Stainless 44 special Flattop shooting high

[gobbler]

My stainless Ruger 44 special Flattop with 4 5/8 inch barrel is shooting approximately 2 inches high at 25 yard using the Skeeter load. The rear sight bottomed out. The measured velocity is 975 fps. Am I correct in thinking that a deeper or lower rear sight notch and/or a taller front sight would be the solution? Does Ruger (or Micro) make a rear sight blade with a deeper notch that might correct this situation? Or, since the front sight is pinned, does Ruger make a taller front sight that might correct this situation? The windage is good and the groups are small, but located 2 inches above the point of aim.

 

[contender]

Call Ruger & get a taller ft sight. An easy way to fix it. The roll pin can be gently tapped out, insert the new blade, drill 1/2 way through from each side, then re-insert the roll pin.

 

[gobbler]

Thanks contender.

 

[gobbler]

I contacted Ruger by email and they responded suggesting I return the gun. I've never had to return a gun, but have heard stories of others doing so and getting their gun back scratched up or otherwise damaged. At this point I'm somewhat reluctant to do so. And opinions?

Also thought of getting one of Hamilton Bowen's Rough Country rear sights as a possible fix.

 

[contender]

Call them back & talk to a different tech. A replaceable blade is all you need. No need to return the gun. Ask to speak with a supervisor if necessary.
Getting a Bowen is a an option, but may NOT address the height issue. Plus, there is usually a long wait time for their sights.

 

[nvbirdman]

I had a 30 carbine that was shooting high so I sent it back to Ruger. They not only replaced the front sight blade with a taller one, but they also refinished the entire gun all at no charge.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Two inches at 25 yards is a tiny amount. Why not just back-off the load .5 grain and see if that doesn't help. :D

Also it is not the notch that needs to be lower but the top of the rear sight that needs to be a little lower. You could file a little off-the-top. :D

 

[nvbirdman]

Jimbo's sighting is as bad as his politics. To lower the point of impact you need to RAISE the front sight.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Jimbo's sighting is as bad as his politics. To lower the point of impact you need to RAISE the front sight.

Please read it again. I said to lower the top of the rear sight. :D

"...the top of the rear sight that needs to be a little lower."

 

[nvbirdman]

Jimbo, you are correct, I read too fast and skipped right over the REAR sight reference.

 

[Cholo]

Two inches at 25 yards is a tiny amount. Why not just back-off the load .5 grain and see if that doesn't help.

Doesn't that cause it to shoot higher? :?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Two inches at 25 yards is a tiny amount. Why not just back-off the load .5 grain and see if that doesn't help.

Doesn't that cause it to shoot higher? :?

Some people say yes, some people say no. If using heavy bullets and slow powder an increase in charge will usually make more recoil and make the gun shoot higher. If using light bullets and fast powder an increase in charge will get the bullet out of the barrel faster and shoot lower. I don't shoot light bullets so I usually go with the first example. Even with that some people will say they get the opposite results. :D

With the OP's example of the Skeeter load (250gr bullet over 7.5gr of Unique, I assume) I would suggest lowering the charge a little because that is a fairly stout load for the 44 special. I certainly would not want to increase it unless I knew the gun very well. :D

 

[sliclee]

There are times sometimes that a gun has to go back after all options are checked.
To have a single action SHOOT LOW is one to consider after checking all simple stuff.

 

[Slenk]

Have you tried a 240gr bullet with the same load? That's what my 44 flattop likes.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Two inches at 25 yards is a tiny amount. Why not just back-off the load .5 grain and see if that doesn't help.

Doesn't that cause it to shoot higher? :?

Yes , increasing the load gives less barrel time causing the bullet to impact lower.
I read the OP to say " a rear sight blade with a deeper notch" the top of the rear sight blade is what needs to be lowered.

 

[rjn]

A little digression on changing the point-of-impact (POI) via load changes...if you can't adjust your sight(s) on a revolver for whatever reason then the only way to change the POI is via bullet weight change.

If you increase the bullet weight then it will impact higher and if you decrease the bullet weight it will impact lower.

Some will say increase the velocity and it will impact higher or they will say lower the velocity and it will impact lower. Nope and here is why...

The POI is a function of recoil which raises the barrel AND how long the bullet is in the barrel. How long it is in the barrel is function of velocity. Everyone should agree that a faster bullet will spend less time in the barrel and also have more recoil. Well guess what...recoil and velocity are terms which exactly cancel...what do i mean by that...

If you increase the velocity, the recoil is more but barrel time is shorter and the POI will remain the same.

Likewise,
If you decrease the velocity, the recoil is less but barrel time is longer and the POI will remain the same.


This is not my theory but one written about long ago by Mr. Julian Hatcher.

https://www.amazon.com/Pistols-Revolvers-Their-Julian-Hatcher/dp/1614273642


A really excellent book written in 1927 but since the laws of physics have pretty much remained the same it still is very pertinent today.

 

[daveg.inkc]

Or move your target out farther Hold lower? I have a Vaquero .45 that shoots low,,so I aim higher, break the clay targets, ring the steel plates.

 

[Precision32]

Adding more or less powder behind the same bullet does nothing to POI. Remember Mr. Newton. Equal and opposite ring a bell? So you drop the charge to slow the bullet down. This also slows the recoil reaction so there is a zero sum gain. Same but opposite if you increase the powder. Faster bullet, faster recoil; same point of impact.

As the gun is shooting high you need to reduce the reaction, so try a lighter bullet.

EDIT; rjn posted before I did. He said basically the same thing I did. :wink: