Sighting in a handcannon

[Speckmisser]

It's been a little slow in here, so here's a question...

I've been shooting with this new Super Blackhawk .44. ###It has adjustable sights, but beyond some real rough adjustment the first afternoon, I have no idea how to really get the gun on "zero". ###Can I rest it on a sandbag? ###I thought about that, but there's so much blast coming from this thing, I wonder if that's safe. ###

I know what this gun is capable of out to 50 yards, but I'm not sure how to maximize that capability. ###If I can be sure that any accuracy issues are on me, and not the gun, I know I can work out the kinks. ###

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Bishop]

Speck:

Sandbags are fine. ###Support the gun barrel and your forearms. ###Don't put any kind of rest or bag under the grip. ###You want the gun to recoil naturally. ###
If your using factory rounds look at the trajectory chart or use a ballistic program like "Point Blank" ###(free) for reloads. ###That way you can shoot at 25 yards to pin point your sight in. ###Example, ###my .44 mag rounds are sighted in at 1 3/4" high at 25 yards. ###That way they are right on at 100 yards, and in the kill zone from point blank to 125 yards. ###
It's a lot easier to sight in a little high at 25 yards than sight in at 50 or 100 yards. ###Once your done at 25 yards then move the target out to fine tune.

[Handcannon]

Hi Speck, if ya think the blast of that popgun is bad wait till you move UP to 444marlin(my all aroun favorite straightwall cartridge) or 45-70 LOL. But seriously now ,by all means use bags most guys I know aren't afraid of going out to 100 . If ya happen to know anyone with a ransom rest they work great too for that gun.CAUTION: always keep hands and fingers away from barrel cylinder gap on large revolvers as the damage to bodyparts can be devastating!!! ### Hope this helps... if ya need more help just ask ###See ya ........ ### Handcannon

[arizona jim]

Speck:

I would go along along with what the other guys said except I might add this......

When it comes to sand bags I have a different perspective. I believe that it is not good to shoot something that blasts so close to the shooter (like a hand gun) from or on top of anything that can stir up fine abrassive substances like sand. I thought about this when I first started sighting in my Super Redhawk .44 -

How was I going to get a rest as good as a sand bag without the sand? - I filled up some cloth bags with rice (the good brown rice because it is heavier & packs tighter) & sewed it up. I designed different ones with seams where it should cradle the barrel & made them in different sizes. This works really well for me and the rice bags are alot lighter than sand bags to carry to the range.

[Speckmisser]

Thanks guys, I figured I could count on some good suggestions.

I hesitated to just try the sandbag thing at the range, because (danged vanity and pride) I didn't want to look like an idiot. ###And I didn't want to just do it, and burn a hole in the range's sandbags.

I may bring my own bags next time, so I don't have to worry about damaging range equipment. ###The rice idea sounds cool. ###What about shotbags?

Anyway, thanks for the info. ###It'll be helpful... although I have doubts about my own personal ability to hit the broad side of a barn at 100 yards with a handgun. ...regardless of what the gun could do.

[songdog]

I use old 25lb shot bags filled with pinto beans. ###When shooting a revolver where the cylinder gap will have some gas escape, I put a piece of duct tape right where the gas will hit. ###I can see the burn marks on the tape when I'm done but all I have to do is peel that piece off and my bags underneath are just fine. ###I've got a set of 4-5 bags that I've been using for well over 10 years now.