Where to install rear sight

[John Shortell]

I need some guidance here. I'm installing a buckhorn style sight on my Hawken style rifle. The original rear sight was installed halfway up the barrel leaving a very short sight radius. Are there are any rules as to where on the barrel it should be installed?

 

[BrownBear]

Kinda depends on your age and eyesight. From what you describe, I bet the previous owner had aging eyes like mine.

The way I do it now, I tape or balance the sight on top of the barrel, then slide it along till it's clear. As I close in on 60 in the next few months, I'm taking more interest in longer barrels. Heck, I figure if I've got a 6" sighting radius with a 32" barrel, I can get a whole 22" sighting radius if I switch to a 48" barrel!!! :rotf:

 

Most gun makers tend to put sights between 18-20" apart! A peep could be moved back closer to your eye to give you a longer sight plane, but for hunting closer is better as it gives you faster sight acquisition!!!

 

[Stumpkiller]

Put it where it won't gouge your palm when carrying the rifle one-handed.

 

[Bill Hall]

I use a combination that lies between Brown Bear's and Stumpkiller's methods. I move the rear sight back and forth along the barrel until I get the best picture and the least fuzziness for my eyes. It usually ends up being right where I carry it with one hand, so I try to fudge a little one way or the other so it doesn't wear a hole in the palm of my hand. Bill

 

[Birddog6]

Yes, there is a rule. Put it where you can see it. Take a small refrigerator magnet, put it on the barrel, put the sight on, slide the sight & magnet back & forth to where you can see it clearly, then slide it 1" forward of the place & that is where ya put it.

I never worry about where my hand is going to carry the rifle, in regards to the sight being in the way. Regardless of where it was, it has never bothered me as my hands are tough a leather. I can easily move my hand fore or aft of the sight & be comfortable. Also, it is not like I am going to trek all day with it. When I hunt I do allot of standing & sitting, and when doing so, I usually have the rifle in both hands.....

Now the ideal place would for or aft of the balance point, but I have always put it where I need it to sight it well. I would be pretty upset to have a huge 12 point looking at me 60 yards away & I can't see the dang sight ...... :cursing:

Keith Lisle

 

[CoyoteJoe]

You've gotten good advise on placing your rear sight except that you say it's a buckhorn. I'd place a buckhorn in the trash, it's about the worst possible choice for a rear sight. Those horns serve no purpose whatever except to obscure your view of the target, rip your gun case and collect lint and debris to further obscure your target. The best open rear sight is a plain flat top with a deep "U" or square notch. That is the sight I prefer for a rifle which does double duty as a hunting and rendezvous rifle. For strictly a hunting rifle, the very best iron sight is a peep, I don't even consider any other rear sight for a hunting rifle.

 

[Zonie]

I have often used a buckhorn sight on the longrifles I have built.

They make excellent "stock" for a rear sight, only requiring the removal of the horns and filing the remaining top surface flat. :grin:

 

[John Shortell]

Thanks for the information guys. I planned on filing down the high horns to something more reasonable.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Simple rule for placement of rear sight: Put it where you can focus on it! Use a simple refridgerator magnet to hold the sight on the barrel and move it top the point where you can get a clear, not fuzzy view. ( If you are over fourty five you may want to kmove it a little farther out to allow for aging so you don't have to move it in two years!) :hmm: :hmm:

 

[Birddog6]

:grin: Read back 4 posts. :wink: :v

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I have often used a buckhorn sight on the longrifles I have built.

They make excellent "stock" for a rear sight, only requiring the removal of the horns and filing the remaining top surface flat. :grin:

As John Denver used to say "right on!" :haha: