1860m Pietta Old Army shooting to the left.

[willtill]

Took my !860 Old Army out to the range late yesterday afternoon and fired 7 cylinders of 25gr FFFG and .454 ball. Even from a braced benchrest firing position, she is impacting generally left of the target rings. Shoots high as expected. I can live with that.

But the impacts left of the target (about 8-12") are bothering me. Is my only recourse to adjust my point of aim to compensate? Or can I do some detailed grinding of the rear hammer lever to widen and move the notch to the right?

Kindest Regards,

-Will in Maryland

 

[Big John]

Don't know what distance, but yes slowly, carefully file away at the right side of the vee notch in the hammer.Only a little then fire it to see if it needs more filing.

 

[rebelyell62]

Get a THIN based front sight and have it dovetailed into the barrel.I did this to my Spiller & Burr and she shoots like a dream,dead on and tight.

 

[John Taylor]

A long time ago I had a Colt 51 reproduction that shot to the left. Found out that the hole below the bore where the cylinder pin goes in to the barrel was bored crooked. The reason it was shooting to the left is because the barrel was pointing to the left. I bored the hole oversize and soldered a pin in then bored the pin to the proper size. It shot much better. Then I sold it.

 

[Cmabie]

I would say you were firing the gun right handed, but you were using a rest. Quite often the trigger squeeze will pull the gun to the left if fired right handed. Left handed people will have the gun fire to the right. I have found a lot of originals that did not fire on point of aim. I think the old timers must have used Kentucky windage. :hmm:

 

[willtill]

Well, it seems that it was ME and not the pistol that was shooting to the left. I went to the range yesterday and this time, fired very slowly and deliberately. I put all of the rounds within the target rings this time. I also found a good resource for disciplining yourself while shooting pistols. You have to read a ways down to start learning about pistol firing technique. It has helped me tremendously.
[url] http://blackpowderonline.com/Capball0901.htm[/url]

Kindest Regards,

-Will in Maryland