Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Colt 1st Gen SAA experts. Question re: sight adjustment

I have previusly posted about my SAA that I inherited and then had restored a while back. I need some help adjusting her point of impact. With a fixed sight, obviously, in this case, you are talking about screwing the barrel in or out to adjust POI. In this case I need to screw it in a tad. I'm hitting dead on, elevation wise, but 3" to the left at 20 yards.

My question: how to adjust/screw in the barrel without messing up the alignment of the ejector tube with its hole in the frame and it's screw attachment to the end of the barrel???? If I screw it in, nothing will align any more it seems.

Just figured I'd ask before I take it back to the gunsmith who restored her. He has the proper equipment and know how to do it correctly. FYI: shooting a 255 grain Keith SWC behind 6.0 grains of Red Dot. Traditional 250 grain round nose flat points shoot to the same POI at 20 yards.

Thanks for any input. That's my SAA below...45 LC.

I've done that, have the barrel vice, etc. You have to be really careful to not let the barrel slip in the vice; I use resin.

But, with such a fine gun, I'd go back to the guy who restored it. Looks like he did a really good job.

You don't move it that much, IME, not enough to alter the ejector housing.

Nice gun.

DF

Yep...I called Peacemaker Specialists and they informed me that it was only a smidgen that the barrel is rotated.....maybe a couple of thousandths to get it fixed....good news. And the gunsmith said he uses resin for that job too.

That's a real dandy!

Saaaaaaweet !

Jerry

Nice Colt, although you'll probably get more velocity if you put the powder behind the bullet.....couldn't resist.

Looks like I'm an idiot. That may explain the 3" off zero problem! Ha.

That Red Dot load is a known tack driver.

DF

I would call Alan Harton in Houston and see if he is still taking on work.

Gorgeous Colt, for sure.

kd

Yes, very good looking SAA there!

I seem to recall Mike Venturino (not sure if the spelling is correct or not) talking about slightly bending the front sight instead of turning the barrel. Not sure if that is still a recommended practice or not. I do remember him saying that the first time he did it he was so frustrated that he grabbed a pair of pliers from his truck and that he was pleased that he now hit to point of aim but that he was reminded of his haste every time he looked at his revolver and saw the plier grip marks on his front sight! HA! In any case, I'm sure a competent SAA smith will get it corrected for you.

As everyone else is saying, that really is a good looking revolver! Nicely done.

That's a gorgeous revolver!

I think this is the answer you were looking for.

That revolver is gorgeous, and I'm sure that the work to make it look that way was not cheap. Sending it back to have the zero tweaked is the final step in the restoration. If It were my gun, the cost of shipping and work would be less than the cost of fixing whatever I boogered up by accident.


Okie John

Follow up. I visited the gunsmith this weekend. While picking up another gun (Winchester 1886) we tinkered with the SAA. It was a five minute fix. “East and West” is corrected easily. She now shoots a tad higher since the front sight is slightly lower now from twisting in. Not enough to get worked up about...about an inch or two.

I’m much obliged for all your input/suggestions.

Really want to smack a deer with it this fall. 250 grain LSWC Keith style bullets about 800 FPS. I’d probably do best if I wait on a bow season type shot.....20 yards and in.