Sight Qustions

[mnbearbaiter]

Im in the process of finishing my "In the White" TVM 54cal Leman rifle, 36"x1" brrl. The gun came with partridge style sights, and am strongly considering putting a buckhorn rear sight on it from TOTW or wherever. The gun has a 3/8" dovetail cut for the sights so im assuming that any 3/8" dovetail sight should fit the cut? That said, should i order a new german silver front blade sight as well? The gun will be made for hunting, and i want to keep it period correct while having the easiest shooting sights for hunting situations, low light, etc. My thought is that the buckhorn seems a little more nostalgic than the partridge style thats on there now. Also, i see an adjustable dovetail buckhorn sight thats available but im assuming thats not really true to the times, and i like simplicity that exists with the fixed sights...sight the gun in, file sights, hunt and never worry about it!!!!

 

[necchi]

Well it always seems to be a personal choice issue when it comes to sights,,
I prefer the Partridge myself,, :idunno:

But I can tell ya that that German Silver front blade will all but "disappear" in the right(wrong) light and it's usually that transition time at the beginning/end of legal shooting time.
I dumped the GS blade quick.

Sites are cheap enough and easy enough to swap out. Go ahead an try'm.
But that's the key, you wanna actually try'm in variuos shooting light before, you walk in the feild for an early morning hunt.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Everyone's eyes are a little different. Myself I like the partridge sights with a goot square notch in the rear or a peep sight. The silver sight disappear for me.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I like the partridge sight, or the v-notch sight. (I was taught the "partridge" was a square notch vs. the literal v-notch sight). I have partridge on my deer rifle, and v-notch on my .40.

I don't think the ears on a buckhorn give you much other than really close shooting as a modern "ghost ring" sight might give you. It's all in the shot placement, and I like the precision..., and it's done very well for me at the range and the field. I have found that unless one uses the actual notch on the buckhorn, they are not precise enough, making the "ears" unneeded.

Now peeps are better for targets than a partridge sight.., and one reason is the peep (when small enough) gives the shooter a better view of the front sight post..., the peep acts as a sort of lens. It reduces the light coming in at other angles to the eye while leaving the light coming from the target through the sights and into the eye. This does, though, in reducing a portion of the light, reduce what can be seen through the peep in low light...., and so what some folks can see and shoot with an open iron sight in low light, folks with peeps sights cannot.

On the other hand..., if one's eyes cannot see well enough in that low light regardless of the sight to make a shot, then the disadvantage is moot, and the advantage of the precision of the peep is a very good one.

I have very good distance vision, and find that a thin, silver, front sight post not only gives great accuracy, but also is visible like florescent paint under a blacklight when in low light conditions. There have been times when I could see the sights well enough to align them, but the deer were gray and in the shadows, so I could not see enough of the deer to place the shot so did not fire..., others don't like silver.

LD

 

[Billnpatti]

I'm not sure why you would want to replace your front sight unless it is too short for the buckhorn sight you want to put on it or it is too wide for the buckhorn notch. If it is just a width problem, you can file it thinner. However, you will need to know what height of sight to order. In order to do this, you will need to finish your rifle to the point that it can be fired. Then fire a few rounds at a target to see where you are hitting. If you are hitting low, you are in good shape and can file the front sight to bring your POI up. Then just order the same height sight that you already have but in the style that you want. When you install it, it will be ready to file it to bring your POI where you want it. If you were to order a front sight that was too short for the buckhorn sight, you would have to order another and pay those darned postage fees twice. It just bugs the manure out of me to have to pay a minimum postage fee of $5.95 for an item such as a front sight tht may only cost a couple bucks and see that the actual postage was only a buck or so when it arrives. Surely, that little bubble envelope doesn't cost $4. Anyway, to avoid those d**n postage fees, make sure that you know which sight you need before you order. The last time I was at Friendship, I bought several front and rear sights just to have on hand for those occasions when I bought or traded for a rifle and wanted to replace the existing sights. Sure glad I did.

