Range report: Went to the local indoor range today (Tuesdays retired LEOs shoot half price).
When shooting, I found that using the small rear sight notch in the bottom of the frame latch, the Schofield shot well below the point of aim at 7-10 yards. (The original Navy Arms 44-40 Schofield was the same) I found that if I centered the front blade even with the top of the wider “U” in the thumb latch (which is above the sight notch), it was approximately POA/POI. It is actually quicker than finding the small rear sight notch, and acts like a “battle sight.” I tend to “point shoot” across the tops of my pistols, anyway, whether it is a single action, a Glock 19 or 21, or my S&W Shield. This style works very well at the typical SASS match with close range and larger targets. I really don’t want to trim down the front sight so that I use the fine notch at the bottom, as the front sight is not removable.
All group size shooting was done off-hand, traditional two hand hold at about ten yards. For factory loads, I used .45 Colt and Schofield ammunition from Black Hills Ammunition. Black Hills .45 Colt ammo grouped about 1 3/4" to 2" inches at ten yards. The Black Hills .45 Schofield loads did better and shot a nice 1 1/2” group, centered on the target.
I used two favorite handloads for loads using .45 Schofield cases: Starline .45 Schofield brass, a RNFP .452” 200 grain from Stateline Bullets, a Winchester WLP primer, and 7.0 grains of either Unique or Trail Boss. While not maximum, they are very stout, which is what I prefer. It is a healthy load that approximates the performance of the original black powder Schofield load, though I wouldn’t shoot it in an original Schofield. They both shot sub-2” groups from a casual, two hand traditional hold at 10 yards.
SInce I no longer use the .45 Schofields in a rifle, I may back down to 6.0 grains of Trail Boss, after I shoot off the 200 rounds of 7.0 grn I have loaded.. Should be warm enough....