Buckhorn Sights and Zero

[9245]

So as I was discussing in my other thread I recently acquired a .44-40 1892 Winchester clone.  This is my first rifle with buckhorn style sights so I had to research exactly how  to use them vs. standard open sights, anyway that lead me down a rabbit hole of ballistic drop information and I thought I would share what I found.

First, some information about buckhorn sights (specifically full buckhorn sights) for people not familiar with them and how to use them.  Buckhorn sights differ from standard iron sights in that they have 3 zeros, or 3 different holds.  There is the notch, just like standard iron sights, which is intended for close range, then there is holding in the middle of the ring created by the horns like a peep sight, intended for medium range, and then there is holding between the horns, which was intended for long range.

So then I wondered just how "short" short range was and how far medium and long were so I ran a ballistics calculator to find out, and assumed that the slider was set at the lowest setting and came up with roughly 50 yards, 100 yards, and 200 yards. (Technically, using my specific load data it was more like 52, 103, and 200)

So then I wanted to know how much each "step" on the slider equaled out to, I imagine that will vary a bit from load to load, but my specific load is a pure lead 220 grain Lyman 427098 bullet with a muzzle velocity of roughly 1,250 feet per second from a 20 inch barrel equals about 2.4 MOA per step, so at 1 step that raises the point of impact at 100 yards 1.2 inches or changes the not h zero from 50 yards to about 75-80 yards.  At 2 steps the notch changes to 125-135 yards, at 3 steps it goes to 150-155, at 4 it changes to 175-185, at 5 it goes to 200-210, and at full elevation it is 225-235 yards.

In case you are wondering, at 15 feet the point of impact using the notch is 0.8-0.85 inches above point of aim, using the middle it is 0.9-0.95 high, and using the horns it is 1 to 1.05 high.

If you are using the notch, at 50 yards it should be point of aim, at 100 yards it should be 5.8 inches low, at 150 yards it should be 16.5 inches low, and at 200 yards it should be 33 inches low.

If you are using the middle, at 50 yards it should be 3.2 inches high, at 100 yards it should be point of aim, at 150 yards it should be 7.2 inches low, and at 200 yards it should be 18.5 inches low.

If you are using the horns, at 50 yards it should be 10.5 inches high, at 100 yards it should be 7.8 inches high, at 150 yards it should be 1.2 inches high at 200 yards it should be point of aim.

That load uses a compressed load of 35 grains of 3F Swiss, a CCI magnum primer, Magtech brass and a Lee factory crimp die and a heavy crimp.

I hope someone can find that information useful.

[Galloway]

Good info! Ive been surprised how well buckhorns work in the field if you kinda sorta know what your doing and made a number of shockingly good zero confidence shots with them.   

[Coffinmaker]

  PLUS ONE fer Galloway!!

Now that you have an approximate base line from which to work, all you ned to do is spend a day at the range and see what actually happens.  And, remember, any changes you might make, bullet, powder charge, front sight height or how you hold yer tongue as you squeeze off, will render your initial sight settings . . .  moot.  then you have to start all over again.  gunz-r-fun you betcha.