Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: Ohio Joe on May 20, 2017, 08:45:24 AM

Title: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Ohio Joe on May 20, 2017, 08:45:24 AM
As most of you know, I use fixed sights and for years now the rifles I use for target shooting I've been zeroing at 1" to 1-1/2 inches high (and sometimes end in the middle at 1-1/4" high) at 25 yards. The folks I shoot with - we hardly ever go beyond 50 yards. I hold with the top of my brass sight level with the top of my "V" notch. I use what one might call a "semi-six o'clock" hold.

There was a time (when my eyesight was better) I would zero with the top of my brass sight buried in the "V" notch, but the older I got & get, I really like the top of that brass front sight even at the top of the "V" notch.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Keb on May 20, 2017, 08:58:33 AM
I don't own a gun with a rear sight and I don't see so good no more so I just use the point and yank method. :/
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Loyalist Dave on May 20, 2017, 09:31:35 AM
I like the top of the front post even with the sides of the rear sight, and I like a "lolipop" hold at 50 yards, which for my load of 70 grains of 3Fg and a .530 round ball in my hunting rifle, puts me just a tad low, but still good for hunting as far out as 100 yards.  i like the same hold in my .40 as well, though so far I'm only using that at 50 yards. 

LD
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Winter Hawk on May 20, 2017, 02:43:28 PM
I like a square notch rear sight with a flat blade front (the old T-C sight), like a Patridge set up.  Then I center the front sight in the notch, with the top of the blade even with the top of the rear sight, and with the target sitting on top of that.  I guess that would be the "lollipop" hold.  Now if I had better vision I would even look for a smidgeon of white under the bull but it don't work that way anymore!  With 70 grains of fffG at 25 yards in my .45 that centers the group in the target and a tad high at 50 yards.

~WH~
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Semisane on May 20, 2017, 03:52:10 PM
I like a square notch rear sight with a flat blade front (the old T-C sight), like a Patridge set up.  Then I center the front sight in the notch, with the top of the blade even with the top of the rear sight, and with the target sitting on top of that. ...........

Right there with you WH. Sighted in for 75 yards.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Paulk on May 20, 2017, 07:40:05 PM
Pretty much do what Ohio Joe does.  Sight in 1" high at 25 yards.   My silver blade sight deep in the v notch.  My thicker, darker iron blade up level with the top of the v notch.  That's how my eyes pick up the sights best.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Ohio Joe on May 20, 2017, 08:50:50 PM
I should mention that I do use the square notch on my x-stick rifles like Winter Hawk mentions. And, as Paulk mentions, I have tried the silver sight, and with my way of aiming offhand I just can't pickup a good sight picture with the silver, it's just to bright to my eyes. Now I never thought about burying that silver sight in the v notch. That makes perfect sense to me. My eyes now (or at least the last five years) seem to accept the dark blued (black to my eyes) rear v notch and the brass blade front sight.

I have been in the process of refitting my current brass bladed front sight rifles with a wider (thicker) brass blade, and so far I haven't had to widen the v notch. Seems the older we get - the more our sight changes. At least mine.  :shake
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Paulk on May 20, 2017, 09:05:43 PM
What's odd for me is that I pick up the thin silver blade deep in the v notch just fine.  When I filed the back of the thicker iron sight so it was bright I had problems with it and just rebrowned it and hold it higher in the notch.  Go figure.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Maven on May 21, 2017, 12:31:27 PM
All, A thin blade, regardless of color/material doesn't work well for me.  In fact I sold 2 Swiss K-31's because I really couldn't see the thin front sight blade.  My BP guns, except for my trade gun, have square notched rear sights and Patridge style front sight blades (flat black), which provide the contrast (and width) that I need.  At 25 - 50 yd., I hold with the top of the front sight even with the top of the rear sight (trade gun excepted of course).
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Uncle Russ on May 21, 2017, 01:57:42 PM
All, A thin blade, regardless of color/material doesn't work well for me.  In fact I sold 2 Swiss K-31's because I really couldn't see the thin front sight blade.  My BP guns, except for my trade gun, have square notched rear sights and Patridge style front sight blades (flat black), which provide the contrast (and width) that I need.  At 25 - 50 yd., I hold with the top of the front sight even with the top of the rear sight (trade gun excepted of course).
Maven's experience reflects that of own, to a "T".
Flat black, or smoked, top front blade even with the top of the rear.

