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Spikebuck

Spikebuck

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It's getting harder for my eyes to use iron sights. Still OK for deer, but extremely hard for small game.

I had an extra Johnson Peep sight (available through Muzzleloader Builder Supply) so decided to install that. It also required a much taller front sight.

Here's the results:

Instead of using the normal screw holes, I filled those and made two new ones so I could have one short screw go into the very back of the breech just 5 threads deep, then another deeper into the tang. I used 4-40 fillister head screws from my local Ace Hardware.

20241203_122446.jpg

It still has clearance to remove the tang screw with the aperture unscrewed (Williams Twilight .125).

20241203_122351.jpg


Front sight from ToTW blank # FS-TC-BB-80. It required the full height. I also had to peen the base some to widen it to fit the precut dovetail.
20241203_122415.jpg

View through the peep. Had to hold the phone a little crooked to get the pic! 😁
20241203_122118.jpg


With this setup, along with 35 gr 3f Swiss, a .018 mink oil pillow tick patch and .350 RB, I shot 5 x's (bench rested) at 25 yards. Took one more shot at 50 yards and another in the x ring with no change in hold. So if I miss game, it's 100% on me! 🙂
 
Last edited:
Spikebuck said:
It's getting harder for my eyes to use iron sights. Still OK for deer, but extremely hard for small game.

I had an extra Johnson Peep sight (available through Muzzleloader Builder Supply) so decided to install that. It also required a much taller front sight.

Here's the results:

Instead of using the normal screw holes, I filled those and made two new ones so I could have one short screw go into the very back of the breech just 5 threads deep, then another deeper into the tang.

View attachment 366367
It still has clearance to remove the tang screw with the aperture unscrewed (Williams Twilight .125).

View attachment 366368

Front sight from ToTW blank # FS-TC-BB-80. It required the full height. I also had to peen the base some to widen it to fit the precut dovetail.
View attachment 366369
View through the peep. Had to hold the phone a little crooked to get the pic! 😁
View attachment 366375

With this setup, along with 35 gr 3f Swiss, a .018 mink oil pillow tick patch and .350 RB, I shot 5 x's (bench rested) at 25 yards. Took one more shot at 50 yards and another in the x ring with no change in hold. So if I miss game, it's 100% on me! 🙂
Click to expand...
Spikebuck
Job Well done!👍

I have Kibler .32 SMR, my eyes are not what they used to be. I kicked it around about adding a peep sight. I saw the Johnson peep and some others. I wasn't sure how they would look or how well they would work. I kinda just let the idea go.
After seeing this, and how nice it looks and more importantly the results you got. I just might have to give this shot.

It just looks right, it belongs.

Thanks for posting.
Take Care Stay Safe.

GSML
 
I wish the setup didn't require such a tall front sight. I love the look of the Johnson Peep, but being unadjustable is one of its drawbacks. On straight barrels the combo of the Johnson and a lower blade is possible. Unfortunately, the muzzle being "lower" than the tang on a swamped barrel necessitates a taller blade.

The benefit to me of the taller peep is that my eye comes right to it vs the lower stock iron sight I always came up looking over it and had to adjust my hold a little unnaturally for me. So the taller rear sight fits me.

Tom A Hawk offers a simple adjustable peep in the classifieds that attaches via the tang screw that is possibly another viable peep option if the tall blade is unappealing to anyone.
 
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I enjoy this forum! I had the same Johnson rear peep sight installed on my SMR. The original front sight is still on the rifle, and it shoots 6" high at 35 yards. It's even crazier at 50 yards. I have been looking at tall front sights to replace the original. Did you have to file down your ToTW blank # FS-TC-BB-80 front sight to obtain the accuracy you have?
 
