JimGnitecki
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2010
- Messages
- 1,258
I just found and read a short posting posted last year on what is called the "True West (Magazine) blog", about the Colt peacemaker. It included the following assertion:
"
The revolver was designed for close-quarter fighting. An experienced gunman was considered proficient if he could hit what he was aiming at in a distance of fifteen yards. Since the rifling in the barrel twisted to the left, the bullet would also drift some 30 inches in 300 yards no matter how good the shooter was. Its maximum effective range was 75 yards. At fifty yards it was considered good shooting to group the shots in a six-inch circle. But it could be effective at long range. The Army tested the Peacemaker and found that by allowing for trajectory, the point of aim at 150 yards should be 4 feet above the target and at 200 yards one had to line the sights up 8 feet above the target.
"
The "Since the rifling in the barrel twisted to the left, the bullet would also drift some 30 inches in 300 yards no matter how good the shooter was." caught my eye.
It sounds like a comment by someone not particularly knowledgeable about shooting. Sure, the direction and rate of barrel rifling affects the path of the bullet a BIT, and long distance rifle shooters use ballistic tables that take it into account. But at handgun distances and velocities, I have nver heard it even being discussed.
But it attracted my attention because both of my Cimarron replica Original peacemaker model replica revolvers shoot 2.5 to 3.5 inches to the left, at 25 yards, not matter how carefully I mointor my grip and my trigger finger's contact with the trigger. I have been careful about both the (crappy original) sight alignment, my grip, and my trigger contact ever since I noted the problem, which started with my very first shots out of these 2 revolvers. I have nOT had any problem like this with ANY other of the numerous handguins, revolvers and semiatuos, I have fired over the past 60 years or so.
That list of previously fired revolvers includes a pair of S&W Schofield replicas whose grip shape is at least similar to the Colt Peacemaker, although with a longer reach to the trigger, enforced by a small "beavertail" projection in the Schofield's frame and grips.
both of these revolvers do shoot groups as good as 1.5" to 2" at 25 yards, when I can overcome the sight deficiencies long enough before my eyes get tired.
So, I am wondering WHY the 2.5 to 3.5 inch left of POA at 25 yards.
Any of you forum members who have a lot of experience with Peacemakers: Can you provide some helpful information on why, and how to prevent it?
Did I just get 2 revolvers (about 100 numbers between their 2 serial numbers) with barrels that were screwed on just a BIT too little into the frame? (2.5" to the left COULD be caused by the barrels' "clocking" relative to the frame being turned just. 016" too far clockwise as viewed from the muzzle). I know that an experienced Peacemaker gunsmith would tell me that turning the barrel to correct something like that requires both special skills and special fixtureing and tools, so I hope thta is not the issue. Apparently, you cannot simply bend the front sight by .016", because it will likely then come loose (later if not right away).
Or, is the POI versus POA affected significantly by the specific ammo load? Does it change with different number of grains?
Or??
Jim G
"
The revolver was designed for close-quarter fighting. An experienced gunman was considered proficient if he could hit what he was aiming at in a distance of fifteen yards. Since the rifling in the barrel twisted to the left, the bullet would also drift some 30 inches in 300 yards no matter how good the shooter was. Its maximum effective range was 75 yards. At fifty yards it was considered good shooting to group the shots in a six-inch circle. But it could be effective at long range. The Army tested the Peacemaker and found that by allowing for trajectory, the point of aim at 150 yards should be 4 feet above the target and at 200 yards one had to line the sights up 8 feet above the target.
"
The "Since the rifling in the barrel twisted to the left, the bullet would also drift some 30 inches in 300 yards no matter how good the shooter was." caught my eye.
It sounds like a comment by someone not particularly knowledgeable about shooting. Sure, the direction and rate of barrel rifling affects the path of the bullet a BIT, and long distance rifle shooters use ballistic tables that take it into account. But at handgun distances and velocities, I have nver heard it even being discussed.
But it attracted my attention because both of my Cimarron replica Original peacemaker model replica revolvers shoot 2.5 to 3.5 inches to the left, at 25 yards, not matter how carefully I mointor my grip and my trigger finger's contact with the trigger. I have been careful about both the (crappy original) sight alignment, my grip, and my trigger contact ever since I noted the problem, which started with my very first shots out of these 2 revolvers. I have nOT had any problem like this with ANY other of the numerous handguins, revolvers and semiatuos, I have fired over the past 60 years or so.
That list of previously fired revolvers includes a pair of S&W Schofield replicas whose grip shape is at least similar to the Colt Peacemaker, although with a longer reach to the trigger, enforced by a small "beavertail" projection in the Schofield's frame and grips.
both of these revolvers do shoot groups as good as 1.5" to 2" at 25 yards, when I can overcome the sight deficiencies long enough before my eyes get tired.
So, I am wondering WHY the 2.5 to 3.5 inch left of POA at 25 yards.
Any of you forum members who have a lot of experience with Peacemakers: Can you provide some helpful information on why, and how to prevent it?
Did I just get 2 revolvers (about 100 numbers between their 2 serial numbers) with barrels that were screwed on just a BIT too little into the frame? (2.5" to the left COULD be caused by the barrels' "clocking" relative to the frame being turned just. 016" too far clockwise as viewed from the muzzle). I know that an experienced Peacemaker gunsmith would tell me that turning the barrel to correct something like that requires both special skills and special fixtureing and tools, so I hope thta is not the issue. Apparently, you cannot simply bend the front sight by .016", because it will likely then come loose (later if not right away).
Or, is the POI versus POA affected significantly by the specific ammo load? Does it change with different number of grains?
Or??
Jim G
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