In my deliberations over tang sights I've come on a forum discussion defending buckhorn sights as archaic equivalents of scopes with stadia.

The argument went that for close up shots with a .45/70 (405gr?) the bead is held in the small U; for 150 yards the bottom of the bead could be level with the top of that U; for 200 yards it is held in the middle of the horns, like a peep sight; for the longest shot it is poised between the tips.

The writer said he could manage roughly 3MoA accuracy at long range doing this and that it saves the need for moving leaves or elevators and forgetting you've done it.

Does anyone here use buckhorn or semi-buckhorn sights in this way?

Thinking that if 200 yards does correspond with the middle of this sight, I begin to see why some hunters installing tang sights feel the need to replace the buckhorn with a folding tangent sight. But then I worry that when I need that sight in a hurry it may be lying flat.

Anyone, anyone?

Not buckhorns, but I do the same thing with a shallow V rear sight and a square partridge gold faced NECG front sight, with my 25-35s and 30-30s.. Its an old Texas Ranger trick...Take a flush with the top sight like one would with a new S&W pistol. sight it in 3 inches high at 100 yds. it will be dead on at 150 and good to 200 yards with a top of the back hold, You can learn just how much more sight to pull up in the V for 300 yards or just hold about top of the bacl high at 300. At 300 I would shoot with a big target and determine how high to hold, in my 30-30 Saddle ring I can take the whole front sight in the V sticking out in space for 300..Its fast as a receiver and just as accurate once you get the hang of it..I could probably do the same with a buckhorn, but would neve have the clear picture that I get with a tang sight or a shallow V barrel sight..The receiver or peep is still a very good option..

Thanks Ray,
I'm tempted to get another receiver sight but the cupboard is over full and, with another 3/8ths inch poking out the side, I might scratch the next one

Strangely, for a BOF, I can still see open sights reasonably well, so I'm going to take a couple of targets on big boxes to the range and check this buckhorn stuff out. Where the bullets fall will depend on loads and bullet weights, of course.

Don't worry it will work...I love iron sights still shoot them, so many today are under the misconception they don't work, but for hunting they aren't that bad at all. I still have good eyesight, and poor eyesight is a poor excuse for not shooting irons well, GET A PAIR OF GLASSES.

Yes, good eyesight or up-to-date corrective lenses are essential for safe hunting. I have worn glasses for 50 years but I do know some eye problems are not as simple as myopia.

The one excuse I don't respect for not wearing them when hunting is vanity.

At the range today, using the Hornady Lerevolution 325gr ammo with elevator up one step, the rifle was about three inches high at 100 yards.

I set the bottom of the bead level with the top of the small U and elevation was bull-centre at 200 yards when the bead covered the eight-inch target (My windage was not quite so good ).

Putting the bead in the circle centre of the large U might be OK at some greater distance but, doing that, the bullet cleared my large target at 200 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:


Does anyone here use buckhorn or semi-buckhorn sights in this way?



Anyone, anyone?

Yes. I have a full buckhorn with flip up ladder sight on my 24" 1892 in .45 Colt.
It is perfect for shooting metal targets (plates or sihouettes) at various distances with no adjustments to the sights during the match.

I have taken a few mule deer with it at ranges from 50 to 150 yards.

So, you don't bother with the ladder provisions?

I did try someone's suggestion that at close range you need not pull the bead right down into the smaller U, either - and it seemed to work up to a point.

I have a problem with the concept, however, in relation to my distain for express sights made for moon sights, which have no flats each side of the V. Though with these sights the bead needs to be pulled right to the bottom of the V, on fast shots that does not always happen. (shooting at a running buffalo once, I suspect my second shot went over its back.)

I prefer flats on each side of the V, but it doesn't take much to use the post and flats across such as a pistol sight, the V bottom is of no concern you use the top of both the rear and the front bead level with each other, sighted in 3 inches high at 100. With my 30-30 and 25-35 that's on the money at 150 and 5 inches low at 200...at 300 and beyond one must use a big target and know his trajectory..I know mine, but its of no use as I do not shoot those two calibers at past 200 yards, maybe 250 at the extreme on a few occasions. with a 300 or 338, 375 I would be 3 to 4 inches low at 300 depending on which caliber using barrel iron sights or scope..group would be smaller with the scope by a good deal, about 13 inches low at 400, but the group is much larger and windage is the big devil as the range increases

BTW I can shoot a 3 or 4 power scope at 400 or more yards than I can a 12X for instance..Most disagree and I have to prove it on ocassion, same shooting off hand, I like low power scopes... magnification makes one jump at the trigger as it on occasion passes by the target as the heart pumps..

Those thoughts makes sense to me, Ray.

BTW, I finally ordered a Marbles tang sight for the .45-70. Brownells only have it on back order so the rifle will probably be an antique by the time it arrives.

I'm getting the one for ordinary Japanese Winchesters and aim to drill an indent in the strap to cover the lawyer's safety in fire position. I suspect the rear bolt won't work with this rifle but will order the lawyer's-safety screws (if I can find some) later if needed.

If your talking about the slideing tang safety I would just take it out, it will still work on half cock..Some say it requires work on one of the sear notches but the ones Ive done did not..I filled tig welded and blued hole in the tang on my two Winchesters, but you can just cover it with the peep sights base and then it can be restored if you ever want to sell it..tell the lawyers to bug off!!

I'll check how thick the tang sight strap really is before I start drilling it.

One good use I've found for the lawyer's safety is when checking that my reloads cycle through the action (in a corner of the garden) it gives some assurance neighbours won't call the cops upon hearing a shot. I guess safety when unloading is part of the reason for the damned thing, not that I see that as a big deal in the bush.

BTW Ray, I don't suppose you've received a parcel from foreign parts recently?

Yes I received it and wrote a post in two places on AR..Its a great book, on a much ignored, and misunderstood subject.

Thanks Ray,
I only saw one of those posts you made - obviously my AR education has been neglected.

Yes, compared with with the asserted merits of vinyl records, for instance, I believe there is great reason to revisit old scope technology.

Off to the book launch now - see ya!