Sight movement

[ckwilli]

OK I have a rookie question. I shot my TC hawken and thought I had it dialed in pretty good. I had really nice groups at 50 yards, which is my general hunting distance. After I got home and was cleaning my rifle I discovered my sight blade would move side to side. It would move enough that it would line up with the next “tick mark” over. (Not sure what those marks are called). Apparently this made no difference when I was zeroing and it’s never been an issue before but my OCD started getting into my head. Is this normal movement? I can’t see that it would make much difference at short range but noticeable at long range. Is there a way to lock the blade to prevent movement? Sorry if this has been covered before. Thanks in advance.

 

[Duk]

If your talking your front sight ( blade ) it should be solid.

 

[jd45]

Paint the threads with clear nail polish. Worst case, coat the screws with blue Loctite.
I reread your post. If it is a front sight dovetail, it should be tight. The only idea I have is to stake it in place with a punch.

 

[ckwilli]

If your talking your front sight ( blade ) it should be solid.

Rear sight blade. Sorry, that information would have been helpful

 

[bigstick6017555]

Have a T/C 50 cal flintlock and a T/C .36 cal percussion Seneca and mine do not move, check threads may be stripped

 

[ckwilli]

The rear sight blade is moving within the rear sight assembly

 

[ckwilli]

Have a T/C 50 cal flintlock and a T/C .36 cal percussion Seneca and mine do not move, check threads may be stripped

Threads definitely aren’t stripped. The windage adjustment has a very distinct click every time you turn the windage asjustment screw. The blade itself moves.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Deleted

 

[Duk]

Rear sight blade. Sorry, that information would have been helpful

No side to side movement you may be able to push the rear of the sight down a bit there is a spring in the elevation adjustment but no side to side.

 

[ckwilli]

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Deleted

 

[ckwilli]

 

[Phil Coffins]

For the OCD type these sights don’t wander once set. Find your load then set the sight with out screws or clicks! Most people never need to or actually adjust iron sights in day to day use.
IMG_0678 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[ckwilli]

I attached a couple of photos to help clear it up. The rear aperture, blade, whatever you want to call it moves left to right. You can see in the two photos that there is a half a click of free movement between the two. I initially said a whole click but it’s more of a half.

 

[ckwilli]

For the OCD type these sights don’t wander once set. Find your load then set the sight with out screws or clicks! Most people never need to or actually adjust iron sights in day to day use.
IMG_0678 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

See my photos. Mine is a fully adjusted rear sight.

 

[ckwilli]

Deleted

Unmentionable firearms that have adjustable rear sights have “blades” in the sight assembly. That is my frame of reference and the reason I was asking for help. No disrespect taken.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Unmentionable firearms that have adjustable rear sights have “blades” in the sight assembly. That is my frame of reference and the reason I was asking for help. No disrespect taken.

That’s the built in tolerance and of little consequence at 50 yards under hunting conditions.
My suggestion is if it bothers you replace the rear sight with a solid sight.

 

[ckwilli]

That’s the built in tolerance and of little consequence at 50 yards under hunting conditions.
My suggestion is if it bothers you replace the rear sight with a solid sight.

Thanks. I didn’t know there was a tolerance built in. I think I’ll eventually replace it with a peep of some sort but that will have to wait. I just wanted to know if it was normal and if there was a way to tighten it down. Thank you.

 

[bigstick6017555]

On the Seneca I have a small set screw to lock that movement your sight looks like my style . check on front edge for that set screw .

 

[Duk]

There's no side movement on mine