sight picture

[kcm7622]

Hello to all i am new to shooting the rifle musket and i am hoping that someone can help me with the sight picture on the 1861 springfield.

[Bruce Cobb 1723V]

Hello to all i am new to shooting the rifle musket and i am hoping that someone can help me with the sight picture on the 1861 springfield.

What do you want to know?

[MR. GADGET]

It will vary gun to gun and load.
Now if you plan to adjust the sights and zero the gun with a load you work up than I like apple on a post.
But even that will vary in the weather, hot or cold and rain.
I like apple on a post because if you need to adjust I can aim right, left or cover target for fast adjustment for weather. If you aim center of target top of post it can be hard because every shot to adjust up you cover the target with hold over.

[Maillemaker]

It all depends on how you want to set up your sights.

But, before you play with the sights at all, do your load workups and make sure you are getting the best group possible. Only then should you adjust the sights.

Like Mr. Gadget, I prefer a "Lollipop" sight picture, also known as a "6 o'clock hold"

I prefer this because the sites do not obscure the target. But, many shooters do not like this because your point of impact is actually higher (center of circle) than your point of aim (bottom of circle). But, for our kind of target shooting, which is essentially shooting at the center of a 4" circle at known fixed distances, I find this works fine. But, some people prefer a center hold, where the point of aim and the point of impact are the same.

https://i.imgur.com/pM8aRsMl.png

Steve

[kcm7622]

Thank you all for the help next question when looking through the sight plane what should the picture look like, top front post level with top rear sight? And what is the cut at the bottom of rear sight blades used for is this the point of aim? Again thank you all for your help.

[PoorJack]

Thank you all for the help next question when looking through the sight plane what should the picture look like, top front post level with top rear sight? And what is the cut at the bottom of rear sight blades used for is this the point of aim? Again thank you all for your help.

Not necessarily. Back in the 19th century, some militaries taught soldiers to vary front sight/rear sight alignment to allow for various distances. The Lorenz comes to mind and it was used in the Civil War. To illustrate, I have one gun with post and notch sights that I can leave set on 100yds, bury the front post to the 6oclock position while holding the notch for a center hold and it's pretty darn close at 50yds. Now switch to a conventional 6oclock hold at 100yds (double the distance) and it's pretty darn close again.

Point here, what type of shooting are you going to do and from the sound of it, you're not very familiar with iron sights.

[Maillemaker]

What Jack said. Typically, you want the tops of the rear sight and the top of the front post all in a line. But, you can bury the front post in the bottom of the notch if you need to aim lower without adjusting your sights.

Steve

[Lou Lou Lou]

Where are you located? There might be a skirmished nearby to help

[kcm7622]

Hello all, Yes I am used to using open sights just not this type, I am in washington state by Seattle, I would like to thank all of you for the help you have given you have answered all of my questions thank you all again.