Widening Vaquero Rear Sight

[Captain Quint]

How would be the best way to widen the rear sight on my stainless Vaquero doing it myself. Old eyes have a hard time with the narrow sight.

 

[contender]

I'd have a gunsmith GENTLY widen it on a mill. If you start trying to file it manually, it can easily get away from you. (I've seen a couple done wrong.)

 

[Rclark]

I widened mine (Case Colored Vaquero) with a file ... but that was only because the gun was shooting left.... Also with a little Casey cold bluing you really can't tell I widened it. SS would be a different.

In your case you'd want it widened 'equally' on both sides and that I think is best done as contender suggests above for a nicer job.

 

[sunday bill]

'Smithy may do it purtier, but I mask off any near-by area-at-risk and CAREFULLY open'em up with a "safe-sided" file. No problems to date.

 

[Montelores]

What is a "safe-sided" file?

Thanks -

Monty

 

[Captain Quint]

I was going to ask about the file too.

 

[unter1]

The safe side of the file is the side you sand down smooth so it will only cut(in this case) on the sides and will not cut the top of the groove you are making wider.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I widened the rear sight groove on my Stainless BearCat ---- mainly because it shot so far to the left. Patience is the key; and using the right file as already described.

 

[don44]

I've done the same thing on a few C&B revolvers. It really helped a lot.

 

[gunboat57]

Also called a "plain edge" file. Very handy.

look up item 4223A1 on this site:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#

 

[flatgate]

I widened the rear sight groove ---- mainly because it shot so far to the left.

I believe I would have "turned the barrel" ever so slightly........

JMHO,

flatgate

 

[REP1954]

Just a little hint but when widening a rear fixed sight on one side to to get it to move to the point of aim you have to remove twice as much material compared to what distance you would have moved an adjustable rear sight.

 

[Dalei]

How do you deal with the screw hole for the ejector housing when the barrel is turned.

Dalei

 

[Robb Barnes]

The barrel is turned such a small amount that the ejector rod still mates up with the screw hole.

 

[tek4260]

The barrel is only turned a fraction of a turn. Not enough to cause problems with the ERH fit to any extent. Usually if you remove the ERH and punch a witness mark, the amount of movement isn't enough to clear the mark on the frame from the one on the barrel(if that makes sense). Due to the height of the sight, the amount you turn the barrel is only amplified at the top of the sight.

BEFORE you turn a barrel, make sure your grip is right, trigger control, load, ect... Many of mine shot high and left. After lightening the trigger and correcting my finger position and grip, many of mine were able to be adjusted back nearly centered.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I widened the rear sight groove ---- mainly because it shot so far to the left.

I believe I would have "turned the barrel" ever so slightly........

JMHO,

flatgate

In that case, I doubt you would have approved of my widening the front sight to .12" with JB Weld.

 

[DuginMT]

Bought a 5 1/2" 45 New Vaquero on Thursday and took it out this morning to shoot it. The groups were fine at 25 yards but it shot 4" left and about 2" low. The elevation I will fix with loading a bit heavier than the cowboy action bullets I was shooting. To bring the groups right, I figured I could file about .050" from the right side of the rear sight window, but didn't have the right file. So, I took her up to my gunsmith and asked if he had the right file. He said yes, but after looking down the sights he said he knew why it was printing left - the front sight was canted off to the right! Sure enough, once he pointed it out I could see it. He said it would be better to screw the barrel in a fraction, rather than try to file out the rear sight notch. I agreed, since I don't want a wider rear sight notch. Will re-post with the results. My gunsmith keeps busy so it may be awhile.

 

[w5lx]

Bought a 5 1/2" 45 New Vaquero on Thursday and took it out this morning to shoot it. The groups were fine at 25 yards but it shot 4" left and about 2" low. The elevation I will fix with loading a bit heavier than the cowboy action bullets I was shooting. To bring the groups right, I figured I could file about .050" from the right side of the rear sight window, but didn't have the right file. So, I took her up to my gunsmith and asked if he had the right file. He said yes, but after looking down the sights he said he knew why it was printing left - the front sight was canted off to the right! Sure enough, once he pointed it out I could see it. He said it would be better to screw the barrel in a fraction, rather than try to file out the rear sight notch. I agreed, since I don't want a wider rear sight notch. Will re-post with the results. My gunsmith keeps busy so it may be awhile.

WELCOME to the forum. Why not call Ruger, report what you found out from the gunsmith, and let them send you a call tag so you can ship it back to them free and have it fixed under warranty? I had a Vaguero (original model) that shot low and left, sent it back to them, and it came back perfect. They do excellent work and will test fire it and check it over before they send it back.

 

[edlmann]

. . . it shot 4" left and about 2" low. The elevation I will fix with loading a bit heavier than the cowboy action bullets I was shooting.

Boosting the powder charge so that the bullets leave the muzzle sooner can actually lower POI. A handgun in recoil raises the muzzle; the longer the bullet takes to exit the barrel, the higher the muzzle is at the time of exit. The more substantial the recoil, the more pronounced the effect.

Sounds counterintuitive, but that's been my experience. I have a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44S I had Magnaported to reduce the muzzle flip and I had to remove about 1/4" of front sight to compensate. Bullets were hitting the ground 1/2 way to a 20 foot target.

All that being said, I'd certainly let Ruger fix this one for free.