Post by: kev308 on January 24, 2017, 02:08:22 PM
I was thinking of putting one on the gun for hunting season but I'm not sure
Was curious how you all shoot yours.
Thanks, Kevin
Post by: rollingb on January 24, 2017, 03:18:59 PM
Post by: amm1851 on January 24, 2017, 03:23:38 PM
Post by: Maven on January 24, 2017, 07:01:31 PM
Post by: kev308 on January 24, 2017, 07:13:27 PM
Otherwise there's no way I would alter the barrel.
I'm just kinda kickin this around.....nothing is set in stone
Kevin
Post by: prairie dog on January 24, 2017, 10:05:27 PM
However, I use my trade gun as a shotgun as much as a round ball gun. When wing shooting I find a rear sight a major distraction. (Had a removable rear sight on a turkey gun once. Couldn't hit a clay target while that sight was on the gun)
When shooting round ball I use the slot on the tang bolt as a rear sight simply by setting the front blade centered on that slot. It works well enough that I bang gongs out to 75 yards with no problems.
I like the versatility of a trade gun with no rear sight. When I want precise long distance shooting I take a rifle.
Post by: Eric Krewson on January 25, 2017, 09:57:06 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/English%20Fowler/fowler%20selfies%20006_zpspbh7e0rl.jpg) (http://http)
I have to say, if I shot this gun more I probably wouldn't need a rear sight but I don't get out with it much. Seems like I am more into building them than shooting them. I can shoot at my house but it rattles my neighbors windows for sure so I don't shoot as much as I would like to. The closest public range is 50 miles away.
Post by: KHickam on January 26, 2017, 06:29:28 PM
Post by: amm1851 on January 26, 2017, 06:34:56 PM
Post by: Hanshi on January 27, 2017, 02:26:35 PM
And, Kevin, welcome to the forum.
Post by: RobD on January 27, 2017, 03:42:30 PM
Post by: prairie dog on January 28, 2017, 11:57:41 AM
It's a small sample, 12 to 15 shooters, but I expected the shooters with rear sights would do better on the round ball targets and those without rear sights would do better on the clay targets. Which is why I set the course with equal numbers of clay and gong targets.
Results from all three years; the overall winners were those with no rear sights.
The best round ball shooter used a short canoe gun with a rear sight, but he did so poorly on clay targets that he didn't place overall.
On the course of targets for round ball the shooters with no rear sights did just as well as those who had rear sights. On the clay targets those without rear sights did much better.
I admit that all the shooters had done more round ball shooting than wing shooting and the first year the clay shooting was rather poor. The second year all shooters were much improved at the clay targets.
My observation is on round ball shooting out to 75 yards a rear sight offers no advantadge.
In wing shooting our shooters with no rear sights did considerably better. But other factors besides rear sight could be in play here.
Post by: rollingb on January 28, 2017, 12:07:42 PM
Post by: Hanshi on January 28, 2017, 03:06:49 PM
Post by: kev308 on January 28, 2017, 04:40:47 PM
I shot this smoothbore, it's a TOTW fowler 62 cal, for many years with no rear sight. At one point in time it was the only muzzleloader I shot. There are alot of dead squirrels at the front end of it also.
I started shooting it regularly again and have noticed that my point of impact at 50 yards is lower than in the past. Maybe it's because my eyes are that much older, or I'm just not holding it like I used to.
Whatever it is I was just kicking around the idea that a rear sight might help.
I think for now I'm just going to keep shooting it as is (gee won't that be a chore! ha-ha) and see how it goes.
But I'm still interested to hear your opinions on the subject.
Thanks, Kevin
Post by: Maven on January 28, 2017, 04:43:20 PM
Post by: Mad Irish Jack on February 26, 2017, 01:30:42 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/Mad_Jack/removable%20rear%20sight_zpsxzz5ss8c.jpg) (http://http)
Post by: Stormrider51 on March 05, 2017, 05:22:47 PM
John
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v415/jhansen1951/20170305_155611.jpg)
Post by: Longhunter on March 06, 2017, 11:15:24 AM
Quote
When shooting round ball I use the slot on the tang bolt as a rear sight simply by setting the front blade centered on that slot. It works well enough that I bang gongs out to 75 yards with no problems.
Analogy....Why use crutches when you can walk just as well with a cane.
Post by: rdstrain49 on March 30, 2017, 06:02:14 PM
Post by: kev308 on March 30, 2017, 07:34:12 PM
The best part is the point of impact is only two inches low at 50 yards. So a few licks with a file and we are good to go.
When I shoulder the gun, I pick up the sight picture quickly and easily.
Post by: Stormrider51 on March 30, 2017, 08:56:02 PM
John
Post by: Hanshi on April 03, 2017, 05:11:45 PM
Post by: Jumpy on May 05, 2017, 12:28:43 AM
Post by: Loyalist Dave on May 05, 2017, 08:33:32 AM
LD
Post by: AxelP on May 05, 2017, 11:13:58 AM
In talking to to various shooters over the years, (both modern cf and traditional ml) I have noticed that generally speaking if you are a good rifle shooter you are not a great shotgun shooter. If you are a good shotgun shooter, you are not a great rifle shooter. I know that plays out for me. I can often get better groups with my smoothbore fowler shooting patched roundball than I do with my rifle. I know part of that might be because the stock on my fowler fits me better, but I also think it has to do with my shooting technique or lack thereof. I have little formal training, just what pops showed me when I was a kid so I am sure I have plenty of poor habits.
K