sights -opinion

[kruzer1]

I'm starting a new kit build - Dixie .50 cal percussion. I'm thinking on upgrading the sights as many hawken kits (not sure about this one) have plastic sites- yuck.

I have good vision and my primary use would be hunting. I live to far from any black powder groups to my knowledge to shoot with them so being totally period accurate or following some club rules are not much of an option.

We hunt a lot of white tail and large mule deer (often over 300 lbs) in a lot of open terrain. I might need to take some longer shots but I don't mind stalking, etc and I know I am not using a rifle.

Just looking for a few thoughts on sights. My first thought was vernier or creedmore tang sights with a front globe. They seem to have good precision but not sure how well they would be for hunting.

Also thinking of going traditional sights- like the hawken long range adjustable sight or a set of buckhorns.

I know the rifle I am using is not totally period but I don't want to be out of period either. Just seeing what others think/like from personal experience.

 

[cynthialee]

I kinda like the adjustable plastic sights they put on these production guns.

IDK.
I haven't tried shooting these black powder guns with anything other than the sights that come from the factory and open iron sights. I have no exposure to the nifty high dollar sights.

 

[Little Wattsy]

I am a fan of buckhorns personally, I use a silver front blade and the Hawken buckhorn from TOW.
Some like peep sighhts.. I tried them and wasnt really a fan.
I would suggest you search Idaho Ron on this forum, he is a guru in longer range hunting mulies and elk.... :wink:

 

[kruzer1]

I was kind of thinking of one of these, seeing if folks had used them (or even wondering how exactly the adjustments went). I'm also wondering without a "notch" how precise they can be- good enough for deer at 100 yards?
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/879/1/RS-HA-5

Or if I would be better served hunting with a buckhorn or semibuckhorn.

Reading through other forum posts I am leaning a bit away from the peeps- since I don't need them yet and they seem to not perform as well in low light hunting conditions. I've just always found traditional irons harder to master but perhaps I just need more practice

 

[Little Wattsy]

Thats the one I have and like it.

 

[fleener]

I assume you will be hunting with a round ball. Check out montana vintage arms for the combination front sight. I have one on my hawken. This will help with different yardages. Also, check out track of the wolf. They have a 2 blade rear sight. I have one on a english sporting rifle and it works great. I use the taller one for out to 200 yards.

Peep sights are tough for low light and also in the rain.

I have a rifle that I setup that is strictly a hunting rifle. It has open sights and a marble style peep sight.

snapper

 

[hawkeye2]

Sights like that are sold "blank" so that you can cut the size and shape notch that suits you and aren't intended to be used as sold though a full buckhorn will work like a ghost ring sight.

 

[hawkeye2]

There is one of these on my wife's underhammer and I like the sight picture and ease of adjustment. It also has the advantage of low cost and an appearance which isn't too distracting on a period gun. I bought one for the underhammer I'm rebuilding and intend to file the sight dovetail to a sliding fit on the barrel and then drill and tap through the lug and add a screw to lock it in place to make it easily adjustable for windage.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/882/1/RS-LA

 

[George T.]

This looks pretty good to me! I like a fairly wide front sight and I avoid the german silver as the reflection drives me nuts! Geo. T.

 

[crockett]

Everyone is different. I like a flat top rear sight with a V and a blade front sight- silver blade in a copper or brass base. At 100 yards- should be fine. In open country and sun you can smoke the sight.

 

[nkbj]

I'm starting a new kit build - Dixie .50 cal percussion. I'm thinking on upgrading the sights as many hawken kits (not sure about this one) have plastic sites- yuck.

I have good vision and my primary use would be hunting. I live to far from any black powder groups to my knowledge to shoot with them so being totally period accurate or following some club rules are not much of an option.

We hunt a lot of white tail and large mule deer (often over 300 lbs) in a lot of open terrain. I might need to take some longer shots but I don't mind stalking, etc and I know I am not using a rifle.

Just looking for a few thoughts on sights. My first thought was vernier or creedmore tang sights with a front globe. They seem to have good precision but not sure how well they would be for hunting.

Also thinking of going traditional sights- like the hawken long range adjustable sight or a set of buckhorns.

I know the rifle I am using is not totally period but I don't want to be out of period either. Just seeing what others think/like from personal experience.

Not knowing which rifle you have, I will just speak concerning my DGW's .50 with a 43" barrel. It shoots so flat and accurate with round ball and a heavy charge, and the sight radius is so long, that nothing is safe out to a hundred yards.

 

[Spikebuck]

The adjustable rear Hawken buckhorn would work fine. As stated elsewhere, you file your own notch.

