Point of impact help!!!

[Jeffery8mm]

My wife has a .38 Rossi 5 shot. I load a lee 158gr SWC sized to .358 and LLA lubed with 4.5gr Unique. It shoots low for her [and me for that matter]. No rear sight and a ramp front sight. 2 inc barrel. How would I [ could I] raise the point of impact while maintaining the correct sight picture?? Lower powder charge? Higher powder charge?? Any help is appreciated!!
Jeff

[Trey45]

1st inclination for me would be to use a heavier boolit.

[44man]

1st inclination for me would be to use a heavier boolit.
Yes. I only worry about the short barrel time with that snubby. It might help along with a little lower velocity.

[mooman76]

You could try a lower powder charge if you don't want a heavier bullet. At worst you could file the front site down some. How much are we talking, 2", 4", 6 " A different bullet might work also.

[Edubya]

If you lower the kick, that would lower the MOI. Try it, if you want to. But if you tried a faster burn rate powder, your barrel raises faster and it will come to the point before the bullet exits the barrel.
You could file the front sight to raise the impact. But, it will raise the the impact of all bullets.
What distance are we talking about?
EW

[Jeffery8mm]

3 inches low at 7 yards

Maybe I am too fast with the 4.5gr Unique
Jeff

[HeavyMetal]

I would lower it to 4.0 grains of Unique.

If that doesn't work try 3.8grains Bullseye

If that doesn't work and you'll never use the gun for more than 7 yard shooting select a load that you will always be able to duplicate and file the front sight to zero the gun.

Be aware that a different load, a different shooter or a different grip on the gun will change POI.

[Jeffery8mm]

Gonna try to lower the charge first! I will try 4.0 first. I wonder how low can I go?? Would 3.5 be safe in the .38 spl case??
Jeff

[2shot]

A lower powder charge will raise impact points because of longer time the bullet is in the barrel.

[Echo]

A lower powder charge will raise impact points because of longer time the bullet is in the barrel.

But wouldn't reduced recoil lower the impact point?

[MtJerry]

How low is it shooting?

Is it the boolit or the method of aiming?

If you use the 6 o'clock hold, it may shoot low .. if you use the "cover the target with the front sight" hold, does it hit at POI?

[Ben]

How low is it shooting?

Is it the boolit or the method of aiming?

If you use the 6 o'clock hold, it may shoot low .. if you use the "cover the target with the front sight" hold, does it hit at POI?


3 inches low at 7 yards

[hydraulic]

What are you going to shoot with a short barreled revolver at 7 yards that 3inches would make a difference one way or the other. I doubt you're planning on competative target shooting or shooting flies off the ceiling. If that revolver can make center of body hits at 7 yards it has done its job.

[mooman76]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it myself. It's just a snubbie, not something you will be competitions shooting, or like hydraulic said shoting flies off the wall. I'd just adjust aim but that's me. Try a lower charge or some other loads/bullets and you should find something that will work for you.

[Jeffery8mm]

What are you going to shoot with a short barreled revolver at 7 yards that 3inches would make a difference one way or the other. I doubt you're planning on competative target shooting or shooting flies off the ceiling. If that revolver can make center of body hits at 7 yards it has done its job.

You are correct, that is the function of this revolver. Still want to try the suggestions though
Jeff

[mooman76]

Nothing wrong with trying. That's half the fun.

[Mk42gunner]

My wife has a .38 Rossi 5 shot. I load a lee 158gr SWC sized to .358 and LLA lubed with 4.5gr Unique. It shoots low for her [and me for that matter]. No rear sight and a ramp front sight. 2 inc barrel. How would I [ could I] raise the point of impact while maintaining the correct sight picture?? Lower powder charge? Higher powder charge?? Any help is appreciated!!
Jeff

Jeff,

Is the rear sight missing, or is it a fixed sight gun?

I am assuming that this is the fixed sight cousin of a S&W J-frame. I did the math for a 3 1/2"sight radius, impact three inches low at 21 feet; you need to lower the front sight by 0.041" approximately. If you file the sight, go slow with lots of testing; it is easier to remove metal than to add it.

I personally find it easier to deal with a gun shooting high than it is for one that shoots low.

Robert

[BLTsandwedge]

3 inches low at 7 yards

Jeff

I have one that shoots 7 yards low at 3 inches. The barrel melted during a plate match. My nickname is Three-toe.

Tom

[Dave L]

What about calling Rossi and ask them what load the gun was "registered" for? You might even find that info in the owners manual if you have it.
HTH

[shooting on a shoestring]

I'd leave it alone. People shot high under stress, so a low shooting defensive weapon is a good idea.

[runfiverun]

i agree with the above post.
they tend to poke and look.
have her point shoot it a couple of cylinders full.