REA said:
I enjoy this forum! I had the same Johnson rear peep sight installed on my SMR. The original front sight is still on the rifle, and it shoots 6" high at 35 yards. It's even crazier at 50 yards. I have been looking at tall front sights to replace the original. Did you have to file down your ToTW blank # FS-TC-BB-80 front sight to obtain the accuracy you have?
Click to expand...
Scratch that. I looked up the front sight on TOTW. You did a great job of filing it down. I shoot with an ML rifle club when they are in session, and the smaller SMR sights were giving me fits on the range. I appreciate this post.
 
nicely done the other way to get on target is file the base of the peep thinning it will lower the group
DSC03160.JPG
I had to file the base of the peep to lower the group at 100yrds
DSC03169.JPG
DSC03040.JPG
this is the load workup target then moved sight to center groupthen shot the 100 yrd groups first 2 were high filed rear peep base and hit aim point
 
REA said:
Did you have to file down your ToTW blank # FS-TC-BB-80 front sight to obtain the accuracy you have?
Click to expand...
I only shaped the blank with the angle you see. The front height is FULL HEIGHT of the blank.

Before getting the blank from Track, I had tried a .430 Marble bead sight I had on hand, which still had me shooting high. So using an online front sight height calculator and looking at specs, I figured that blank would be about right...and it turned out to be perfect. I had also ordered just a base in case I had to make a taller blade and solder up my own, but didn't need it.

If one wanted a bead front, the Marbles 500 or 530 would probably work. I decided on the blade as it looks a bit more correct on a rifle like this, can be filed if your group is low, and costs less.
 
bldtrailer said:
nicely done the other way to get on target is file the base of the peep thinning it will lower the group
Click to expand...
Correct, but on a Johnson Peep you will start to destroy the finial immediately if you file the base.

If I were going to lower a Johnson, I would cut out the material between the threaded cylinder that holds the aperture and the base, then solder the cylinder directly to the base.
 
I had a williams sight drilled and tapped on the barrel. The peep has an adjustable diameter aperture, so that is really handy.
I am really thinking of a Thompson Center adjustable tang sight, but for now I am liking the williams. I have the Thompson on the Woodsrunner, and it fits well.

d3zv3YW.jpg


ErkfR2O.jpg


LzludMe.jpg


Woodsrunner
qQEqsIj.jpg
 
I had to have a peep on my rifle to see my sights so I made one that I have posted many times before; it has since been browned but can't find the picture.

peep filed.JPG


It worked so well that I left it on even after I had cataract surgery. I was hunting a couple of days ago and thought "why don't you take it off, it will be easier to see the whole deer in fading light". After my hunt I went out to the shop and took off the peep, turns out I didn't need it at all anymore.

Hope is out there for you sight challenged folk like I was when you get to cataract surgery time.

This is a representation of my pre and post cataract surgery sight images.

Before surgery;

sights blurry.JPG


After cataract surgery;

sights clear.JPG
 
REA said:
I enjoy this forum! I had the same Johnson rear peep sight installed on my SMR. The original front sight is still on the rifle, and it shoots 6" high at 35 yards. It's even crazier at 50 yards. I have been looking at tall front sights to replace the original. Did you have to file down your ToTW blank # FS-TC-BB-80 front sight to obtain the accuracy you have?
Click to expand...
That is the problem with the Johnson sight. It’s not the sight but the barrel profile. I did this on a woodsrunner and the front sight needed to be at least a 1/2 inch tall. Plus there was not enough windage. The Johnson works fine on straight barrels, but not tapered or swamped.
 
Siringo said:
The Johnson works fine on straight barrels, but not tapered or swamped.
Click to expand...
I also had one mounted on a Jaeger I built from Track's kit. That gun had a Rice 31" swamped barrel and I didn't have to have a tall sight at all. As you said, it depends on the barrel profile as to just how high the front sight will need to be.

When I have time, I might alter another Johnson I have by removing the material between the base and threaded cylinder and solder it on the base directly. Love the look of the base, would just like the aperture to be lower. I've also considered using a tiny threaded stud between the two to achieve some adjustability.
 
flatcreek said:
Put a peep on my rifle and that finally did the trick for theses old eyes. 45 yards and touching shots were common. Made it out of a piece of angle iron and soldered it on, no damage to the barrel. Would of posted the target, but I was sighting it in moving and filing the front sight and made two back sights before I got it right, so the target wouldn't of made sense, but I could tell it was shooting and I'm happy. 😊
View attachment 365181View attachment 365182
Click to expand...
 

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