Accuracy enhancement. Any tips?

[BoneDigger]

I just took my Ruger Police Service Six to the range for the first time today. It has a 4" barrel and fixed sights. Out to about 30 feet I am pretty accurate (5 inch group or so), then out to 35 feet it all falls apart. I was using some of the targets with that are black but turn green when shot (forget the name) and I was having a hard time seeing the sights because they too are black. Would some kind of flourescent paint or something on the front sight or back help? Do they make an insert or something that can be used on the front sight?

Any other tips?

Todd

 

[Puppy]

First thing that comes to mind is more practice.

You stated this was your first time at the range with that Ruger - dont expect to beable to pick up a strange weapon and shoot it like Annie Oakley.

The second thing that comes to mind is ammunition sorting to find out what shoots best with your fixed sights at various ranges, some ammunition is going to be POA = POI (point of aim = point of impact) at certain ranges with that peticular revolver some ammunition is not.

But yea you can toss some paint on the sight and it'll help with your sight picture a bit but dont rely on having that paint on there if you intend to carry the weapon for personal defense, paint can and does rub off and will need to be reapplied occasionally.

Anyway good luck BoneDigger and congrat's on your new Service Six.

 

[Majic]

Steal a little of the Missus or G/F's fingernail polish to brighten up the front sight (leave the back black) if wanted. More importantly is to just practice to get to know the trigger. Fixed sights require a little more concentration to use as they don't stand as tall and as prominent as adjustable target sights. 5 feet shouldn't make much of a difference between the target ranges so it sounds like more of a problem in your head than any shooting or equipment problem which practice should solve.

 

[caz223]

The sights were my first guess, too.
If I'm fighting with bad sights, I usually do ok until I hit 20 yards.
At 20, my nice tight 3" groups turn to groups that only hit a 9" paper plate 3/5.
Classic sights.
Funny thing is, my G20 has HORRID sights, but I can still use 'em well enough to draw smiley faces on the paper plates at 25 yards.
Try different targets, rather than modifying a gun.
If the sights ARE the problem, THEN think about modifying/replacing/painting the sights to improve the guns usability.

 

[dogngun]

The Ruger Six series have triggers that feel a little different - it takes some familiarization to get the most out of them. Dry fire it and notice the movement of the sights, change your grip/trigger pull till the movement is minimal. Work on a consistant grip and trigger squezse, and practice dry fire at home , then head to the range. These guns have taken some 20 years to smooth out from their heavier factory trigger , but they are fine revolvers, and capable of very good accuracy.

I would not modify these revolvers in any way, just practice with it.

Mark

 

[Tom2]

Color sights

A colored sight will help with shooting against a dark background, but not really much help on a well lit range. A black bull and black sights makes for a little more difficult sighting. Perhaps try this-white poster board or white paper, and some stick-on orange dots from the stationary store. Get the ones that are larger-1 to 2 inches, for pistol range. THe background and the dot will contrast very nicely with black sights, especially if you smoke the sights for glare prevention. Then you have to contend with ammo quality and trigger action. If you want to paint the sight, you first must degrease it with alcohol. Pure isopropyl on a q tip. Then I would put down a base coat of white paint before painting it red or orange. Otherwise you will need several coats as the black background will make the paint look dark. Since you have degreased the front sight area, scotch tape should stick allowing you to mask off the area you want to paint for a neat job. If you use a durable paint, it will not really wear out that quickly. Serrated ramps hold the paint for a long time, unless you really rub the paint with solvents or oils. After the paint is cured, it will probably resist oil to some degree. Try enamel paints instead of any water based or acrylic.