Rear Sight on Uberti 1860 Henry issue

[JB_Books]

If this has been posted at one time, please forgive me, I search forum but couldn't find any similar issues.

I have a Uberti 1860, Brass Frame, White Barrel which has the rear ladder type sight, in which I noticed
that after the 600 yd mark, the small sliding piece wants to keep sliding down, If I slide it up to the 700
or 800 mark.  From the 600 mark down its snug and doesn't keep sliding down on its own

I am wondering if there is an way to snug the small sliding piece a little so if I slide it up to the 700 or 800
mark it will stay there ?

Any help is greatly appreciated....

Thanks for your time and viewing....

[Coffinmaker]

Well ...... OK.  You can take it apart and use a small machine vice or some such and put a little "crimp" on the sliding ladder.  Of course, it will then tend to score the legs. 
A tiny set screw.  Sort of like the itty bitty one in a Uberti '73 or '66 front sight.  I don't remember what the thread size/pitch is.  A 4-40
set screw, ground "short" to fit.
A period piece of masking tape wrapped around the ladder legs

Coffinmaker

[Coal Creek Griff]

I put a tiny amount of JB Weld inside the sliding piece, then, when it was nearly hard, slid it up and down on the upright portion, shaping it to fit.  The amount of JB Weld was so small, it would take a magnifier to see it.  It helped, but since it was originally loose on part and tight on another part, it now tends to be tight enough on part and overly tight on another part.  I found that I don’t use it for the highest settings (at least at this point), so I didn’t worry about it since it worked fine for the closer settings.

CC Griff

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[Fox Creek Kid]

Since this is a 100 yds. max rifle just buy a period style buckhorn that fits the rear dovetail. Many original owners did this. 

[Will Ketchum]

Try this one at Track of the Wolf  http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/877/1/RS-PM-1

I put it on both a Henry and a 66 as have others I told about it here.

Will Ketchum

[Coffinmaker]

I forgot to include a little tid bit of information in my previous post.

The numerical graduations seen on the OEM ladder sight, do not correspond to actual distances you may shoot at.  They bear no correlation to any actual yardage.  Not even close.  They may have, way back in the way back (Professor Peabody had a "way Back" machine) with .44 Henry Flat ammunition.  With 44-40 and .45 Colt, nada chance.
The only way I found to effectively use the ladder, was to shoot at a gong across the "way" and watch the bullet strikes until it went KLANG
and marked a known range, then wrote it down.  I have since lost the notebook so I'd have to do it all over again.
The simplest way to get your Henry to reach 800 yards is to carry it out there, then sit down and pop a top before you walk back

Coffinmaker   

[JB_Books]

Thank you all for your tips and help,  I appreciate it and learning as well   

[Montana Slim]

My 1866 Carbine was purchased used.....the prior owner installed the very rear sight, per Mr. Ketchum's earlier posting. I find it works well on the Carbine out to 75-100 yds.

My 1866 Rifle has the factory ladder sight. It will stay in place pretty well when it is elevated for use. At least it doesn't drop or slide around during firing. Mine is 44-40 and I shoot 30 grains FF & 200 grain "Big-Lube" slug. I have shot it out to 400+ yds on a rather generous steel target while at the NCOWS National shoot some year back. We did not know the range, but guessed 400 & slide the ladder sight to the 400 mark (alignment as best possible). I fired a few shots, spotter (Badlands Bruce) said "low", I elevated a smidge and fired with several hits following. The NCOWS judge was present and asked about the distance and he said 420-something yds he had lased the targets earlier). Moral of the story, The buckhorn will work fine out to nearly 100 yds and perhaps to 200 yds (if you have adjustable elevation). If you have interest to toy with shooting 200+ yds, replicating Henry Cartridge ballistics (particularly with 44-40 BP loadings), and a period correct (1860s) sight, the ladder is my choice.

If it would not stay in place, I'd go with Coffinmaker's suggestion to drill/tap a hole for a thumbscrew. If I need another project someday, I'll do this and add an oversize thumbscrew with my install.

Best,
Slim

[Abilene]

Just saw this topic.  Since the slider works fine from 600 and lower and there is really not any need to go higher, it is a non-issue.  You can ignore it and at some point you will completely forget about it.

[Coffinmaker]

Abilene always has an elegantly simple solution 

Coffinmaker