Lipseys Bisley 44Spl Front Sight Issue

[az6gun]

Has anyone contacted Ruger to see if they will replace the too short front sight on these Bisleys? Mine is the 4 5/8" and shoots 6" high with Skeeter loads.

 

[DeletedMember275]

Your local gunsmith should be able to do it, and the cost will likely be a wash - compared to sending it overnight to and from Ruger. Unless they are feeling nice, and send you a shipping label.

 

[az6gun]

A taller front sight on a blue gun? I think I will call Ruger, it's a mistake on their part. The UPS truck can pick it up.

 

[flatgate]

EVERY Ruger I own that's a shooter had a too short front sight. .22's, .32's .44's .45's.HELLO, FACTORY, anyone listening????

(Maybe they shoot at 5 yards or something. I usually sight them in at 25 yards then work up to 50 then 100. Over 100 yards I use a "gold or silver" bar on the front sight.)

EACH AND EVERY ONE! Will they ever learn? A tall sight can be filed down.

Sheesh!

flatgate

 

[Dale53]

I have three relatively new Ruger single actions. One is the .44 Lipsey Special 5½", a 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum 6½" and a SS Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP convertible. All three of them (with all four cylinders) will shoot to the sights within the adjustments.

Maybe this problem is limited to the 4 5/8" models?

Some years ago I had a Vaquero .45 colt with 4 5/8" barrel. It shot perfect for windage and the front sight was nicely too high. A bit of file work and it shot to the sights at 25 yards.

Later, I replaced it with a Bisley Vaquero .45 Colt with 5 ½" barrel and right out of the box it shot to the sights. I was shooting full charge black powder loads (case full of Swiss 2F compressed 1/16" with a 250 gr Lyman 452664 Cowboy bullet).

It may also be the way you hold the gun or you may actually see the sights differently than others. I had an old shooting buddy who shot very well. However, over the years we both realized that our impact point was considerably different on a variety of hand guns. Both of us were within our sight limitations but quite diffferent.

On the other hand, many years ago I bought a new S&W Model 29 with 8 3/8" barrel and the front sight was too low to zero. Fortunately, the front sight was pinned and I was able to replace it with one that allowed me to properly zero the revolver. Things happen...

As far as Ruger is concerned, I just wish they would use the same pinned on front sight on their blued guns as they do with their stainless revolvers. That would allow us to easily solve the problem, if necessary. After all, a revolver is not much use if it won't shoot to the sights.

Dale53

 

[az6gun]

On the big bore 4 5/8" barrels they should have the tall front sight that comea on a 45 Colt.

 

[Rclark]

I just wish they would use the same pinned on front sight on their blued guns

+1. That would be an improvement!

FYI, I had to screw my .44Spec 5 1/2" rear sight all the way to the bottom to shoot Skeeter loads right on target. I also noticed when I bench rest I shoot a couple inches lower. So the way you hold the gun (grip strength, arms at rest, etc.) makes a difference. 6" is a lot to overcome though. I had thought about filing the rear sight blade down flush with the rear sight to give me 'some' vertical adjustment, but since the skeeter load will be 'the' standard load, I'll not do the modification.

 

[bronco45]

I have 2 4 5/8s Bhawks. One is a 44Special, the other is a Stainless 45 Colt.

Both of them shoot high, with the rear sight screwed all the way down.

Called Ruger after measuring the front sight on the Colt and was advised that the sight on the Colt was as tall as Ruger manufactured.

Had a new front sight put on the 45 will do the same with the 44 Spl.

 

[DPris]

May be fixable with a different height rear blade.
Also, never zero a handgun on a rest, it'll print to a different elevation.
Denis

 

[tek4260]

I have 2 4 5/8s Bhawks. One is a 44Special, the other is a Stainless 45 Colt.

Both of them shoot high, with the rear sight screwed all the way down.

Called Ruger after measuring the front sight on the Colt and was advised that the sight on the Colt was as tall as Ruger manufactured.

Had a new front sight put on the 45 will do the same with the 44 Spl.

And what was their tallest? I like Flatgate have had to replace my sights. A .595" is the tallest I have seen available from Brownells and has worked on all of mine.

+1 on the pinned front sight on blued revolvers. Would save a lot of torch time.

 

[DPris]

I'll say again that last year I had my local guy install a white outline rear blade on my 4 5/8 .44 Special Flattop as part of some tweaking to bring it more into line as a working gun.
Previously, the gun was perfectly sighted in with heavier loads.
Afterwards, the gun shot high at 25 yards with the rear cranked all the way down.
Returned to the gunsmith, he swapped a different height white outline in, works perfectly now.

At the very least, I'd suggest trying this route at the back end before spending money on the front end might be a little more economical.
Ruger makes several different height rear blades.
Denis

 

[DPris]

Another option would be to remove material in the frame under the rear sight assembly & from the bottom of the sight itself to allow it to crank down a little farther.
Where dimensions allow, easier to remove material than to add it.
Denis

 

[Hondo44]

If you're handy with a file take some off of the top edge of the rear sight blade and touch up with Brownell's ox-pho blue. If you're not, send it back and wait to see if they get the front sight back on straight. One of my 44 FTs (mail ordered) had to go back twice to straighten the front sight for windage. Before I even shot it, I could see with my naked eye the sight was not at 12 o'clock. But the height was fine.

That's the only Ruger out of about 30 that had to go back.

 

[El Bibliotecario]

I'm confused by this post. I recently purchased a Lipsey .44 Special Ruger with 4 5/8" barrel. I've no idea what constitutes a 'skeeter' load ( I generally swat insects rather than shooting them) but three different handloads I've used all shot to the center of a 25 yard timed and rapid fire bullseye target at 25 yards, using a six-o-clock hold. I can only assume I got a weapon wiith a too-high front sight.

 

[Rclark]

The Skeeter Skelton load is 7.5g Unique pushing a 240-250g SWC (or a Keith) style bullet. Runs 900-1000fps depending. From what I understand, Skeeter got this load from Elmer Keith and liked it. If you like the .44Spec, you 'should' be 'knowledgeable' about who Skelton, Keith, and of course Taffin are . Read up . Makes shooting the .44Spec that much more enjoyable.

Get you started :

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44spec.htm

http://www.darkcanyon.net/skeeter_skelton.htm

http://www.darkcanyon.net/The_44Special_A_Reappraisal.htm

http://www.darkcanyon.net/elmer_keith.htm

http://www.shootingtimes.com/gunsmoke/0611/

And of course every one should have the following two reference books on their shelf :

http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Digest-Book-John-Taffin/dp/0896894169

http://www.amazon.com/Single-Action-Sixguns-John-Taffin/dp/0873499530

 

[Hondo44]

I'm confused by this post. I recently purchased a Lipsey .44 Special Ruger with 4 5/8" barrel. I've no idea what constitutes a 'skeeter' load ( I generally swat insects rather than shooting them) but three different handloads I've used all shot to the center of a 25 yard timed and rapid fire bullseye target at 25 yards, using a six-o-clock hold. I can only assume I got a weapon wiith a too-high front sight.

Too low of a front sight.

 

[texaswheelgunner]

Ditto Flatgate's post. And I'll add that I've had to have most all my S&W "N" frame guns fitted with taller front sights too for the same old reason.

HEY OUT THERE>>>>RUGER REPS. Can you hear us??????