My new M25 shoots high.... grips?

Lavan · October 7, 2012, 10:32 AM

Okay, I got the old M25 .45ACP revolver.

Now I'm shooting it.

I get good groups but high.

The sight is screwed as low as it will go without taking a file to the frame.

I'm shooting Blazers because they are cheap and they group decently.

It has the stock SMOOTH target grips. They are wide at bottom and narrow at top.

I cut my teeth on bullseye shooting and use a light hold.

The gun does roll back a bit when I shoot it. Not much but some.

Think neoprene would make any difference or do you think the minor amount of slippage of the smooth grips would even be the culprit.

It seems zeroed at about 50-75 yards but closer is high.

SatCong · October 7, 2012, 12:07 PM

Lavan,

What weight bullets are you shooting, at what distance? Six o'clock hold or on the 10 ring?
Also, a lighter bullet will impact lower.

Mike

jhenry · October 7, 2012, 02:47 PM

If you end up removing metal from anywhere it should be from the bottom of the sight, not the frame.

I do not suspect the grips. Are you shooting from a rest?

Clifford L. Hughes · October 7, 2012, 04:37 PM

Lavan: After you try several brands of ammo and different bullet weights and your m-25 still shooting high, have a good smith install a higher front sight or silver solder a small piece of stock to raise it.

Semper Fi.
Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

dwwhite · October 7, 2012, 04:46 PM

If I'm not mistaken, you can also order a shorter blade for your rear sight, assuming that yours isn't already the shortest available.

Break out the micrometer and measure your rear sight's height, then compare it to those available on either the S&W website or Midway or Brownells.

It seems that this might be less destructive than breaking out the file.

Bob Wright · October 7, 2012, 09:03 PM

Or you can just file down the rear sight blade.

I usually sight in my Rugers with the rear sight at about mid height, then file either the front sight or the rear blade down, whichever is required. Then touch the filed portion with cold blue. This leaves you with some leeway when changing loads.

In Smiths, the first thing I ususlly do is get rid of that red insert.

Bob Wright

Flyboy_451 · October 7, 2012, 09:39 PM

My advice would be that you use a firmer grip. Because the barrel is quite high above the axis of your arm on a revolver, they have noticeable leverage that pushes the barrel upward as the bullet travels down the bore. Recoil begins before the bullets exits the barrel. This is why heavier bullets at lower velocity will strike higher than lighter bullets at higher velocity.

Grab the the gun like you mean it, and I bet your groups will move down noticeably.

JW

Lavan · October 8, 2012, 09:23 AM

I like the shorter blade rear. Will search.

Thanks. Don't want to alter gun as they are pretty hard to find.

Bob Wright · October 8, 2012, 09:28 AM

Lavan wrote:

Quote:

Thanks. Don't want to alter gun as they are pretty hard to find.

It makes no difference how scarce the gun is, if you can't hit well with it, its not of much value to you.

Bob Wright

Bob Wright · October 8, 2012, 10:03 AM

The rear sight is easily swapped out. Buy a replacement and file it to correct height. Save the original if you must keep your gun stock.

It's only one screw, the slip the sight out to the rear. No big problem.

Bob Wright

October 7, 2012, 10:32 AM	#1
Lavan Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: California Posts: 2,716	My new M25 shoots high.... grips? Okay, I got the old M25 .45ACP revolver. Now I'm shooting it. I get good groups but high. The sight is screwed as low as it will go without taking a file to the frame. I'm shooting Blazers because they are cheap and they group decently. It has the stock SMOOTH target grips. They are wide at bottom and narrow at top. I cut my teeth on bullseye shooting and use a light hold. The gun does roll back a bit when I shoot it. Not much but some. Think neoprene would make any difference or do you think the minor amount of slippage of the smooth grips would even be the culprit. It seems zeroed at about 50-75 yards but closer is high.

October 7, 2012, 02:47 PM	#3
jhenry Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Location: Ozarks Posts: 1,840	If you end up removing metal from anywhere it should be from the bottom of the sight, not the frame. I do not suspect the grips. Are you shooting from a rest? __________________ "A Liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do, as long as it's mandatory". - Charles Krauthammer

October 7, 2012, 09:39 PM	#7
Flyboy_451 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 172	You said that you use a light grip... My advice would be that you use a firmer grip. Because the barrel is quite high above the axis of your arm on a revolver, they have noticeable leverage that pushes the barrel upward as the bullet travels down the bore. Recoil begins before the bullets exits the barrel. This is why heavier bullets at lower velocity will strike higher than lighter bullets at higher velocity. Grab the the gun like you mean it, and I bet your groups will move down noticeably. JW

October 7, 2012, 12:07 PM	#2
SatCong Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Location: Twangtown Posts: 175	Lavan, What weight bullets are you shooting, at what distance? Six o'clock hold or on the 10 ring? Also, a lighter bullet will impact lower. Mike

October 7, 2012, 04:37 PM	#4
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Lavan: After you try several brands of ammo and different bullet weights and your m-25 still shooting high, have a good smith install a higher front sight or silver solder a small piece of stock to raise it. Semper Fi. Gunnery Sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired

October 7, 2012, 04:46 PM	#5
dwwhite Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2008 Location: Southwest Tx Posts: 187	If I'm not mistaken, you can also order a shorter blade for your rear sight, assuming that yours isn't already the shortest available. Break out the micrometer and measure your rear sight's height, then compare it to those available on either the S&W website or Midway or Brownells. It seems that this might be less destructive than breaking out the file.

October 7, 2012, 09:03 PM	#6
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Or you can just file down the rear sight blade. I usually sight in my Rugers with the rear sight at about mid height, then file either the front sight or the rear blade down, whichever is required. Then touch the filed portion with cold blue. This leaves you with some leeway when changing loads. In Smiths, the first thing I ususlly do is get rid of that red insert. Bob Wright

October 8, 2012, 09:23 AM	#8
Lavan Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: California Posts: 2,716	I like the shorter blade rear. Will search. Thanks. Don't want to alter gun as they are pretty hard to find.

October 8, 2012, 10:03 AM	#10
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	The rear sight is easily swapped out. Buy a replacement and file it to correct height. Save the original if you must keep your gun stock. It's only one screw, the slip the sight out to the rear. No big problem. Bob Wright