I recently purchased a double nine at a lgs. The bore looked good, the cylinder was tight and all seemed great. I cleaned her up and also the .22lr only cylinder with this particular gun.
I took it to the range and tried about 8 different rounds ranging from cci sv to some higher velocity. Also tried subsonic. Some tested were cci sv, cci subsonic, norma,aguila sv,remington golden,federal automatch,and eley.
So the problem I encountered was that all shot way high at 10 yards . Up to 4 -5 inches high. I could not believe it was that far off. I am an experienced revolver shooter in .22 as well as higher calibers so I know it is the gun. The only round that shot lower were the subs but still not low enough. To me it was useless for any paper shooting because even a six o'clock hold would not take care of that kind of problem unless you shot way below on blank paper and guess that it may hit by blind luck. Ridiculous for sure . Windage was fine.
So i traded that gun in and i see a convertible in another shop,has both cylinders. Should I try again or skip it. What would you guys do?
Is the double nine known to shoot way high or not typically a problem with that model? Forgot to mention it was the w 104.

Through the end of 1971 there were five different front sights for the various Western style revolvers. The only difference among these sights was the Height - .315, .330, .340, .355, and .380. Additional Western style models were introduced after 1971 and that may have necessitated additional height sights.

These guns were all tested for function including targeting. That should have caught a gun assembled with the wrong height front sight and/or other problem causing the gun to not shoot to the point of aim.

One might wonder if a precious owner might have replaced the front sight for whatever reason and replaced it with a sight of the wrong height.

Thank you John. That answers my question. It should gave been shooting much closer to point of aim than that at 10 yards. So in your opinion do you think i should take a gamble on this second one and the front sight could be replaced for a taller front sight to shoot lower or a shorter sight to shoot higher if it is off that much? Are those sights obtainable ?I hadn' t even thought that front sights were available for the double nine or i would have tried that first.

 

With the possibility of various sighting options, perhaps a previous owner sighted the gun for a strange distance. 10 yards is really pretty close for any normal competition that you might use a 22 revolver for. 50 feet is much more common and a Bullseye distance. Also a 6 o’clock hold is a norm for some people for target shooting (not my choice).

Knowing that you can get different front sight heights tells me you may have jumped the gun, so to speak, in selling the gun. My approach would be to shoot a group or two using my choice of ammo, at your normal shooting distance (not 10 yards as that is a defense distance), and measure exactly how high it is shooting. With some geometry and algebra you can figure how much the sight height has to CHANGE to get on target. If the new sight height (original plus the change required) doesn’t match any available front sight…..then sell the gun. It may have a bad crown or bent barrel.

I much prefer guns with adjustable sights to avoid a problem like this, assuming the adjustable sights allow enough correction.

LDBennett

 

With the possibility of various sighting options, perhaps a previous owner sighted the gun for a strange distance. 10 yards is really pretty close for any normal competition that you might use a 22 revolver for. 50 feet is much more common and a Bullseye distance. Also a 6 o'clock hold is a norm for some people for target shooting (not my choice).

Knowing that you can get different front sight heights tells me you may have jumped the gun, so to speak, in selling the gun. My approach would be to shoot a group or two using my choice of ammo, at your normal shooting distance (not 10 yards as that is a defense distance), and measure exactly how high it is shooting. With some geometry and algebra you can figure how much the sight height has to CHANGE to get on target. If the new sight height (original plus the change required) doesn't match any available front sight…..then sell the gun. It may have a bad crown or bent barrel.

I much prefer guns with adjustable sights to avoid a problem like this, assuming the adjustable sights allow enough correction.

LDBennett

Yep I didnt know availability of sights otherwise I might have gone that route. As far as 10 yards being self defense distance only I would say yes and no. It wouldnt quite explain why we have a 10 yard open sight online match here every month right? Not saying the double nine is that gun for a match but shooting 10 yards is certainly encouraged here on the forum. I may pull the trigger on the other one I saw and see what happens. I do also agree adjustable sights are my preference and a mark iii I recently picked up is quite the shooter with the adjustability of that rrar sight but there is always something about revolvers that appeal to me even with fixed sights.

 

Thank you,much appreciated.

