RFO- sights

[matt45]

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Hello the camp,
     Well, as I indicated on a previous thread, my shooting w/ my new beloved is not what it should be- should be because I have gotten 2 really good groups and they are @ different places on the paper.  Some of the other groups are indicative of a lack of consistent sight pattern.
     My question is what rear sight would some of you reccomend that would be relatively historic and would involve minimal fitting- the better half is putting up some resistance to a trigger job and it looks like I'll be doing the sight myself

[Pettifogger]

The problem with trying to find a replacement rear sight is the location of the dovetail.  It sits far back on the barrel.  There are no "relatively" historic sights that are a direct replacement.  You can cut a new dovetail further forward and use a variety of Winchester style sights from the 73 etc., or use a Marbles rear sight.  Some people use the original dovetail and mount the Marbles sight backwards.  Looks funny, but works.  You can also use a small folding leaf type sight and mount it in the original dovetail.  Doesn't look authentic, but it works.

http://www.marblearms.com/rearSights.html

[matt45]

Thanks for the reply- two questions.
First- by backwards I am presuming the whole sight is in backwards from the usual way it's mounted- is this for appearance, or to keep the sight sort of looking correct?

Have you  (or anyone more knowalgeable than myself) widened out the notch of the issued sight, and what procedure/ tools used?  Again, thanks for the info

[Will Ketchum]

Matt, check out this sight at Track of The Wolf. 

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(p2xjuea1ywsudt55mgzipczs))/categories/partList.aspx?catID=14&subID=167&styleID=764

Scroll to the bottom and check out the RS-PM-1 adjustable buckhorn.

I and others have had good luck with this sight.  I use more like a ghost ring and only use the notch when a precise sight picture is required.  You might be surprised with how good of group you can get just using the center of the buckhorn.  Also it fits the dovetail on a Uberti pretty well if I remember correctly.

Will Ketchum

[matt45]

Cool- thanks much

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Matt, check out this sight at Track of The Wolf. 

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(p2xjuea1ywsudt55mgzipczs))/categories/partList.aspx?catID=14&subID=167&styleID=764

Scroll to the bottom and check out the RS-PM-1 adjustable buckhorn.

I and others have had good luck with this sight.  I use more like a ghost ring and only use the notch when a precise sight picture is required.  You might be surprised with how good of group you can get just using the center of the buckhorn.  Also it fits the dovetail on a Uberti pretty well if I remember correctly.

Will Ketchum

I put one these on my Henry and it looks and works great.  Just remember to tap the old site out from left to right and tap the new site on right to left.

[matt45]

Just finished ordering one- thanks to all of you for the advice.
     Am I remembering things right when Les Quick did his survey that one of the originals had a buckhorn sight?  I have my copy of the book on loan, so don't have access to it.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Just finished ordering one- thanks to all of you for the advice.
     Am I remembering things right when Les Quick did his survey that one of the originals had a buckhorn sight?  I have my copy of the book on loan, so don't have access to it.

Luther Kelly's Henry "carbine" had a rear buckhorn site. 

http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/United%20States%20Rifles/Winchester/winchester%20models/HENRY%20RIFLE/Henry%207.html

[Will Ketchum]

Sights very much like the one I suggested and pictured by Pancho were listed by Winchester as can be seen in the Madis book.

Personally I abhor tang sights for CAS and hunting.  For Cas you have to remember to put the sight in the up position when staging the rifle.  It is easily knocked partially down when grabbing it or when staged in a scabbard.  For hunting they are too fragile to leave up while still hunting, although they may work fine when sitting in a stand.

Will Ketchum

[matt45]

I missed an elk w/ my sharps once because my tang sight wasn't all the way up- could also have been a little 'bull fever'.  I like a tang sight for benching or position shooting if I'm not in a hurry or being stupid- which is a hit or miss proposition for me

[matt45]

Well, the new rear sight is quite an improvement.  Did a 5 shot group @ 25 that measured about an inch and a half.  The next group at 50 wasn't very good, but I expect fouling was starting to become a factor.  My questions are these- is this what I should expect for accuracy, and is my guess as to fouling accurate (I had fired about 50 rounds at that point).

[Pettifogger]

Well, the new rear sight is quite an improvement.  Did a 5 shot group @ 25 that measured about an inch and a half.  The next group at 50 wasn't very good, but I expect fouling was starting to become a factor.  My questions are these- is this what I should expect for accuracy, and is my guess as to fouling accurate (I had fired about 50 rounds at that point).

What kind of powder are you using?  50 rounds of BP, fouling might be an issue.  50 rounds of smokeless should be no problem.

[matt45]

It was a combination of 777 and goex 333f  (about 15 rounds 777 and the rest black)