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Thread: Sight drilling and improved front sight question.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
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    Sight drilling and improved front sight question.

    I'm planning to buy either a Zouave or Springfield 1861. Because of my aged eyes i'd like to either buy a leaf sight pre-drilled for 100 yards or have a smith do it for me. I have eleven thumbs and everything that I attempt to modify either doesn't work or self destructs, so i'd rather leave it to an expert. I'd also like to have a wider, more squared and possibly taller front sight depending on whether a drilled rear sight will put my shots in the bull or not. From what I think I understand, the N-SSA allows a drilled peep sight and a wider front sight, so i'm covered. So, does anyone manufacture a pre-drilled leaf sight? Does anyone manufacture an N-SSA approved wider front sight? Can anyone recommend a smith that will do the work for me?

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Jim_Burgess_2078V is offline
    Team:
    15th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
    Member
    2078V
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Bull Run Battlefield
    Posts
    355
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts

    Sighting in

    Gunhawk,
    Welcome to skirmishing! Before you go messing with your sights, it would be to your advantage to find a load that groups consistently in your weapon of choice. What may work in one gun doesn't always work in others. Each musket is a law unto itself. There is no substitute for experimentation. You need to try different bullets and powder charges until you find something that will group 2" at 50 yards off the bench. Hint: You will need to determine your bore size and find a bullet that casts or can be sized no more than .002" under that bore size. Your teammates can probably help you and contribute different bullets for experimentation purposes. Once you have found that magic load you can then adjust the sights so the musket will shoot to point of aim.

    If you were able to purchase a predrilled rear sight leaf it is highly unlikely you would be able to get the musket to shoot to point of aim with it. More often than not windage will be off. Better to have it drilled after you know where your musket is grouping. There are mathmatical formulas based on sight radius to determine the correct point to drill the sight. Elevation adjustment is no problem if you install a new, higher front sight that you can file down. Good luck!

    Jim Burgess, 15th CVI

  3. #3
    Southron Sr. is offline
    Team:
    24th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
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    3002
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    Feb 2006
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    Gorgia
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    Carolina - North Carolina and South Carolina

    New Front Sight

    If you are serious about getting an accurate rifle or rifle-musket here is what is going to be needed:

    1. Glass Bed your rifle. Most replicas come from the factory with very sloppy barrel bedding.

    2. You need a "Lock Job" to drop your trigger pull to somewhere between 3 and 3 & 1/2 Pounds.

    What I would recommend concerning your sights:

    Get with a good gunsmith that can remove the front sight that comes on your replica. Then he should make you a new, taller front sight. To comply with N-SSA Regs the new front sight should have a base almost identical to the base of the original front sight.

    The gunsmith should cut a dovetail for your new front sight and install it.

    SO...AFTER YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR MOST ACCURATE LOAD BY "LOAD DEVELOPMENT" then you can start adjusting your sight to match your point of aim.

    A. You can drift your front sight Left or Right to get your Windage "Dead On."

    B. With you tall front sight, you will find that your bullets will land BELOW your Point of Aim. Simply file down the front sight until the your bullets hit the target "Dead On."

    Now, AFTER your gun is "Sighted In" to comply with N-SSA Regs you have to run a little solder up under front sight.

    The main problem with a "Peep Sight" is that it is too easy to end up shooting another target or another target frame in the Team Matches.

    I gave up using a Peep Sight for exactly the above cited reasons.

    GOOD LUCK!!!

  4. #4
    Charlie Hahn is offline
    Team:
    13th Confederate Infantry
    Member
    0829V
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Berlin, MD
    Posts
    642
    Region:
    Potomac - Virginia, Maryland and Delaware

    Armory Help

    Howdy,

    I provide full service including range work if you like. I custom make sights per customer wishes and keep them legal for N-SSA usage.

    I you already have a gun I can work with it, if you need help finding one I can help there as well.

    I work at keeping my rates affordable and I have guns from time to time, or can build a custom if you wish.

    Please feel free to contact me

    Charlie Hahn
    410-208-4736

  5. #5
    Blair is offline
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    Visitor (non-N-SSA Member)
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    NA
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    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central Fl.
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    Visitor
    gunhawk,

    I don't believe you can get better advice/suggestion/offers anywhere!
    Just my opinion,
    Blair

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    107
    Region:
    Deep South - Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas

    Drilling rear sights

    Gunhawk,
    I make a drill guide that attaches to your standard rear sight base. You can adjust the drill guide and use it as a peep sight. You don’t have the trial and error of drilling the rear sight only to find you need a little more windage or elevation. When you have things sighted in, you install the leaf and drill the hole in the proper place. I sell these drill guides for $100 plus shipping.

    George Gompf
    Forrest Escort Company, Deep South Region
    tnmolds@gmail.com
    731-234-5490

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