Smith Ladder sight

[duckmorgan]

I read the F & Q and I think that Bernie is saying that the buckhorn sights on his gun was dead on at 200 yards.  I am not sure of the height of Bernies front sight and I have not measured my front sigth on my BC yet. Has anyone else shot the buckhorn sights and where does it hit ( I know ammo is a factor, I am just wondering if the buckhorns are good for around 100 or 200 yards.) I guess you can file the buckhorn to adjust too, but how do you adjust for windage on the buckhorn?  I am looking for a sight to use hunting in low light levels. The stock peep sight gets worthless in low light.  Would it also behoove me to remove the globe sight at he muzzle and put on  a blade to help with low light conditions. I know someone else has had this problem so if you have experience it is greatly appreciated.   

[quickdtoo]

The only adjustment on the smith sight is by moving it in the dovetail base, Bernie uses a .404" tall 17A front sight, the factory .494" or .584" might be a better choice, it's hard telling which one you got, the .404" is aftermarket only, that's discussed in the FAQs tho. You can change the aperture on the WGRS factory rear sight, it just unscrews, there's a multitude of different apertures available, I use just the aperture carrier as a ghost ring, or you can get a ghost ring carrier, the Williams Twilight aperture works well in low light too, in fact it was just discussed in a thread yesterday. 

Tim

[duckmorgan]

Tim yes I also removed the aperture and was using just the ghost ring.  It still is tough to see when you are in the deep forest and it is getting dark. I just saw the thread regarding the low light ring aperature. Does it help?  What is the thread size of the factery rear sight aperature? Is it that a standard size or do they vary by sight? I am not expericened with these sights.

Also if I have a taller front  sight as you are stating I should shoot lower than Bernies so the buckhorns maybe a good 100 yard sight with the taller front sight.

[quickdtoo]

The Twilight aperture makes quite a difference for the rear sight, but a Firesight up front make the biggest difference, both make a good combination, the hooded front sight is a poor choice for low light. Seems to me one of the members went with a different front sight for his BC for hunting, I'll see if I can find it if I can remember who it was!!  The aperture threads are pretty standard, I have em left over from my Lyman 57SML sights that work fine in the WGRS, I don't recollect the size right off hand tho, I use a larger target aperture with a tiny hole for range work, it takes some of the eye variables out of the equation so I'm testing the rifle, not my vision!! 

Tim

[quickdtoo]

I didn't find what exact sight lonewolf5348 used, but he posted it was a .404" fiber optic sight that he installed on his 38-55, I sent him a PM to check in on it here. He had the same problem with the globe front sight.

Tim

EDIT: Here's the sight he uses with the Williams FP sight on his 38-55. You could use the Brownell's sight height formula to determine if it would work with the WGRS or the Smith sight.

http://cgi.ebay.com/THOMPSON-CENTER-MUZZLELOADER-FRONT-SIGHT-7748_W0QQitemZ380172078818QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Hunting?hash=item5884058ee2

[duckmorgan]

Tim I am familiar with the Williams fire sites. I was trying to stay a little traditional.  Do you know what the dovetail cut on the front sight is?  ALso on the globe sight to measure the height where do you measure from? I have the single post insert in right now. I was going to try and paint that post with either flourscent green or white and see how that does. The problem in low light is that the black post blends in with a deer if it has no light on it. Maybe the conrtrating green or white might make the diffrence using no insert in the facortry back sight without and insert. I do like a rear peep sight. They are amazing in how they work.

[quickdtoo]

It's a standard 3/8" dovetail, info in the FAQs on removing it if you need to, they're in there pretty tight with loctite or some kind of sealant, they're measured from the bottom of the dovetail. Since the sight is hooded, I think the best paint would be a luminescent paint as opposed to fluorescent unless you open up the top of the hood to allow some light on the insert.

Tim

[lonewolf5348]

tim: the front sight will fit the B.C> barrel with out any major problems.I can't remember if I used small brass shim under the bass or took a small file to it but it will work out fine.I also installed the williams FP rear adjustable rear sight o my 38-55 b.c.
I did get a chance last year in n.c. to shoot out to 500 yards with this set up ,the rear sight was about in the middle of the ladder and had a lot left to get out farther I would easy to 1,000 yards.
I use 2 types of rear peep one .050 and .090 for deer hunting

[duckmorgan]

Tim I understand to measure from the bottom of the dovetail but then I am assuming that I am measuring to the top of the post inside of the globe. This seems a little tricky.  I do not think I can get inside of the globe and get an accurate mesure. any suggestions?

Thanks Robert

[quickdtoo]

Sorry, measure to the center of the the globe. 

Tim

[duckmorgan]

wow that seems tough when we are getting down to thousands?  I will do my best. 

[Catshooter45]

duck,

If you're asking about the thread size for the Lyman standard aperture then it's a 7/32 x 40.  Not to easy to find 


Cat

[DCmauser]

RE: wow that seems tough when we are getting down to thousands?

If the globe tube is perfectly circular (or cylindrical?), meaning height same as width, then we can use modern math to arrive at easier more repeatable measurements.  One can measure to top of globe and then subtract half of the measurement of the width of the globe.  Digital calipers, a pencil and a sheet of scrach paper also helps.

[duckmorgan]

Thanks that does make sense and a digital caliper does help.  I have gone another route. I knew I had and old fiber optic shotgun sight so I took the optic fiber out and put in in one of the disks center holes, it fit well. All I did was super glue it. I hope it hold under recoil.  If it does not I will epoxy one.  Will also have to see how much better in low lights.  I sitll think the best low light would be the buckhorn and a blade front sight. I will update after I shoot. May take a week till I get to range. Everyone thanks for all the input,