If you're not heavily into the HC/PC stuff, buy a can of spray flourescent orange or yellow paint. spray some onnto a piece of cardboard and dip a toothpick into it and dab it onto the back of your front sight. It sure helps with the visability in poor lighting conditions. White fingernail polish is good for touching up a front sight for paper target shooting. Yeah, fingernail polish comes in white now. that stuff comes in everyh color of the rainbow and many colors that don't appear in nature. It's good stuff for touching up front sights. Of course, if you are heavily into HC/PC, your best bet is blued steel front sights. You can help them with a touch of soot from a candle but the soot wipes off easily and needs to be re-touched periodically. Personally, I donn't care for the German silver sights. Contrary to what you might think, the darned things just don't show up all that well.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

Unless you guys are tying a bird on the end of your rifles and aiming between its legs it's a Patridge sight not a partridge sight.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I can find no advantage in aiming with a buckhorn, those ears just obstruct the view of the target and there is no way they can be used for aiming, the aim is taken from a small notch at the bottom while trying to ignore the ears. Nor do I think them "traditional". Buckhorns seem to have been a fad of the later half of the 19th and early 20th century, you'll see a lot more of them on Winchesters than muzzleloaders. I have seen photos of a Hawken rifle with a buckhorn rear sight but who knows if it was original to the rifle or if added later.

 

[necchi]

Patridge sight not a partridge sight.

Thank You, :grin:

 

[William O.]

I prefer the buckhorn sights.

 

[don hepler]

Don't throw away your Patridge sights, you might appreciate them, when you're 62.

 

[Dean2]

Unless you guys are tying a bird on the end of your rifles and aiming between its legs it's a Patridge sight not a partridge sight.

:applause:

Now that was damned funny. I have sore sides from laughing so hard.

I was wondering when someone was going to correct that, but this is far and away the best and funniest correction I have ever seen on the proper name for this sight. Good one, I will use this in the future if you don't mind.

 

[mnbearbaiter]

Thanks for the correction

 

[Many Klatch]

Some range officers at shooting matches may not allow buckhorn sights in certain matches.

Many Klatch

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Unless you guys are tying a bird on the end of your rifles and aiming between its legs it's a Patridge sight not a partridge sight.

OK so where is the Homer Simpson DUH-OH smiley??

Ah here it is...



LD

 

[George T.]

That is funny! I knoe that I pronounce it wrong but heck I live in Texas! Geo. T.

 

[northstatefarms]

I've got an original Leman with original sights. The front german silver sights are nicked with a sharp blade in two spots. To produce left and right .... ummm... well I don't know what to call what it is. Nicks that widen the view down the sight/barrel by maybe a couple of thousandths. But I can take a picture of both front and back this afternoon. Which is my intention in joining the forum.

After knowing of it for many years; I finally obtained a Leman that has sat under an old bed for many, many years in poor condition. It has all it's original features, less the trigger and guard. Unfortunately; it was shot using modern smokeless powder and blown up the stock.

The most interesting feature of this gun is the inlay. I've not seen anything like it on the internet. The inlay is original to the gun. Not nails or tacks, but clouds and stars. No patchbox.

So tomorrow.... I should have some unique and entertaining pictures.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Patridge sight not a partridge sight.

Thank You, :grin:

Actually, I (sorta) knew that also. So I googled it and it came up both ways. I guess the old/correct way has gotten so polluted both ways are acceptable these days. :youcrazy:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Well it always seems to be a personal choice issue when it comes to sights,,
I prefer the Partridge myself,, :idunno:

But I can tell ya that that German Silver front blade will all but "disappear" in the right(wrong) light and it's usually that transition time at the beginning/end of legal shooting time.
I dumped the GS blade quick.

Sites are cheap enough and easy enough to swap out. Go ahead an try'm.
But that's the key, you wanna actually try'm in variuos shooting light before, you walk in the feild for an early morning hunt.

Yep. Wat necchi said.
I have lovely ivory for my front 'patridge' style sight and it vanishes in the woods. Black iron provides the best contrast with background in all but total darkness.

 

[tenngun]

Tom Jefferson said that nothing was more boring then a man who spelled the same word the same way each time.I may try the bird on my gun it might improve my shooting :haha: Now I think I'll go clean my Kentucky rifle or sharpen my 18th cent claymore sword :rotf:

 

[northstatefarms]

Pictures of an original little Leman ( 36", 1" width barrel) front and back sight. The cuts produce a small ear left and right. Maybe on a frosty plains morning or sunny day the cuts offer something when they refract light off the german silver.