

Very common for a fixed sight single action to shoot low. In fact, I suspect that Ruger makes the Vaqueros with a taller than needed front sight because they expect cowboy action shooters to file down the sight as needed. Have done it on several of those. I don't see shooting low as much of a problem on these guns or even a defect for that matter because it's such an easy fix. Doesn't bother me in the least to file down the front sight as needed for my favorite load and my favorite distance and then just use whatever it takes to hold at other distances. I'd much rather file down the front sight than cover up the target to get the needed holdover.

A single action that shoots high is a real headache and, for me, a reason to trade off a gun if need be. Have done it with a couple. Not an easy fix.

Here's my Cimarron/Pietta 357 Frontier that I got lightly used at a bargain price. Shooting 357s is downright nasty with this one, so I filed down the front sight to use the gun with 38s, since, of course, 38s shoot much lower. No regrets at all, because this one is crazy accurate and fun to shoot with the 38s, plus I have a Uberti Colt in 357 for shooting 357s (and don't shoot it much because it stings with 357s.)

[BigAl52]

Thanks NCG I wondered what you might do and I thought you would be doing the filing. I dont see the pic it didnt come through.

[JEBar]

QUESTION from one who hasn't looked at single action revolvers since the mid 60's .... are there single action revolvers that come stock with an adjustable rear sight

[North Country Gal]

QUESTION from one who hasn't looked at single action revolvers since the mid 60's .... are there single action revolvers that come stock with an adjustable rear sight

For sure, but adjustable sights are a relatively modern addition to single action revolvers (and even for double action revolvers for that matter). Colt did add adjustable sights to the Colt single action for a decade or so on the 1890s with their Flat Top Target, but not many were produced. In the 1960s, Colt came out with the New Frontier version of the Peacemaker which was all about offering a version of the Colt single action with adjustable sights. (You can still get those, but they are not the collectible version of the Colt Single Action.Colt collectors largely ignore them.) Colt was somewhat pushed to offer a version with adjustable sights to keep up with Ruger single actions that came out in the 1950s with adjustable sights, which were very popular. What fixed sight versions Ruger did offer actually had drift adjustable rear sights, so they weren't traditional gutter sight fixed sights.

Ruger was really the one behind marketing their single actions with adjustable sights, especially in the 70s with the rise of handgun hunting and the need for adjustable sights. It wasn't until the rise in popularity of cowboy action shooting in the 90s that Ruger added and went big time into offering traditional Colt style fixed sight versions for that sport with the Vaquero.

Colt and Remington single action reproductions by Pietta and Uberti stay true to the originals which were fixed sight guns, though I have seen some Uberti Colt options with adjustable sights for those that must have them, but those versions are a relatively minor part of production and sales. People buy these Colt and Remington clones for that traditional single action experience and that is fixed sights, not adjustable sights.

[BigAl52]

Another reason they buy them is they are set up to shoot cast bullets and Rugers are not.

[fortyshooter]

Another reason they buy them is they are set up to shoot cast bullets and Rugers are not.

Depends if the cylinder throat is sized correctly as in .452-.4525 for a .452 sized .45 cast bullet.

[BigAl52]

All I know Forty is the one I have will pass 452 cast bullets thru the throats. The Ruger I had just like the one you have in a Bisley would not. I had to send it out to have the throats opened up. Both cylinders 45 acp and 45 Colt

[Travlin]

If that single action causes you that much discomfort why not get some better grips on it? I never could see why Colt put the smaller navy grip on the S.A.A. My Colt and my Ruger Blackhawk both have bigger after market grips on them so that my big mitts or more able to hang on and keep them on target.

[North Country Gal]

For sure, tons of grip choices for Rugers.

As for throat sizes, I've never had a Ruger 45, yet, that had throat sizes open enough for shooting lead. Even our vintage 1970 Old Model has throats that are too tight. Along those same lines, I've yet to see a Uberti Colt 45 that didn't have throat sizes optimized for shooting lead.

[BigAl52]

I did just that for one of my Rugers Travelin. Bought some Bear Paw Grips. I really like them and Im going to buy another set as soon as he gets more done. Maybe 2 more sets. Here I was talking about the front sight height on my Uberti in 45 Colt.

[fortyshooter]

I've had to hone out the cylinders of a couple of my Rugers to get them to .4525-.453 Depends on the year of manufacture.
I have a 2005 New Vaquero and those were right on but my Bisley Blackhawk .45 Colt needed some attention.