single action point of aim

[topock]

greetings,. I have a great western 2
SA in .45 colt,. nice gun with a real smooth action, I bought this used,.
 it appears to shoot to the left about 3 inches at 10 yards,. I have read of others with same problem,. with other makes / models of SA revolvers,. twisting barrel carefully seems to be the way to go,. to adjust the point of impact,.
 so,.can anyone reccomend a gunsmith that does this?

[Lloyd Smale]

for what gunsmith will charge you you could probably go to brownels and buy a barrel vise and do it yourself. Problem is that no to shooters shoot the same so if a gunsmith ajusts it to his shooting style its no quarantee that it will be exacty right for you. A barrel vise alows you to fine tune it. I will sometimes take a barrel vise right to the range and bolt it to the bench so i can fine tune and shoot. Then if you buy another gun your not wasting money again and they can actually be used for more then turning barrels. There decent vises for hold round objects your cutting off of working on.

[flatgate]

Bowen's Article

Check it out.

flatgate

[44 Man]

This is not a hard task, you just need a bench vise and the proper size wooden blocks to turn the barrel.  The trick is not getting the barrel turned, it's turning it without marring it.  For that you'll want to wrap in it friction tape.  I had a nickled Colt that needed adjusting but no one would touch it for fear of marring the shiney finish.  So with that one I had to just whack the front sight against the bench and bend it a little.  Turning the barrel is a better option.  If it shoots left, turning the barrel in a little will do the trick.  In fact, I'd bet if you looked at your gun you would see the front sight is leaning to the right just a little.  Many people ask how far do you turn it?  I have centered several guns and have just lined the front sight up until it is visually straight with the top of the frame, the barrel markings will also then be lined up with the middle of the rear sight channel.  It's not a big job, just get the proper tools and take your time.  I've been fortunate that my buddy Mikie helped me with them, and he has all the tools.  I often find I will also need to file a little off the front sight to bring it to POA with my chosen loads.  Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out.  44 Man

[gcrank1]

Before attempting any barrel turning or sight blade bending you might want to try adjusting your hold. It is quite common for the gun to torque off to one side when pulling the trigger, and upon firing with stout loads.
Years back, I think it was the Colt's promo man 'Fitz, said to put your thumb (if right handed) up on the frame, just left of the hammer, and apply a little pressure as you squeeze the trigger. It seems odd, at first, but if it helps counteract the group going left then go with it, the price is right.

[44 Man]

Gcrank is right!  When I remember back to when I first started shooting single actions (a VERY long time ago!), they would most often shoot high and left for me when shooting one handed.  Then when I put my other hand up there, they were centered where they should be.  So definate check that first.  Because we have to reach way up there to cock the hammer, we tend to slide our grip around to the side and not keep the gun centered in line with our wrist and forearm.  Because of small hands, I still tend to do that and I have to keep reminding myself to grip the gun with the bore in line with my arm.  I don't practice enough weak handed, so those groups are usually a little high and right.  I guess when I get the carpul tunnel done in a couple of weeks, I'll be shooting a lot weak handed!  I digress.  The point is, check you grip carefully before you start removing metal or twisting the barrel.  44 Man

[.22-5-40]

Hello, I agree to check EVERYTHING including handloads with differen't weight bullets before doing anything to a revolver with fixed sights.  I have a Colt 2nd. gen 7 1/2" .38 Spec.  Hamilton Bowen did action work..(was a basket case when I bought it) & sighted in.  I started handloading & testing..now on my other revolvers I always use a wrist rest for testing at 25yds.  This one was shooting low and right..I am talking lower R.H. edge of target paper!  No matter what load I tried, it wouldn't come up.  Finally tried some heavy 200gr. roundnose,,that brought group up..but still about 3" low and right..Finally... the old light bulb flickered on..& I stood up on my hind legs and shot it as they were intended to be shot..ever see a cowboy totin a rest?  That thing shot to point of aim with perfect windage!  So don't do anything until you try everything else!

[Graybeard]

EVERY single action I've ever owned that didn't have adjustable rear sight shot well to the left. Didn't matter if I used my right hand, my left hand or both hands. They all still shoot left (well left) of aiming point. It's why I don't own any such guns anymore.

Were I comfortable doing as these single action aficionados recommend I might still have some.

[kynardsj]

My Vaquero will shoot low and left but I'm pretty sure it's how I hold it. All my other pistols I own with adjustable sights has the rear sight high and to the right for me to hit center.

[44 Man]

With fixed sights and loads, just rmember;  Heavier bullets shoot higher, faster loads shoot lower.  But if you have several guns and they all tend to shoot low, you may be 'pushing' the gun.  That is anticipating the shot and 'pushing' against the expected recoil.  We have to guard against that.  Hold your sight picture and press the trigger.  Keep good follow through and not worrying about what happens after the gun goes off will give you better hits.  44 Man

[Mike in Virginia]

I was 16 when I got my first handgun, a Colt single action .22.  I loved that gun, but it shot way left.  My dad simply bent the front sight, and I was on target.  I didn't like that bent sight, but I learned a lot about revolver accuracy with that Colt. 

Now, at 63, much older than my dad when he bent that front sight, if I buy a fixed sight gun that shoots that far off center, I get rid of it.  If you are shooting 3" left at 10 yards, you are way the heck off at 25 yards.  You will never be able to compensate for that much deviation from center.   

Regarding Colt single action revolvers, they are super expensive because of the name and the beautiful finish and the classic lines.  I'd love to have one.  But buying a Colt revolver is luck of the draw.  Sometimes you get one that shoots tight groups at the point of aim, and sometimes you get one that won't group at all.  Another drawback with a Colt, is the inherent weakness.  We can shoot cowboy loads forevermore thru a Colt, but we can't load it hot.  With all that in mind, I'll stick with Rugers.