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1861 Springfield sights

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CharlesZ

36 Cal.
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Jul 27, 2009
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The rifle shoots high, right. The rear sight is a V, and the front sight a triangle. Neither is movable. What would I have to do to get this rifle on the bullseye other than compensate and aim low left?
 
As far as I know you will have to get a higher front sight to replace the one you have. If you get on http://www.ssfirearms.com/ and find the number to call them they will be able to send you one at little cost. Once you have the taller front sight you can just keep filing it down until the elevation is where you want it. As for windage there are a couple ways to go. You can drill a hole with a number 60 drill bit and fill the hole in and re drill it until it is on the bull. (there is a formula u can use to figure out how much to move the the hole) If you want to be more authentic and keep open sights you can take your new front sight and a blow tourch or a lighter would probably be better. Just heat up the solder a little then with a large flat head screw dricer or something of the sort gently hit the base of the front sight in the direction you want. Allow it to cool shot a string then repeat until it hits where you want. sounds complex but it is worth it.
 
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You could use JB weld to increase the height of the front site and file it. Some shooters file the front sight flat and then slice a groove in it in order to pin a higher post in. I've seen the windage adjusted by shaping flat piece of metal from an old hacksaw blade and gluing the flat piece of metal to the rear of the sight blade to position a sighting notch right or left. Works pretty slick and you can shape the rear notch to suit yourself............................Bob
 
I've been tempted to drill my 300 yd. leaf to make a 100 yd.peep. Could be windage adjusted by drilling off center...just hope you guessed right.
I don't shoot N-SSA or reenactments so no feathers to be ruffled.
R
 
To drill a peep sight jut try to center it. The first hole is guess work but once you put some shots on paper measure how many inches the bullets are hitting from center both up and down. Once you have that measurement there if a formula you can use to relocate the hole. Im not sure what it is on your rifle but on my zouave which has a 28 inch sight radius at 100 yards I move the hole 7.5 thousands of an inch to move the bullet 1 inch at 100 yards. You can fill the old hole in with solder.
 
my rifle is a Colt/Springfield that was tuned for N-SSA shooting, IE: tall front sight, spare tuned locks with spare internal parts, etc..
I have a couple sight blanks, and a friend or two left in the machine room where I retired from (Gen. Supv.). Making a new one isn't a problem. :wink:
And, after shooting for a few years ya' kinda' get an idea for where the sights need to go...
R
 
Actually, you can move that rear sight somewhat. When you lift up the longest sight leaf, you'll see a machine screw with two perimiter holes instead of a slot. You can grind and file a broad-bladed screwdriver to get two "studs" that fit into these holes. When you loosen that machine screw you'll find that the rear sight can be moved a bit in the direction that it needs to go. You didn't say how far it's off - maybe there is enough correction to compensate. Mine shot high and to the left and I was able to move that rear sight enough to work.

Then, you can try building up the front sight with something like JB Weld or by some of the other good suggestions that have been offered here. It worked for me.
Good luck
sneezy
 
they actualy make a tool to fit the perimiter hols. S&S has them. they also sell the skrmish replacement L leaf that you can do a peep in ea leg one for50 thelonger for 100 on my colt. and did one 50 & 100 V for my sons.
Oh yea I also do the JB Weld thing when needed
fill the V recut or add to front sight
 
59sharps said:
they actualy make a tool to fit the perimiter hols. S&S has them.

If you own a ArmiSport it requires a sight wrench specifically made for it (must be metric). The standard wrench from S&S will not fit. I got mine from Taylor's and Co. Alas I now have a spare wrench from S&S. :wink:
 

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