New to me, 1934 Colt Police Positive Special

What weight bullet are you using? AFAIK, the sights would have been factory-regulated for 158 gr bullets. Now, that SHOULD only effect the up/down impact, not side-to-side, but you never know... sometimes certain loads interact with different guns in funny ways. Also try a few different loads with different powders and see if that changes anything.

Nice gun, btw! I am going to have to get me one of those sometime...

~D

Is that with you shooting single action, or double action?
Do you shoot it left handed, or right handed?
Have you tried shooting it with your weak hand?
It would be worth doing, just to find out if it shoots to the same POI, or if it is off to the opposite side.

Darn nice lookin' piece you've got there, too bad its off a tad.

Bula

Wow you're not kidding when you say your Police Positive Special is in great shape! Very nice find in that condition, especially something like that which I rarely see for sale at any of the area gunshops or gunshows.

I know there are ways to turn the barrel just enough to fix the problem, but if it were my gun, for the time being I think I would try different loads and adjust my point of aim accordingly.

That is a really nice looking pistol! Congrats...If it were me I would just experiment with different loads and keep it in as nice of condition as I could.

If you decide to turn the barrel I suggest that you talk to Colt, and see if they will do it. The problem is that the frame needs to be supported in special blocks, and if it isn't a warped (and ruined) frame is a likely result. Colt should have these blocks, but most local gunsmiths don't.

If someone says they can clamp onto the barrel and then turn the frame using a lever of some sort inserted in the frame's cylinder window - don't walk, run!!!

As good and fine as that little beauty looks I think it's you and your yeyhoo buddies what are off a bit.

At the time it was made (1934) Colt targeted all revolvers at 20 yards, unless they were instructed to do otherwise. If it was off very much they'd send it back to have it corrected. I don't think it will make much (if any) difference, but you might try some 158 grain/standard lead bullet loads and see. Do keep in mind that in anything but a target revolver being off an inch + fraction was considered acceptable, but if the gun was returned along with a target they'd adjust it - no questions ask - but that was in 1934, and those days are long gone. Still maybe....

3.5 inches to the left at 15 yds... I personally wouldn't worry much about that. If there is actually something wrong with the revolver, then that amount of inaccuracy won't matter much for any practical purpose unless 1. You are going to hunt something with it or 2. It just eats at you that the gun isn't an accurate plinker.

Does it shoot higher and to the left the farther you get from the target? Is it dead-on anywhere from 6 feet to 21 feet from the target?

3.5" off for a vintage Colt would never have left the factory. It's likely your load not matching the historical standard of the 20's and 30's. You should be using 158 soft lead round nose at 20 yards. That's where all the pre-war double action Colts I've had over the years have done best. OP's PPP's and DS's all shoot those rounds very well and tend to have a 20 yard zero. They do not always do well with more modern lighter bullets.

Cosmoline has a point. These revolvers had barrels with tight bores. Groove diameter sometimes was as tight as .356" with .358" chamber throats. There is also a chance that the front sight might have been bent sometime over the years. If the front sight is bent, do not try to straighten it.

Are your wadcutter bullets soft-swedged or hard-cast?

Hold it sideways like the gangbangers do and aim high, you should be OK.

Bula, that's a gorgeous revolver.

I hope some Colt collectors chime in, but I've heard a lot, and I mean a lot of shooters say that they shoot to the left with Colt revolvers. Don't know why, either. The guns most often mentioned are Detective Specials, Police Positives, and Official Police models. I only have 1 Colt (Python), and it shoots right to the sights and is extremely easy to shoot well. Heck, a Python makes just about anyone look like a great shooter.

I've got a Colt Cobra { 1957 } 4", that tends to shoot to the left a bit also, I think its the smallish grips more than anything. I need to get one of those Tyler grip adapters for it, see if that makes any difference. Beautiful piece !

I wish I could get my hands on a beautiful girl like that.

I have never seen such a POS in my life and if it is that far off it could actually be dangerous to the shooter and bystanders. You should IMMEDIATELY IM me so I can take it off your hands and avoid likely costly litigation. I will give you $50.

Lovely gun! I love the old Colts!