Uberti 1860 Army front sight

JimCunn · Feb 8, 2025

Been thinking about my choices to bring the point of impact down more in line with the point of aim. Finally decided to scratch build this one (tall black outline) out of 1/8" brass thinned to 0.115" at the base and 3/64" at the top.

bpd303 · Feb 8, 2025

If it's shooting high, you need a taller front sight.

KingOfKindling · Feb 8, 2025

bpd303 said:
If it's shooting high, you need a taller front sight.

Yep. I've found with Uberti guns, even after correcting the arbor, to get a reasonable POI you need a sight 3 times higher than the original.

You can always file it down safer to start taller.

bpd303 · Feb 8, 2025

You could also file the rear hammer sight down to lower the POA.

JimCunn · Feb 8, 2025

I scratch built a sight this morning. Still needs some shaping and polishing, but this one is sacrificial. I'll build a better one after I sight this one in for 75 feet to confirm the height.

bpd303 · Feb 8, 2025

Looks pretty good, as long as it's taller that the original.

JimCunn · Feb 8, 2025

It's 1/8" taller. I wanted to move the POI down 5.6" at 40 feet

bpd303 · Feb 8, 2025

That should get you close.

Tom A Hawk · Feb 8, 2025

FYI

https://www.taylorsfirearms.com/open-top-c-mason-blade-front-sight-par-u0900015.html

JimCunn · Feb 8, 2025

Thanks Tom, but from the shape of the curves it looks like it is not tall enough.

Bpd303, calculated was 0.1245".
I figured 0.125" was close enough

Tom A Hawk · Feb 8, 2025

Worked perfectly on my 1860 and saved a lot of time. Every gun is different I guess.

Smokerr · Feb 8, 2025

That is the issue is the variation is quite wide. My ROA shot 15 inches high at 25 yards before I built my very crude but extremly workable (and adjustable) front sight for it (I was going one direction and due to self inflicted issues went another direction that was better. I had it pretty close to where I wanted it. Also the BP cylinders shoot their loads lower and the unmentionable shoot higher. So, either you adjust to each type or get the average close to POA and let it wander.

I shoot groups for fun, so as long as they are a few inches low or high or left or right is not an issue. Its how good the group is. If I get excited about a load and want to nail it then I can adjust things for that load.

bpd303 · Feb 8, 2025

When I get the sights close, I use Kentucky windage to make up the difference.

JimCunn · Feb 9, 2025

"When I get the sights close, I use Kentucky windage to make up the difference".

Yeah, but my sights were about a foot high at 100 feet. That's a bit much for eyeballing. I scratch built a second sight today, playing with the profile. Deliberately too tall. Still not quite happy with the profile.

Third time will probably be the charm. Top of sight will be a little further aft and base a little longer.

maillemaker · Feb 9, 2025

Here is how I did mine:
https://4thla.weebly.com/replace-the-front-sight-on-a-colt-1860-army-revolver.html

SPQR70AD · Feb 9, 2025

JimCunn said:
"When I get the sights close, I use Kentucky windage to make up the difference".

Yeah, but my sights were about a foot high at 100 feet. That's a bit much for eyeballing. I scratch built a second sight today, playing with the profile. Deliberately too tall. Still not quite happy with the profile.

Third time will probably be the charm. Top of sight will be a little further aft and base a little longer.

View attachment 382471

how did you attach the site

JimCunn · Feb 9, 2025

Same as original.
Slot width in the barrel is about 0.118".
I made the base of the sight about 0.1185" for a slight interference fit and used blue threadlocker to fill gaps and help secure it.

Above the slot, I tapered the sides of the sight to a top width roughly about 3/64".

SPQR70AD · Feb 9, 2025

JimCunn said:
Same as original.
Slot width in the barrel is about 0.118".
I made the base of the sight about 0.1185" for a slight interference fit and used blue threadlocker to fill gaps and help secure it.

Above the slot, I tapered the sides of the sight to a top width roughly about 3/64".

OK thanks

JimCunn · Feb 9, 2025

I test fired today, and then built the final sight.
Sight height for 50 foot zero shooting .45acp in the 1860 was 0.303".

Smokerr · Feb 9, 2025

When I get the sights close, I use Kentucky windage to make up the difference.

Agreed, just got to get it close to where I can make it work. Ball shoots low and 45 Colt shoots high so its pretty much as good as it can get unless I make it adjustable!

Uberti 1860 Army front sight

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