Do You Aim or Just Point Your 1851?

[Mike Brooks]

With the way the sights on my Pietta '51 work, I'd be better off pointing it. I took a dremel and a file to them and brought them about 4 inches closer to the bull, so now I'm only about 12 inches high and left at 25 yards. Too bad that I can't file it any closer. :cursing:

One good thing is that the pistol groups GREAT. Just nowhere near where I aim it.

File the muzzle , not the sights.

 

[jtmattison]

File the muzzle , not the sights.

Please explain.

HD

 

[crockett]

Couple of thoughts. I love my 1911 Colt and would be glad to have it in any gun fight but if a situation arose where I had two 1860 Colt 44's loaded with maximum powder charges, I would feel a bit hampered but not too bad. I think the semi-auto requires more training, the long barrel pistol is more easy to shoot accurately with the newbie IMHO.
On to the sights. My 1851 shot high like they all do. We had a museum exhibit of western memorabilia come to town and there was a Colt 1851 where the brass bead was removed and a small dovetailed sight installed, hence such is PC as the gun was a museum piece. In any event with a higher front sight you have to hold the barrel lower and that solves the problem.