Sight advice-CVA Kentucky

[topper]

I have a CVA Kentucky 45cal that I would like to mount an adjustable rear sight to that works for old eyes. I ordered the Williams WGRS peep think it would fit existing dovetail cut out and was wrong. I saw the post regarding the RMC V-Peep, but it too appears to require drilling and tapping.
Has anyone tried the dove tail rear sight from Thunder ridge that accepts standard 3/8" blade sights? Thunder Ridge
Is there any risk "safety wise" in drilling and tapping this barrel for rear sights?
If not, would I be better of going with Marble steel vs Williams aluminum sights?
Thanks

 

[50cal.cliff]

The risk of drilling and tapping is going too deep. Read the post Gun Show find-CVA Moutain Stalker to see what I am talking about.
As far as the other sight someone who has had experience with that particular sight may be able to enlighten you to the fit. I would think if they are both 1/8 dovetails it should fit. May have to peen the bottom to swell to a tight fit. They sell it with a 5/8 and a 3/8 base. Might have to order the large one and file to fit your rifle.
As for design of sight I would try a full Buckhorn as the design acts as a peep/ghost ring. Works with well for older eyes!
I use a Marbles replacement but, my rifle was already drilled and taped. I use the large peep apature, similar to the buckhorn's size hole. The sight had three apatures with it, tried the largest peep and love it, for my older eyes!

 

[BrownBear]

I've been fighting this quite a while and have tried the various peeps and blades that fit in the rear doevetail. Sure didn't work well for me.

In my experience, to make a difference the peep needs to be back real close to your eye- usually on or right over the tang. The Lyman 57 works great, though it's pretty bulky and you might have to shim the base in addition to drilling and tapping the tang to get proper alignment along with a mount. I'd sure rather drill and tap the tang than the barrel, however.

Another suggestion here on the board has made a bigger difference than any sight I've tried, and in fact has let me use any sight I want on any gun. Thanks to whoever suggested it:

Go to the nearest drugstore or Wally World and get a pair of reading glasses in the 1.25x or 1.5x power range. That's just right for the sights without making it hard to see the target. It takes a little getting used to if you're going to wear them in the field, and in fact I prefer the half glasses for hunting. The $10 I spent on my half glasses has made a bigger difference in my shooting than any amount of money I ever spent on sights or load testing.

 

[topper]

Thank you gentlemen for the input.
Primary concern is hunting, target shooting is secondary.
The tang is short on this barrel and I see no way to mount a sight there without drilling into the barrel.
RMC Sports has advise their V-Peep uses existing dove tail cuts, so I will probably give them a try if they are adjustable. I can alway open up the peep hole diameter with a drill bit.
If not, the Thunder Ridge is adjustable and places the sight a little further back. Just hope they offer it in buckhorn style.
The gun groups well but shoots 14" low @ 100yds with 200gr Reals.
Amazingly, 300grs only shoot a couple of inches higher.
I have filed the stock front sight down to .204 so there very little sight left.
Anyway, once I've decided and have a chance to test I will report back with results.
Thanks again :

 

[BrownBear]

This sight has really got my attention for its small size. I haven't made the dive yet so I'm guessing, but it looks like it is a single screw mount and might fit your gun. May take a shim to adjust the angle, but that's a small deal. And no, I have no plans to use that wierd front sight.

As for the V-peeps, I picked one up for a Lyman kit I built last year. Tried it and gave it up for a lost cause. No real improvement for me. Gave it to a friend who was interested in it. After he tried it he gave it to another friend, and I don't know where it went after that. Haven't seen it on any of the rifles among my friends lately, and all of us need "help" with our sights. When something is free, that says something about how well it works.

 

[topper]

Well I made the order for the V-Peep, so I guess I'll have to try that first.
It's also is inline with my current budget.

 

[topper]

Wanted to share some picks with sights installed.
Need to figure out how I can get both distances in focus at the same time, pics really don't do justice to how well sights look.
Consolidated photos to save space.
Hopefully they will hold up well, hope to get em sighted in and tested this week.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Your photos illustrate the problem very well. The fact is that no optical device, including the human eye, can be in perfect focus at two different distances at the same time. With open sights we have three distances to contend with, rear sight very close, front sight at mid distance, and target far off. Young eyes can shift focus very quickly and thus provide the illusion of perfect focus. As we age the lenses become less flexible. That is why most folks past forty need reading glasses and can no longer focus on the rear sight. You have four options:
#1. Moving the rear sight down the barrel, farther from the eye, will help a bit for a while.
#2. Just accept a blurry rear sight and do the best you can with it.
#3. Visit an optometrist and have shooting glasses made to provide a sharp view of the sights but a blurry target.
#4. Remove the open rear sight and install a peep which will provide a sharp view of the front sight and target and the best accuracy you can get short of a scope. Peeps are not allowed in most primitive shooting matches but your plastic front sight is also not allowed so that is rather a moot point.

 

[topper]

Quick follow-up on how the buckhorn peep is working out.
Pro:
Sight has a definite advantage over stock sight for quick target acquisition in low light and adjustments for vertical and horizontal POA worked, have them set to shoot 2.5" high @ 50yds.
Should be a great sight for hunting purposes.
Con:
Not a good choice for target shooting, no easy way to make adjustments on the fly and return sight to previous setting.