Do fixed sight S&W revolvers shoot to POA?

Most, like the Model 10, are very well regulated for 158 gr loads at standard velocities.

You may get slow wadcutter rounds that shoot high, fast, lightweight loads maybe a bit low, but it’s not by much.

I have a passel of fixed-sighted .22, .38, .357 .45 Colt revolvers from S&W and Ruger, with barrel lengths from 1 7/8” to 6.5”. All of them keep shots at, or very close to, POA from 3-25 yards.

A 10-5 is a great revolver. If it has not been abused, you won’t be disappointed .

Stay safe.

Scout21, define POA for you.

Size of pattern? Distances? Proper hold both gun and aiming point?

Most fixed sighted revolvers are meant as defensive
tools for use within a practical distance of 15 yards.

You want target precision, get a gun designed for target precision.

It's a 50/50 chance - either they shoot to POA, or they don't.

Every gun shoots to a different point of aim with a different cartridge.

It might be a large or small difference, but it will be different.

Prepare to be irritated - or not. Personal results will likely be masked by the level of expertise.

I have five fixed sighted revolvers and only two of the five shoots to point of aim. My S&W Model 10-11 and it does not shoot point of aim. It's not off by much but if I am really trying to put the bullet right were I want I do have to hold off just a touch. Mine shoots to the left corner of the front sight at about 20 yards with most standard medium weight (130-160gr) 38 Special loads. Elevation is pretty much right own. I love fixed sights despite this minor problem. They are so much more low profile and robust to abuse.

If you shoot the right cartridge thru it.

Scout21 said:

I'm looking at getting a fixed sight Smith & Wesson Mod 10-5. I am not a fan of using "Kentucky windage" and would be very irritated if the gun didn't shoot pretty close to POA. Are Smiths, particularly the Model 10, well regulated from the factory or should I anticipate issues?

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Most are pretty close to point of aim with a 158 grain bullet, as Riomouse911 said. I routinely shoot my S&Ws at 10 yards, and they group within an inch of POA. One of my grail guns, a .38/.44 Heavy Duty, shot 3" to the left consistently. Good enough for self defense probably, but aggravating when you have OCD! I sold it and got a .38/.44 Outdoorsman, the adjustable sight model.

Model 10-5s shouldn't be terribly expensive, and you shouldn't lose much if any money if you decide to send it on down the trail.

My 10-5 with 148 grain wadcutters:



My carry gun, a Model 60 no dash with the same wadcutters:



Those were good days at the range. As a shaky old man, I'm usually not that good!

It really depends on the ammo. Bullet weight, FPS, etc.
My model 10-7 is pretty much a 6 O’clock aim at 10 yards with factory ammo. With my 158 loads it’s close to center on target.
You just have to figure out what works best with your particular revolver.
Mine doesn’t shoot of to the left or the right as long as I do my part.

I have and still have a number of S&W revolvers for at least fifty years or so. Seldom I've had to - almost pretentiously - adjust the strike to the nth degree. I cannot recall any where I needed to grossly change the alignment due to the revolver missing the target entirely at 25 yards.
Do remember - as Riomouse mentioned - revolvers are regulated to shoot to the sights with "standard" ammunition. In my experience that means little difference with most ammunition.

Note: All my experience has been with older, pinned barrel revolvers. Except one model 581 and it did just fine as well. 145 grain Winchester Silvertips.

At around 15 yards, my 10-5 will shoot 1-1/2" to the right consistently. Thought it was just me, and it may be, but my others are pretty much dead center.

Most of them do, but I owned a 10-5 snub that shot very high, and a pre-war M&P that shot very high & to the right.

I shot this double action group at 5 yards on this past Wednesday at an indoor range with my S&W Model 10-5, 4 inch, .38 Special. Load was 2.8 grains Bullseye under a 148 Speer HBWC. I found a slightly heavier load will put me right on target. For Christmas, I got a copy of Bob Nickols's book "The secrets of Double Action Shooting" in which he highly recommends S&W revolvers, like the Model 10. I now am applying his technique.

these two shoot pretty close to their fixed sights. a S&W 10-5 and a S&W victory in 38 spl. with wadcutter ammo.

I bought a Ruger LCP Max.. took it to the range and shot a mix of 2 different new kinds of ammo and reloads thru it...all 95 grain. It consistently shot low and left with wide groupings. I figured it was ME getting use to a new pocket rocket. I then loaded up a mag of my chosen carry round.. 56 grain ARX ammo. Shot center of target with tight groupings. Keep trying different ammos until you find one that works for you.

Scout21 said:

Using run of the mill 158 grain plinking loads I want to be able to put the sights on a tin can at 30 yards, pull the trigger, and see the tin can move.

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The 10-5 certainly has the accuracy potential to do that. Hopefully the happy point is a soup can sized group at 90 feet.

Stay safe.

Thomasss said:

View attachment 1132628 I got a copy of Bob Nickols's book "The secrets of Double Action Shooting" in which he highly recommends S&W revolvers, like the Model 10. I now am applying his technique.

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The Bob Nichols book, I believe, was first printed in 1950. I suggest more modern
authors be sought out. I suggest Grant Cunningham and some of his books such as
GunDigest Book of the Revolver and Defensive Revolver Fundamentals.

The Model 10 is an excellent gun but many other choices exist today from Smith, Colt and
Ruger.

Cunningham is by the way the major advisor for the Kimber K6S, a revolver that has
gained a good reputation.

Every k frame and j frame fixed sight .38 I’ve ever owned or shot, shot best with bullets between 148gr and 158gr. I do shoot heavier and lighter cast handloads, but I know how to compensate. I also shoot some lighter bullets in the Model 67 which has adj sights.

My son and i have 10-5 and a 10-8. They both hit POA. 158 grain cast with 3.3-3.5 grains of bullseye.

My model 10-10 reminds me to pay attention to my grip. Which is a good thing.

Mine do.

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Have a newer "classic" M10, with a handload of 145 gr TCFP at 1000 fps - have put a drop of white nail polish on the sight covering about the front half of the sight blade This nicely fills the rear notch - for my hold - usually can bust an on edge clay bird at 25 steps. This sight arrangement is pretty good for my getting older eyes, no Kentucky adjustment needed.

With any load shooting a 150-158 gr. bullet from 800-900 fps yes, my Model 10's all shoot POA at 25 yds.



35W