H&R Buffalo Classic Long Range sight

[Kruzer]

Any suggestions on a Long Range sight for the 32" Buffalo Classic, 45/70.

[mechanic]

Check the Faq's my friend, there is a good bit of info if I remember correctly on BC sights, including the Smith's sight.

I modified an old military sight for mine for now, but hope for some tang sights later!

[dodd3]

Any suggestions on a Long Range sight for the 32" Buffalo Classic, 45/70.

get your self a smith flip up buck horn sight with the peep hole slider or the williams fp shight i have the smith sight on mine with the peephole slider.
bernie

[gcrank1]

I've looked at the Smith in the catalog, like the way it looks and screws right on, but the folded down position buckhorn looks to be pretty useless for my older eyes that want an open sight well forward.
As an alternative to a tang (or better in this case, wrist mounted) peep sight I like it, just dont plan on being able to see that buckhorn with any clarity unless you can pull your head well back.

[quickdtoo]

My thought on the Smith sight was to solder or epoxy a disc aperture to the buckhorn sight to make it useful, it would provide a lower POI than the buckhorn and work for my old eyes. 

Tim

[gcrank1]

If you wanted to go that route a small steel washer, blued and epoxied on would probably emulate the Williams 'ghost ring' aperature pretty well.

[quickdtoo]

I even thought about tapping it for a Lyman, Williams or even a Merit adjustable aperture to make it even more useful. 

Tim

[gcrank1]

Thats an expensive tap, but you could be the 'go to guy' for that special work then too! I think it is a 7/32-40 tpi. If you do, get the die for male threading too.

[quickdtoo]

I found an inexpensive source for tooling last year after buying the mini-mill, end mills, R8 collets and taps are real reasonable, they sell the tap for $8.50. 

Tim

http://www.victornet.com/cgi-bin/victor/productlist.html?subdepartments=Special+Thread+Taps:618,1170,1171

[Kruzer]

I appreciate the suggestions and am wondering if it would be worth a try to put a tang sight on the stock.  I'm trying to launch a 500 out to 1000 yds.  Brownell has a nice looking long range flip up with slider mounted on the barrel in place of the williams ( which only barely reaches 200 yds).  Would a false tang work okay.

thks

[gcrank1]

There is info in the FAQs on this question, but, IMHO you dont need a false tang, just mount to the wrist or inlet into the wrist. However, be aware of the thickness of wood you are dealing with as the stock thru-bolt runs in there.
Some say that you will get -0- 'changes' due to the wood. Ive never been to a match where some 'dialing in' for the conditions did not occur, so I see it as a non-issue.

[quickdtoo]

Brownell has a nice looking long range flip up with slider mounted on the barrel in place of the williams ( which only barely reaches 200 yds).  Would a false tang work okay.

thks

That's the Smith sight we've been discussing, it and others are well documented in the FAQs link on long range sights for the BC and Target,  Bernie has used it beyond 600yds with 500gr loads at 1500fps or so. John Boy uses blackpowder velocity loads to 1000yds in his with a vernier, that's in the FAQs too.
 
Tim

[necchi]

But,, But,, B,B,  That's a 200 Dollar sight!!

[quickdtoo]

Naw, it's only $167 and $5 shipping. 


Tim

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=18735/Product/WESSON___HARRINGTON_LONG_RANGE_SIGHT

[lrrice]

I mounted mine with one screw in the metal and one screw in the wood.  It has worked well for me so far.  It is the cheapo  tall Pedersoli sight and I have launched 500 grain Lees to 1000 yard at black powder + velocities with it and found it to have plenty of range I actually want it shorter because if you fire it off with the sight laid down it pokes you in the cheek.

[Blackhawker]

I mounted mine with one screw in the metal and one screw in the wood.  It has worked well for me so far.  It is the cheapo  tall Pedersoli sight and I have launched 500 grain Lees to 1000 yard at black powder + velocities with it and found it to have plenty of range I actually want it shorter because if you fire it off with the sight laid down it pokes you in the cheek.

How much did that "Cheapo" sight cost you?....and from where did you get it?

I've got a Lyman Marble's tang sight on my BC.  With it topped out, it's only good for about 150 yards using 500 grain bullets at roughly 1200 to 1300 fps (literature velocities).  I've got a second barrel in 38-55 for that frame with the Lyman Marble's sight and it shoots out to about 350 to 400 yards (eyeball estimated distance) with the sight topped out.  Needless to say, I'd love to get a taller sight on my BC, provided it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg.