Uncle Russ...
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Hanshi on May 21, 2017, 04:08:19 PM
I have flat top rear sights with a square or a "U" notch.  The front blades are all painted white on the backside.  This lets me see the sight in dark woods.  I also like plenty of white (light) around the front blade in the notch.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Fyrstyk on May 21, 2017, 04:18:35 PM
I prefer a shallow "v" rear sight and a bead front sight.  I settle the bead in the bottom of the "V" with the target on top of the bead (Loli pop) out to 50Yds.  This sight arrangement puts me in the black at 50 Yds and about 1" high at 25 Yds.  I move my hold to 'dead on" beyond 50 Yards to put me 1" high at 75 yards, and 2" low at 100 yards which is my personal distance limit.  This hold seems to work for my 50 caliber with 90 grains of 2f, and my 54 caliber with 100 grains of 2f.  Both are hunting loads.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Hawken on May 22, 2017, 07:53:22 PM
I have flat top rear sights with a square or a "U" notch.  The front blades are all painted white on the backside.  This lets me see the sight in dark woods.  I also like plenty of white (light) around the front blade in the notch.

 :hairy The squared bottom notch offers a good sight picture! Some notches are so thin that there is no visible light to either side of the front sight; in other words the front sight occupies the entire square notch and that's not good!! I took a point file I use on aircraft magnetos and converted the V notch on my standard Hawken sight to a square notch. Much better! :toast
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Hank in WV on May 22, 2017, 09:45:03 PM
Wow. Hawken, you're dating yourself talking about points and magnetos. :lol sign
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Rocklock on May 22, 2017, 10:29:02 PM
I have flat top rear sights with a square or a "U" notch.  The front blades are all painted white on the backside.  This lets me see the sight in dark woods.  I also like plenty of white (light) around the front blade in the notch.

 :hairy The squared bottom notch offers a good sight picture! Some notches are so thin that there is no visible light to either side of the front sight; in other words the front sight occupies the entire square notch and that's not good!! I took a point file I use on aircraft magnetos and converted the V notch on my standard Hawken sight to a square notch. Much better! :toast


Yep square sights or some call it pistol sights. I hold center and just adjust powder.  One load for 25 and 50 yds another for 100.
TC
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Hawken on May 23, 2017, 03:05:00 PM
Wow. Hawken, you're dating yourself talking about points and magnetos. :lol sign

We still use 'em on R-1340 engines! :hairy :toast
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: dbo1966 on May 26, 2017, 12:09:34 AM
I use a V notch full buckhorn sight.  For 25yds I bury front sight in the V, for 40-50 yds I line up front sight with the flat part of the sight. 75yds I use center if buckhorn like a peep, center it up and hold center mass.  For 100+ I use the "horns" best I can....but it's hit or miss.
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Semisane on May 26, 2017, 01:43:32 PM
....but it's hit or miss.

Yeah, that pretty much describes shooting.   ;D
Title: Re: Just Curious, What Sight Zero & Sight Picture Do You Like Using?
Post by: Ohio Joe on May 28, 2017, 06:05:26 PM
Hank in WV and I were in Chadron, Nebraska at the Fur Trade Museum yesterday (Saturday), We were viewing their long guns they have on display.

I mentioned to Hank that I was looking at the sights on those old smokepoles (front and rear) and a person would be surprised to see just how many of those firearms wear a (thin/low blade front sight with an extremely wide and deep [perhaps medium to high with low ones as well] "V" notched rear sight). It actually makes a feller rethink correct sights if you're building a replica, or just making a new build based on a particular period.

Amazing stuff for sure!  :bl th up