OM SS 3 screw: Do you think I have a problem here?

[JWFilips]

On one of my old model 3 screw's ( 1966) that I recently purchased, the fixed rear sight has been drifted to the left to the point were it is very noticeable . Now the gun shoots & groups very well but still the point of impact is about 1.5 inches right (@25 yds). I'm going to drift it left some more but at that point I think the sight's right side will be flush with the receiver ( left side overhangs a good amount) Since it is my only single six with "fixed" sights I have nothing to compare it with ( my others have the screw adjustable sights) Seeing that the sight is going to be so off center.... do you think there is more of a problem with it then just the sight adjustment? I'm starting to wonder if the previous owner opened up the rear sight notch ( unevenly).
Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks
Jim

 

[flatgate]

How "straight" is the front sight blade?

flatgate

 

[DGW1949]

How "straight" is the front sight blade?

flatgate

Yep, that'd be the first thing to check.

DGW

 

[JWFilips]

Sure looks pretty darn straight to me ...no nicks in the crown Etc, Shoots a nice tight group at 25 yards to boot. Just can't figure it. Tried many different brands of ammo and the still end up in a tight group to the right of the bull.
The darb thing shoots so good I almost don't want to mess with it but just knowing it is 1.5 inches off to the right ( & about 3 to the right at 50yds) justs bugs me

 

[street]

Have you let someone else shoot the gun? And if so did it shoot to the right for them?

 

[rugerguy]

Finger 'placement' ?? or the barrel/frame may be "sprung" ( tension to the right) happens when the sheriff pistols whips the bad guy, and he's left handed...... 8)
or vice-versa.......................... :roll:

(often related to which way the front sight REALLY is, as noted above...)

Remedy, adjust sight "picture" , hold accordingly,OR give to a pistol smith to adjust the barrel properly,OR return to the factory, BUT they will want to do the "safety conversion"

 

[JWFilips]

I know I'm resurrecting this old topic, but I have never got to the bottom of it!
The darn gun shoots such great groups but I have my rear sight drifted so far to the left that it looks terrible on the gun. This week I had it to the range where a friend observed & shot the pistol. Same thing Groups to the right. My friend who is a machinist, felt the front sight may be bent to the left. I'm not sure I see this but he said he can. I looked at the front sight and no where can I see any damage that would lead me to believe that the sight got bent to the left in it's past history (1966)
My newest question is: How is the front sight attached to the barrel on an Old Model Single six? Via Silver solder? He suggested putting the barrel in a vice and tapping the top of the front sight to the right with a brass drift. I just don't want to break the Joint between the barrel & the Sight in the process.
WWYD! Anybody have suggestions?
Thanks
Jim

 

[flatgate]

It's basically a "press fit". I'd turn the barrel.

Go to www.bowenclassicarms.com and search around. The amazing Mr. Bowen has written an article about "homeboy" gunsmithing, including a barrel vise.

flatgate

 

[Hondo44]

This would bother me immensely! Perhaps the former owner tried to adjust it and went the wrong way which is common for the novice.

Sometimes it's easier to tell what's wrong if you look at the sight from the muzzle end; does the blade look bent or does it look perpendicular to the barrel but canted to one side? Also look at the lettering on the barrel. Whether it's on the side or the top it should be straight with the frame; at 12:00 o'clock if on top and 9:00 o'clock if on the left side. That will help tell you which fix to do.

If the blade is crooked relative to the barrel, I'd start my 'fix' right there and follow your gunsmith's advice. I would bend it back with a brass punch that has a large surface tip. But put a piece of masking or duct tape on the surface of the sight and a shim of soft metal like copper or alum between the punch and the tape. Avoid hitting the sharp edge of the sight blade.

If the blade comes loose after it's straightened, peen the slot on the side that it was bent on gently with TAPE AND SHIM padding using a broad blade screwdriver to tighten the slot while holding the barrel in a padded vise. This is easier to do than it sounds if you are careful.

If the barrel and sight are canted you should have the the barrel turned.

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[JWFilips]

Well I don't think the barrel was turned because; wouldn't I have issues with the ejector rod binding? Anyway for those that seen it they too say it looks like the front sight is tipped slightly to the left. I still didn't see it but I went the route of judiciously tapping the blade (now that I know how it is attached) to the right with a wide brass drift & I do think it has moved slightly to a more vertical position & from what I can tell it did not loosen at the base. Now if I weren't in the middle of a snow storm I would head to the range to test! Hope this worked because I so would love to get the rear sight back to a more normal looking position on the receiver.
Will post back with results
Thanks

 

[Hondo44]

JW,

That's great news. I think you've probably fixed it or at least improved it, range time will tell.

Tweaking the barrel a small amount will not normally affect the ejector rod. Did the lettering look centered?

 

[JWFilips]

Well whacking the front sight worked ! Took it out to the range early this morning ( was the only one there for the whole morning....9 inches of wet snow on the ground!) On the First target it shot to the left of the bull ....first time that happened since I got it..... which means I was able to finally drift my rear sight where it belongs ...no more having the rear sight hanging off the left of the gun! Now the rear sight looks pretty centered on the receiver & I shot the centers out of the bulls after that.
Now my only question is should I peen the mortice for the front sight now everything is shooting correctly? The front sight does not appear loose but I did have to give it a few good wacks to get it vertical Anyway thank you all for your help & no my words on the barrel are on top & they the look very centered. It was the front sight all the time

 

[Hondo44]

Very glad to hear it's all as it should be!! If you can't detect any movement with finger pressure on your sight blade, I would not peen it if it were my gun.

Good work JW and good shooting!

 

[americal]

Well whacking the front sight worked ! Took it out to the range early this morning ( was the only one there for the whole morning....9 inches of wet snow on the ground!) On the First target it shot to the left of the bull ....first time that happened since I got it..... which means I was able to finally drift my rear sight where it belongs ...no more having the rear sight hanging off the left of the gun! Now the rear sight looks pretty centered on the receiver & I shot the centers out of the bulls after that.
Now my only question is should I peen the mortice for the front sight now everything is shooting correctly? The front sight does not appear loose but I did have to give it a few good wacks to get it vertical Anyway thank you all for your help & no my words on the barrel are on top & they the look very centered. It was the front sight all the time

NOW THAT IS DEDICATION 8) 8) I like that 8)