Regarding peeps and comments that they don't work in low-light, that may be true if you're trying to shoot a peep with a little, tiny aperature hole meant for target shooting. I am a hunter first and foremost and if I can't get the full range of 1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset out of a sight, it isn't on my gun...period. I use peeps on many of my guns...you just have to have an aperature size that's appropriate...3/32" works extremely well. Combined with a front sight with a small bead, it's very accurate as well.

I tried a front globe for hunting one year. First deer I had the opportunity at was only yards away and guess what...all I could see was hair...couldn't tell exactly where on the animal I was. It was a short opportunity window and because I couldn't be sure where I would hit, I didn't shoot. That was the last day a globe sight was on a hunting rifle of mine. :cursing:

Sights are a personal thing, so good luck in your search for what works best for you.

 

[Leatherbark]

There is one of these on my wife's underhammer and I like the sight picture and ease of adjustment. It also has the advantage of low cost and an appearance which isn't too distracting on a period gun. I bought one for the underhammer I'm rebuilding and intend to file the sight dovetail to a sliding fit on the barrel and then drill and tap through the lug and add a screw to lock it in place to make it easily adjustable for windage.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/882/1/RS-LA[/quote]
I like the idea of locking the windgage but I'd be afraid of making the dovetail too much of a "sliding fit". Even with that set screw and the long sight it wouldnt take much of a bump to move the windage off a long way on a long shot.
You can still use the locking screw with a tight dovetail for extra assurance.



Bob

 

[fleener]

if your dovetail is a bit too lose, a small piece of brass or alum. shim is the trick.

I have several guns with shims.

snapper

 

[dbutch]

I was kind of thinking of one of these, seeing if folks had used them (or even wondering how exactly the adjustments went). I'm also wondering without a "notch" how precise they can be- good enough for deer at 100 yards?
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/879/1/RS-HA-5

Or if I would be better served hunting with a buckhorn or semibuckhorn.

Reading through other forum posts I am leaning a bit away from the peeps- since I don't need them yet and they seem to not perform as well in low light hunting conditions. I've just always found traditional irons harder to master but perhaps I just need more practice

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
another option...
same sight...barrel with rear sight screws....dove tail filed off sight.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Dan,
That sight looks great! Are you using the TC holes?

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

I like using the KISS principle went it comes to hunting. For that reason adjustable sights are out for me. I make sure the barrel has had a couple of hundred rounds through it and then I work up a good hunting load. Then I sight-in my rifle at a good mid range point, which in most cases is between 75 and 85 yards. Now the fun begins. I start shooting at various ranges from 7 yards to 130 yards. Doing this I learn where to hold my sights.

I also try to shoot from various shooting positions, light conditions, and especially shooting beyond 90 yards, I try to shoot with the sun in various positions in relationship to my front sight. In open country with open sights at longer ranges the sun hitting the front sight from a different angles can have a considerable affect on where your shot ends up.

Wind is a big issue when using a ball. There is a canyon on some BLM land that I go shoot where the wind blows furiously as the day goes on. Great place to learn what my ball will do, not only in different wind speeds, but from different angles. You may not want to go through such preparations, but I find it makes me feel quite confident with my rifle and sights especially when I going to be hunting Mulies in open country.

Finally I use flat top open sights with a lot of light showing on either side of the front square blade sight in the rear sight notch. I use a fairly thick front blade that is evenly pitted and blacken to defuse as much light as possible. I tried smoking my sights, but inevitably, the stuff gets rubbed off unevenly which adds another variable to shooting at longer ranges. I hope that helps.

 

[dbutch]

Dan,
That sight looks great! Are you using the TC holes?

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Green Mountain 40 cal. barrel

 

[Tinker2]

I was kind of thinking of one of these, seeing if folks had used them (or even wondering how exactly the adjustments went). I'm also wondering without a "notch" how precise they can be- good enough for deer at 100 yards?

You cut your notch after the sight is mounted and you have a good idea
where the gun shoots. I put a piece of masking tape on the back of the
sight and use a black marker pen to make a vertical line for a reference
point. I can remark or tape over till I know where to cut the notch.


“good enough for deer at 100 yards?”

Yes, my smooth bore flint lock with just a front sight is what I hunted
with last few times. I do get as close as I can.



William Alexander

 

[kruzer1]

What tools do you cut the notch with - I assume a triangular file and go slow but I want to make sure I am using the right tool for the job.

Thanks for the input everyone - I borrowed my father in laws rifle from the 50's with a buckhorn- he explained the ranges same way others have and I have to say I do like the sight picture.