MAKING THE S&W MODEL OF 1989 45 COLT WORK

I ACQUIRED THIS 5 INCH MODEL OF 1989 SEVERAL YEARS AGO. FROM THE FACTORY IT CAME WITH BLACK SYNTHETIC GRIPS. BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE GUN WAS IT SHOT WAY TO HIGH AND THE FS IS NOT PINNED SO GETTING A HIGHER FS ON THERE COULD BE EXPENSIVE. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS I NEVER SHOT IT WORTH A DARN "ON PAPER" FROM A REST. I SENT THIS GUN'S CYLINDER PLUS 2 OTHER S&W 45 COLT CYLINDERS TO FERMIN "2 DOGS" GARZA AND, AT HIS RECOMMENDATION, HE REAMED THE THROATS TO .453 ON ALL 3 CYLINDERS, AND COMMENTED THAT THE THROATS WERE STILL ROUGH IN SOME. NOT SURE IF THINGS GOT BETTER BECAUSE THE GUN KEPT SHOOTING HIGH WITH MY "OLD WEST" LOADS USING TRAIL BOSS AND 250gr OTBC RNFP BULLETS.

RECENTLY I DECIDED TO WORK WITH IT AGAIN. I WAS SURE THE "TOO HIGH" ANSWER WOULD BE TO GET A SHORTER S&W RS BLADE, SO I MEASURED THE BLADE AND IT WAS .126 IN HEIGHT, THE SHORTEST HEIGHT S&W HAS, SO I DID SOME CALCULATIONS WITH A FORMULA AND FIGURED I COULD LOWER POI AROUND 2.5 INCHES BY SHAVING THE RS BLADE HEIGHT DOWN TO .106, BUT DOING SO WOULD NOT LEAVE MUCH RS NOTCH DEPTH. WTF, I HAD A BUDDY GO AHEAD AND MACHINE IT DOWN TO .106.

MEANWHILE, I HAD REDISCOVERED UNIQUE FOR USE IN THE 45 COLT AND HAD COME UP WITH AN EXCELLENT LOAD OF 9.0grs OF UNIQUE, FED 150 PRIMERS, STARLINE NICKEL CASES, AND THE OTBC 255gr SWC, WHICH SHOOTS VERY WELL WITH MY 4 INCH 625 MOUNTAIN GUN AND A 6.5 INCH 625 POWER PORT REVOLVER. THIS LOAD CHRONO'ed 982fps IN THE MOUNTAIN GUN. AGAIN, "ON PAPER", OFF A REST, AND DEALING WITH A SUPER SHALLOW RS BLADE NOTCH, GROUPS WERE NOTHING TO BRAG ON BUT I COULD GET THEM CENTERED SO THAT "TOO HIGH" WAS NO LONGER A PROBLEM.

DON'T NOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT WITH OPEN SIGHTS, NOT ALL SIGHTS ARE EQUAL WHEN TRYING TO SHOOT FOR GROUPS. SO I SHOT THE 1989 OFF A REST, AND STANDING OFF HAND, AT A 4 INCH SPINNER AT 25 YARDS AND A 6 INCH SWINGER AT 40 YARDS, BINGO!, SO NOW I GOT THE MODEL 1989 SORTED OUT, SIGHTED IN, AND WILL BE CARRYING UP AT THE HIGHPOINT LATER THIS WEEK.

You have had a good week of discovery. First finding your recoil limits with the Bisley single action, then sorting out your problems with the 5 in. Smith double action. Not all sights are the same. What one person can see and use well another cannot,same with grips and revolver platforms. So we modify what we have, change what doesn't work, and make our guns work for us and our shooting style. Well done!

That's one of about 4 Smith and Wesson guns I've ever been drawn to. Nice gun!

PH

I am glad to see that you are getting your projects sorted out.

I just traded off my last, Make that Next to Last S&W that did not have a Pinned or Quick Change front sight. I have two new S&W's that I need to make an order to Dawson for a Fiber Optic Front Sight for. 617 Pinned and 627-5 Eight Shot Quick Change.

I about forgot that I still have a NY1 Model 64 in the 2" Snub version that has a machined on front sight.

I am a big fan of Fiber Optic front sights on my revolvers. I can see them much better than Black or Red Ramp ones.

Bob R

S&W makes a .106 blade but not with the white outline. I've put them on my 25-2, 25-5, 24-3 and 69. They all shot way high. You would think manufacturers would do a better job of this but I find they often don't.

That front sight is PINNED... Just look a bit closer... Maybe try a 200gr boolit... Lighter ones shoot LOW

I HAVE LOOKED AND RELOOKED, DON'T SEE ANY PIN IN THE FS. LIGHTER BULLETS WERE NEVER AN OPTION FOR ME, THE 45 COLT WAS BORN WITH 250gr BULLETS, AND THAT IS AS LIGHT AS I WILL GO.

Put a bit of oil on your finger and rub along the side of the rib.

You will see the pin...