Peep/tang sights place in history???

[Tom A Hawk]

Aperture sights work very well to sharpen the target image especially with older eyes. Thankfully I'm far sighted and can still focus on my barrel sights pretty well. Just don't ask me to read the menu without reading glasses.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/folding-peep-sight.145105/

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Telescopic rifle sights were used in the US from the1840's: peep sights much earlier.

 

[Sam squanch]

Colonial troops like Sepoys serving as Privates for 30+ years and also it wasn't uncommon to have guys in their 40s in the Enlisted ranks in the 1850's-60's.

Sounds like the Missouri National Guard……..

 

[ETipp]

As my vision worsens, I've been tempted to use peep or tang sights on some of my rifles.

I'm looking for some knowledge regarding their use in the old days.

Did the "Old Boys" use such sights on their original guns?

Interested not only in the percussions back in "the day", but, also flintlocks.

Thanks very much for any insight you may pass along.

Best regards, Skychief.

So far, I have refused to allow old eyes (failing vision) to prohibit the use of open sights on my muzzleloaders. It boiled down to if I wanted to continue using my smoke poles or not. Easy decision. I went to peep sights and life is better now than ever, in terms of ML. I use a TC tang style peep on my .50 and recently installed a Tom A Hawks peep on my .32 Crockett squirrel rifle. Both of which have made all the difference in the world.

Right or wrong, period correct has its limitations for this old hunter.

 

[French Colonial]

I will keep using open sights, I will not win matches like I used to but I have enough trophys to look at on the walls, it is someone else's turn now.

Cataract surgery is in my near future.

 

[Kansas Jake]

When I was a kid my grandpa ha had a 22 rifle with peep sights. I shot it a lot but wondered why he had taken out the aperture and just had that huge hole. I understand better now.

 

[Grenadier1758]

About the time the "old boys" eyesight developed presbyopia and couldn't see the rear sight, they went to smooth bored guns that had no rear sight. Peep sights weren't needed.

 

[ETipp]

About the time the "old boys" eyesight developed presbyopia and couldn't see the rear sight, they went to smooth bored guns that had no rear sight. Peep sights weren't needed.

Until tang style peeps became very popular in the 1800's.