Sighting in problems with a Ruger Blackhawk??

[cleveland48]

Hey guys I could really use some advice.  I recently bought a Ruger Blackhawk In 45 colt. and tried to sight it in.  So far I have tried Magtech cowboy loads with a 250gr LSWC, Winchester SuperX 225gr Silvertip, and My first reloads which were a 200gr LSWC with 8.8 gr. of universal (plinking load).  I still have H4227 to try out for my whitetali loads which will be around 300gr. most likely but maybe 250gr.(all loads tested at 25 yards)  Now here is my problem all of these bullets have shot to the left about 3 inches or so.  The 200 gr. reloads are the fastest and the shot about 2 in. low and 3in to the left.  My sights are moved all the way to the left.  Someone told me alot of the shooting to the left with a single action is because of bad form or something.(and i'm left handed don't know if that means anything lol)  It very well could be, but I was just wanting some opinions from some more expeirenced single action shooters.  I've had a ruger new model single six since I was about 10 and i shoot it great.  I've had good luck shooting single actions in 357, and 44 magnums.  But this is my first 45.(besides a 1911)  I could use alot of help guys.. I don't really won't to scope it because the barrel is 4 5/8 in long, worried if it would look weird.  Do any of you have a 4 5/8in scoped scoped ruger if so please tell me what mounts and scope you have.  Thanks for any help guys, and good luck this season..

[Ken ONeill]

Well, maybe you've mis-spoken, but if your sights are indeed " moved all the way to the left" , the gun is SUPPOSED to shoot to the left! Move rear sights in the direction you want the bullet to go: Up to raise point of impact; Right to move impact to the right.
If the gun is shooting to the left 3" and the rear sight is moved all the way to the RIGHT, send it to Ruger with a letter.

[Racer X]

I bought a new Single Six a couple of years ago that also shot to the left. I sent it back to Ruger and they turned the barrel to correct it.
I also suggest you inspect the gun to make sure the rear sight assembly is not mounted crooked in the top strap. If it is, the gun will never shoot right and I would insist Ruger replace the gun.

[bilmac]

Move the rear sight the direction you want your group to move. If the group is left of your aim point move the sight right.

[cleveland48]

I was wondering if I moved the back sight the wrong way lol.  Maybe that is the problem but when I first got the gun the sights were centered but still shot to the left with cowboy loads.  But now that I think about it I don't believe it shot as far to the left as it does now.(only shot it one day and that wasn't long enough to try alot of different stuff.  So I will try the re adjusting the sights tomorrow, and I hope it works. I really enjoy how the 4 5/8 barrel carries.  And I don't mind to scope it or red dot it, but it would be nice to get some kills with it and iron sights.  It will only be used for around 50 yds or so since most of my experience comes from rifles.  I have always gotten confused setting  iron sights lol. But I really appreciate the post guys, I'm pretty new here and kinda lost on this forum stuff.  But thanks alot.

[BlkHawk73]

  Also check for flinching/anticpation of recoil too.  Load 4 loaded cartridges and 2 empty cases into the cylinder randomly.  Spin the cylinder so you do NOT know which the firing pin will drop onto.  Great way to see how much your anticipating the recoil and flinhing because of it.  Trigger finger is also a biggie as is the way you grip the gun.   I find many get upset at the gun but are actually having improper trigger squeeze or are holding the gun in a canted manner.

[cleveland48]

Thanks guy's. She is sighted in now but at 20 yards with 200 gr. SWC.  I'm gonna get some 250's either SWC or XTP's. How high do you set it at 20 or 25 yds to be about dead on at 50. They will be about 11oo or 1200 fps not sure yet but could use a ballpark estimate. Don't won't to waste alot of ammo gettin it right if some of you could just get me close it would same some ammo.  I go to school and work part time at minimum wage.  Bullets are gettin a little pricey these days lol. Also I had a spare 200gr. SWC.(.451)(leftover 45 acp loads). So I took the cylinder out and tried to push on in the front of the cylinder.  I was able to push it into the cylinder with my thumb, it was a little tight though. Does this mean I might have a blackhawk with a proper cylinder and not undersized?  thanks for the replies guys.

[Glanceblamm]

How high do you set it at 20 or 25 yds to be about dead on at 50.

Not too much at all. You miight find that you are dead on @ 75yds with the point of impact being very acceptable @ 50yds

So I took the cylinder out and tried to push on in the front of the cylinder.  I was able to push it into the cylinder with my thumb, it was a little tight though. Does this mean I might have a blackhawk with a proper cylinder and not undersized?  thanks for the replies guys.

Sounds like you are in the ball park. What I like to do is to slug the barrel and then try this same slug out in the cylinder throats. I must be incredibly lucky as I have done this with three diff rugers and had that barrel slug slip easily through the cylinder throats But With Absolutely No Wobble if you would insert a pick to try & wobble it around a bit.
If I would take that same barrel slug and run it through the barrel again, some pressure would be in order as it is tight again. My blackhawk barrel slug measured .4515 to .4519 after much agonizing measuring. This wasn't really even that accurate cause the lands don't line up across the radious of the bullet. But for that barrel slug to easily sllp through the cylnder throat with no wobble, i figure that the cylinder throats are exactly where they are suppose to be @ perhaps .001 to .002 larger than the bore diameter.

I hate to push my credibility (or perhaps a charmed life) too far here but must also say that I have never found a (tight spot) up near the throat that is associated with (barrel crush from the factory) with these three Rugers that are only 1.5 to five years old. All of them did have slop in the base pins which is curable through Belt Mountain.