Rear Sight/Front Sight filing

[Hubertus]

I hope this is not too simple of a topic for this location but your input would be greatly appreciated...

On a flintlock that I've ordered it'll come with slightly (shallow) squared notched (if at all) rear sight and a silver front. I've filed a front sight before with some sort of flat file, but what about the rear sight? How do I go about making an appropriate rear sight notch without buggering this thing up? How do I get the front and rear to correspond correctly to each other? What file do I need and any insight as to how to go about this would be of great help to me.

Thanks!
Hubertus

 

[ohio ramrod]

front sights are easily filed with a mill ******* file. Rear sights usually require a nieddle file. Some people like a square file, some a triangular file. The important thing about filing rear sights is to keep the file straight. Some people like to use a hacksaw blade to center and start the notch. Then enlarge it to desired size. Remember taking off files are common and cheap "putting on files " are hard to find! :idunno:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Use jeweler's files when filing the rear notch. You can clamp steel scrap to the sight to keep your file within the lines you mark, when deepening or widening the notch, using small vise grips.

Cheap jeweler's files can be bought thru Harbor Frieght, and other discount tool stores. Better one cost more money but last longer. Start with Brownells, or Woodcraft. They are available in sets, or usually can be bought individually. Shapes include square, rectangle, triangle, round, and knife blade.

You can also use a Dremel tool CAREFULLY to deepen or widen the notch of your rear sight. Being a power tool, its a lot easier to let it get out of your control than a file, and do lots more damage. Unless you are very skilled at using hand held power tools, I recommend using files for this work. :hmm: :surrender: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Bill Hall]

Just about any old flat file will work on the front sight, as long as it is hitting low. You cut the blade down, a little at a time, to raise the point of impact.

For the rear sight, needle files are probably the simplest answer, that's all I use. First though, you need to decide on the shape of the notch which works best for you. Everbody is dfferent when it comes to sight picture. Square, V, U, and round are common shapes of notches, and one is no bettter than another, just a matter of personal preference and eyesight limitaions. Most needle files are tapered, so start cutting the notch with just the end of the file, to keep the notch small, then file the notch larger as needed. Just keep in mind that you can always file a notch bigger, but you can't file it smaller.

You need to cut and shape your rear sight notch before you consider filing on the front. Once you have the rear notch cut, take the gun out and fire for groups at whatever range you prefer. You should be hitting low to begin with, so you need to file the front sight in between shots to raise the P.O.I. Basically, this process is what's refered to as "sighting in the gun", and is another whole topic. I suggest you do a search, or ask when the time comes, on tips to sighting in a gun, since it can be a very detailed and systematic process.

Good luck and have fun. Bill

P.S. Just to clarify, needle files and jeweler's files are the same thing.

 

[necchi]

Leave the rear sight notch alone if at all possible.
They usually come large enough and any attempt to make them bigger usually results in TOO big.

 

[Hubertus]

the "problem" is that there may be no rear sight notch...I've asked them to at least make a small notch, and hope they will but apparently it is normally delivered without any notch at all...

 

[Leatherbark]

Hammer the teeth of a hacksaw blade sideways on an anvil to make them not stick out from the sides. It will make a squarer notch than a regular blade. Use heavy tape on the barrel in case something slips. Some people like small "V"s some like small "U"s and some like small squares. It all has to do with your eyesight. Take your time. take your files and stuff to the range

Bob

 

[Hubertus]

Per your comment, the shape of the notch ( V, U, square notch) has to do with my eyesight... so what do I need to consider?...or do you mean it is purely personal preference?

 

[paulvallandigham]

My rifle and fowling piece are both used for hunting. That puts me out in the field in early mornings, when sunlight may not be around. Overcast conditions are the norm here in Nov. our primary hunting month( Dec. follows, also a gray month with few days of sunshine).

For those reasons, I found long ago- when my eyes were better than they are now!--- I prefer a rear sight that has a wide, Square[rectangular?] notch in it, that has as much daylight on both sides of the front sight as the sight appears to be wide looking through my rear sight. That gives me enough light to see the sight clearly in poor light.

Some people put a line scratched into the bottom of the backside of the rear sight to mark the center of the sight. They say it makes it easier to align the front sight in the notch. My experience is different.

Years ago, when I was shooting revolvers at long range pop cans, I found it easy to "imagine" a line down the middle of my very wide sight blade, compared to the width of those vicious soda cans down range( 50 and 100 yds), and simply center that imaginary line in the middle of the now very wide appearing rear sight on my revolvers.

I do the same thing today, shooting my MLers. I "imagine" a center line on the backside of my front sight blade, and then center it in the rear sight notch. The width of the notch does not bother or affect me at all. As long s there is some kind of notch, with a flat bottom wide enough to let light in past both sides of my front sight, I can quickly center the front sight in the rear sight notch.

As for personal choice, my first rifle was a Win. .22 rimfire with open sights, and a "U-shaped" rear sight, and a bead front sight. When I first shot a revolver with a square-bottom rear notch, it was quite an adjustment. As I grew older, and fired more different kinds of rifles, shotguns, and handguns, with all kinds of sights, I found it more difficult to center a round bead in a "U" notch, then in a square bottom rear sight.

I would not expect everyone to have that same problem that I have had. That is where "personal preference" HAS to become a factor in your choice of sights on any given gun. :hmm: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Swede50]

If you have rifles lever action, pump or single action try looking at there sights. It may help you find a notch or groove that you can see better with. Also depends on the shape of your front sight.

Good luck take a file with you to the range to make adjustments and file slooooooooooly.

 

[Birddog6]

I suggest ya take a strip of wood, (? 36-42" long) drive a finish nail near one end, cut it off 1/4" tall, & file it flat on each side the width of your front site of the rifle.

Take a thin piece of sheet metal 1" long x 3/8" wide & bend up the end of it 3/8 tall at 90 deg. Electrical tape that to your wood barrel you are making, the same distance of the sights on the rifle you are building. We are going to simulate sighting down your barrel with alternative sight pictures.

Now you can play with notches & V's and U's & whatever depths & widths of the notch, til ya find what ya want. Hold each new on to the light til ya can see it the way ya want. Then use that look on the rifle sight.

I use very small needle files & it is hard to find very small ones. Mine are jeweler files. I like a square bottom U and I want a little daylight on each side when I look thru it. But you have to decide what YOU want to see, not what others like. Thus the reason you make several dif play sights to find what you like.

Keith Lisle

 

[Hubertus]

Excellent suggestions guys and I really like Birddog6's trial version...where can I find these very small needle files (jeweler files)?