I bought an H&R Buffalo Classic rifle in 45-70 and took it to the range. I was shooting loads around 1200 fps with the rear sight adjusted all the way up and was still hitting low.
The lyman front globe sights come in 3 heights: .404, .494, .584.
It was recommended that I get the .404 sight as others have done.
I purchased the sight and took it to the range. I tryed shooting some loads estimated at 2000fps. I lowered the rear sight as far as it would go and tryed a few shots at 50 yards. No holes on the paper.
Here is what I found out:
at 15 yards, 1 1/4" high
at 25 yards, 5 3/4" high
at 50 yards, 11" high
Is my front sight too low at .404?
I thought to myself, "Could I be sighting in wrong, using the first point of intersection between the line of sight and trajectory in stead of the second point of intersection?", but 11" high at 50 yards seems too much unless I was using an ultra high rear tang sight or something.

Could someone with some knowledge on this rifle help me figure out what my problem is with my sights.
Thanks

Go to Brownells they have a formula to setting new sights for rifles !

You are comparing apples and oranges with such a wide range of velocities. I would suggest settling on a more narrow velocity range with your end purpose in mind, or try using bigger sheets of paper for your load development, then worry about finalizing your sight settings. Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by johnu:
You are comparing apples and oranges with such a wide range of velocities. I would suggest settling on a more narrow velocity range with your end purpose in mind, or try using bigger sheets of paper for your load development, then worry about finalizing your sight settings. Good luck.

Well, I doubt I'm going to be using many real slow loads out of this thing, so I guess I'll go for the 1500+ velocities to find the proper sight.
Thanks for the replys

Which rear sight are you using and what front sight height did you remove.

I can make the calculations you need if you give me the sight radius.
Williams makes a sight that has a lot more travel than the little sight that comes on these rifles.

I have used Oehler's ballistic program for nearly fifteen years to do paper ballistics. Every cartridge from 22 Hornet to 505 Gibbs to a 4000fps 25 caliber wildcat would show first intersection from 12-14 yds for a 100 yd zero. I have just gotten to where I put the target frame at 13 yds and get zeroed...then I run out to 50yds and see where it puts the bullet...in nearly every case it is within 2" of center for vertical.

Rich

Estimating that your sight radius is 30 inches

Changing your rear sight setting by .008 will change the point of impact 1 inch at one hundred yards.

To put you on target at 50 yards - (drop the point of impace requires raising the front or lower the rear or a combination of both) = .183

ok, I think I solved my problem. I ordered a higher front sight and then ordered this, Williams FP-H&R Reciever peep sight, and it should allow a lot more vertical adjustment for the lighter loads. plus it will be more conveniant to adjust because of the clicking knobs

I hope ya ordered it direct from H&R, it's only $66.20 shipped from em! Good choice, btw!!

Tim

http://hr1871.com/Store/default.aspx

well, I got the big williams adjustable sight and installed the .584 sight and took it to the range with some 460 cast loads at about 1700 fps. I set the rear sight right in the middle of the elevation range and took a shot at 50 yards. It was pretty much right on. Now I can adjust it lower for faster loads and higher for more slow loads.
Thanks for the advice all of you.
It turned out good

Glad to hear it worked out and you got what you needed.

HEY ! why not come into the 21st century ???

PUT A SCOPE ON IT !

and forget about those arcane sights.

why when sights work for everything I'ld use this for. I scoped my 30-06, but I don't plan on scoping this thing

Tomo, do you mean archaic? How are aperture sights arcane? There is nothing secret or unknown about them. Although not as ubiquitous as the scope, there use is wide spread.