 

Gunpartscorp is showing a new reproduction front sight for the double nine. You might check to see if it would help your problem. Looking at the picture shown of the sight this would not be a difficult thing to make. Vise, hacksaw, and a file or two should get the job done.

 

That would be the ideal situation for shooting low. I would have needed a taller front sight to lower poi. As John said, having the correct height on that model once checked is a good starting point. Maybe it was changed.

 

Don't overlook the possibility of a bad barrel crown or that the barrel is somehow bent. The gun highlighted here is now gone (?). So such an inspection is not possible. I don't think it is the norm for these Hi Std revolvers to shoot off point of aim. A close friend use to collect these revolvers. He was one of those natural shooters and never complained about any accuracy problems with his several models of these guns.

While a local club may have a 10 yard event, I don't think that is a norm for most any competition except tactical events. I think that such short range competition is not conducive to field shooting (like hunting critters and soda cans). But it is an excellent way to attract new competitors. With no easy entry point for new shooters, clubs die.

Any way, that is my opinion and yours may vary.

LDBennett

 

Imo 10yds is more suited to low powered air guns, Ive been baffled for years why it is so often mentioned for powder burning handgun......
I sight in for 50 feet, but I used to shoot indoor Bullseye competition. And yes, I used a 6:00 poa on the fairly sizable black that gives the most repeatable visual sight picture. Only 2 guys I shot with used 'center hold' and they only ever scored average.
But for 'field use' I settled on the poa/poi right at the top of the front blade. It works for small targets, small game and on out to 25yd for me pretty well.
Btw, sight in using a rest and two hands. After -0-ed that way you can work on your hold and technique to try and get as good as it shot off the rest.
I did have some HS revolvers back in the 70-80s. None of the 3 or 4 shot dismally high so I say it was not 'characteristic'.

 

I owned one of the double nines way back in the dark ages when they were new. I never shot it on paper at 10 yards. It did do away with a bunch of jackrabbits and prairie dogs though. As best I can remember it was about dead on at 25 yards.

 

thanks for the opinions guys I appreciate the thoughts.
On a side note. It seems 50 feet is a common shooting distance frim what I am seeing. Can some of you give me your thoughts on why offhand matches here on rimfire central are primarily 10 yards ,15 yards and 25 yards and no 50 foot matches? Just trying to understand why there is no match at 50 feet if so many people like shooting at 50 feet as opposed to 10 or 15 yards especially within the same forum where the matches are held.I would think a popular distance would be one of the matches to be be most picked so why not an option?

 

Many Bullseye matches are held on indoor ranges. With the limited spaces inside a building, at some point 50 feet was decided for NRA type Bullseye ranges. Junior NRA ranges (22LR only) are 50 feet.

In contrast outdoor ranges can have longer distances. Centerfire handgun competition has been historically done at 25 yards. Most magazines test centerfire handguns at 25 yards. I think (??) Olympic competition for pistols is done at 50 feet.

Accuracy is not the driving factor in Tactical competitions (within reason). Speed and acceptable accuracy at shorter distances drives that sport. You also have to be physically fit to handle all the running around. Often the Tactical ranges are at closer ranges but the target distances vary all over the place. The idea is to represent real life self defense scenerios. Some may have a longer target in the mix.

As for sight picture, a gun only used in a match scenario where the range distance is always the same as are the targets, a 6 o'clock hold may make a difference. In the field shooting game or steel targets or popcans, I find sighting the gun for center hold is what I prefer. It is a compromise that can be used for paper targets and field use. Having to adjust hold over/under when moving from paper targets at the range to field shooting doesn't work for me.

LDBennett

 

Makes a lot of sense but as I said how come we don't have a 50 foot match on RC?.

 

My guess is that whomever started, or starts these matches wasnt an NRA Bullseye competitor?

 

I would like to see one added at 50 feet. I wonder if there are enough shooters here that would appreciate it added.

 

havent shot mine yet , just got it a month or so ago and with hunter sightin activities i suspect it will be spring before i get the opportunity , im saving the data in case although mine looks unmolested - its an early one

 

22Nexus,

You're welcome. I'm glad to have been of some help.

Regards,

mr alexander