Adding a rear sight to my fowling piece.

[S.Kenton]

I have been thinking of adding a rear sight to my Fowler. I’m most likely going to order from from Track or muzzloading supply, is there a favorite one that you’ve used? Also would you solder it on or dovetail it? My tang screw has served as a rear sight for years.. my old eyes are needing somthing a little closer to the muzzle as of now. Any input is appreciated.

 

[S.Kenton]

By the way, it’s an octagon to round barrel

 

[deerstalkert]

TOOL-DOVETAIL Dovetail Forming Chisel wax cast steel, made in the USA.
Price: $15.99

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

On the one I am having made there will be a tang mounted peep sight. If I want to remove it its 2 screws on and 2 screws off. Plus i can see better with peep

 

[WALT53]

On the one I am having made there will be a tang mounted peep sight. If I want to remove it its 2 screws on and 2 screws off. Plus i can see better with peep

I’m a peep site guy to every thing else is fuzzy to me lol getting old you gotta do what you gotta do to keep on keeping on .

 

[Ross5403]

TOOL-DOVETAIL Dovetail Forming Chisel wax cast steel, made in the USA.
Price: $15.99
View attachment 296112

I've always seen pictures of this tool but never in person. I wish someone would make a video on its use and what makes it so special. Would like to know if it's worth purchasing.

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

Something like this but soldered on if not enough metal or don't want to dovetail.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/painted-trade-gun.173437/

 

[S.Kenton]

Something like this but soldered on if not enough metal or don't want to dovetail.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/painted-trade-gun.173437/

I like that, but it seems awfully high, I could file it down some I spose. I might have to get ahold of Clay Smith and see about one.

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

I like that, but it seems awfully high, I could file it down some I spose. I might have to get ahold of Clay Smith and see about one.

My next piece will be a fowler or trade rifle of some sort and like you I will need a rear sight further out to suit the type of hunting I do. Been keeping a sight like that in mind since I saw that thread.

 

[TDM]

I’m planning to do the same to mine, have one JBwelded on right now. I have a couple of narrow base sights from Track, just hadn’t gotten around to cutting the dovetail. Mine is octagon to round too. Be good to see the ideas that come up.

 

[tenngun]

TOOL-DOVETAIL Dovetail Forming Chisel wax cast steel, made in the USA.
Price: $15.99
View attachment 296112

I’ve never used one, but cutting a notch is pretty easy. A three side file with one flat smoothed off finished them off quickly

 

[TDM]

I’ve never used one, but cutting a notch is pretty easy. A three side file with one flat smoothed off finished them off quickly

You are correct. Except if you, in the process of filing down a safe side, forget which side you were filing while dunking it in water. I ended up with a triangular file with 1 1/2 safe sides! But it still works.

 

[Brokennock]

Currently the rear site on my Fusil des Chase is held in place with Loctite "Black Max" and it has held up for a few years.
I would prefer it to be dovetailed so windage could be adjusted, luckily I got it glued in the right spot first try.

You could shape a small one like this out of a piece of brass stock. I wanted one that is small and placed far enough back to be slightly blury when focused on the front site for roundball shooting,,,, and easily ignored when wing shooting.

A Type-G trade gun rear site would also be a good choice, place about where they were on a Type-G.

 

[Billy-by-gosh]

You are correct. Except if you, in the process of filing down a safe side, forget which side you were filing while dunking it in water. I ended up with a triangular file with 1 1/2 safe sides! But it still works.

Yup, did that once; then someone told me to rub 2 flats with chalk and then grind off the flat WITHOUT chalk.

 

[TDM]

Yup, did that once; then someone told me to rub 2 flats with chalk and then grind off the flat WITHOUT chalk.

Good idea, need to remember that next time.

 

[S.Kenton]

Currently the rear site on my Fusil des Chase is held in place with Loctite "Black Max" and it has held up for a few years.
I would prefer it to be dovetailed so windage could be adjusted, luckily I got it glued in the right spot first try.

View attachment 296256View attachment 296257View attachment 296258

You could shape a small one like this out of a piece of brass stock. I wanted one that is small and placed far enough back to be slightly blury when focused on the front site for roundball shooting,,,, and easily ignored when wing shooting.

A Type-G trade gun rear site would also be a good choice, place about where they were on a Type-G.

I mighy have some brass stock to make one. Did you make that one? I had originally asked for measurements.. but I actually won’t need them.

 

[rusticbob]

I was having trouble accurately shooting my Pedersoli trade gun until I added this small drop of JBWeld to the breach area. Made all the difference with round balls for me. I always intended to find something else, maybe dovetail in a sight, but this works, plenty solid and has been there for about three years. I understand the “traditionalist “ will be horrified, but it’s my gun , and I will do as I please. I guess I am just a “rifleman” at heart, I like rear sights when I shoot balls.

 

[S.Kenton]

I was having trouble accurately shooting my Pedersoli trade gun until I added this small drop of JBWeld to the breach area. Made all the difference with round balls for me. I always intended to find something else, maybe dovetail in a sight, but this works, plenty solid and has been there for about three years. I understand the “traditionalist “ will be horrified, but it’s my gun , and I will do as I please. I guess I am just a “rifleman” at heart, I like rear sights when I shoot balls.View attachment 296551

That’s a good idea, however I’ll need mine down towards the muzzle more, most likely around 10 inches from the breech. I’ll test it all out first. I might solder it or I might dovetail it, I havnt decided yet.

 

[Tumbledown]

I saw where someone made a removable sight where the base was shaped to the flats and held by a couple of strong magnets.

 

[Brokennock]

I mighy have some brass stock to make one. Did you make that one? I had originally asked for measurements.. but I actually won’t need them.

No, I didn't make it. It came off my 1st muzzleloader. I had bought it used and it was (is) a mess and one of the things it seemed to need was new sights. I kept the old one.
I could probably get some measurements tomorrow afternoon.