[lrrice]

I stole mine off of a paper cartridge sharps that I have but, I have seen them for $70 or so which seems kinda steep for what you get but, is cheaper than anything else.  I cant remember right off where I have seen them.

[Blackhawker]

I stole mine off of a paper cartridge sharps that I have but, I have seen them for $70 or so which seems kinda steep for what you get but, is cheaper than anything else.  I cant remember right off where I have seen them.

$70.00 isn't that bad considering I've seen them for $300 and up.  What do you consider cheap about it?  Does it work well for you and hold it's zero?

[gcrank1]

You get what you pay for, it has no windage adj. but for loosening the eyepiece and sliding a tad L or R, guestimate at best. The fit and finish is average Italian repro. The elev 'vernier' is indistinct and the hardness of the screw is questionable, so keep it well lubed. I've seen them in the past in two heights.
That said, it is functionally probably as good, maybe better than most, of the 19th century.
If you are not shooting more seriously than casual competition it can be OK. All the guys I know who started with one have happily upgraded, but for funnin' around it may be good for you.
See Track of the Wolf and Buffalo Arms.
BTW, what the ad copy says is windage adj. (wrong) in the base are two opposing screws intended to get you a true verticle of the staff and locked down (get that version or be prepared to do some careful mounting to get the thing on straight & square

[Blackhawker]

You get what you pay for, it has no windage adj. but for loosening the eyepiece and sliding a tad L or R, guestimate at best. The fit and finish is average Italian repro. The elev 'vernier' is indistinct and the hardness of the screw is questionable, so keep it well lubed. I've seen them in the past in two heights.
That said, it is functionally probably as good, maybe better than most, of the 19th century.
If you are not shooting more seriously than casual competition it can be OK. All the guys I know who started with one have happily upgraded, but for funnin' around it may be good for you.
See Track of the Wolf and Buffalo Arms.
BTW, what the ad copy says is windage adj. (wrong) in the base are two opposing screws intended to get you a true verticle of the staff and locked down (get that version or be prepared to do some careful mounting to get the thing on straight & square

Thanks for the info.  Yes, I'd be looking at this for more of the casual shooting aspect.  The only problems I see here is that windage adjustment.  When I switch barrels on my BC, I know the exact number of clicks it takes (windage and elevation) for each load, bullet weight, and caliber.  A sight without "clicks" or uncalibrated sight wouldn't work for my application....that is, switching barrels etc.  I guess I've gotta keep looking, spend a ton of dough, or just stay with what I have for now.

[gcrank1]

If you have, or get an inexpensive dial caliper you can use it to measure from a fixed point on the staff for your W & E, note them, and you are good to go.

[Blackhawker]

If you have, or get an inexpensive dial caliper you can use it to measure from a fixed point on the staff for your W & E, note them, and you are good to go.

A friend of mine showed me that trick.  I guess you can just etch a mark on the staff and use it as a reference point.

[lrrice]

Sorry, been out of town.  Gcrank is right.  There is very little windage adjustment.  It does however have a  vertical scale stamped on it, but no vernier.  I think I will take the screw off of mine as it just slows down adjustment, the scale isn't fine enough to need a screw and you have to loosen the eyepiece to move it anyway.  All in all, great fun for plinking but would probably suck horribly for competition

[Blackhawker]

Over the weekend I googled long range sights and looked up some of the recommendations made here.  I came across Marbles sights....which is what I have on mine.  Has anyone tried their new long range sights?

Here is a link:

http://www.marblearms.com/improvedPeepTang.html

[quickdtoo]

I've got one for the 38-55 along with a spirit level front sight, but haven't installed them yet., another one of those back burner projects. 

Tim

[gcrank1]

A nice hunting/casual competition sight for the money. It has real screw adjustable windage, but is limited in its elevation high/low range, thus the various inner shaft heights (which are not easily changed in the field).
That is to say, you wont have one height inner that will take you from 50 or 100yd out to 1000.

[Blackhawker]

Unfortunately, the current Marble's sight I have cannot accept the improved vertical parts and I'll have to buy a whole new sight with extras.  I've been happy with my current Marble's sight and I'd imagine that the newer improved model will work just as well.  However, as gcrank mentioned, I'll probably have to interchange uprights whenever I change barrels from the 38-55 to the 45-70 if I want to get some longer distance from my 45-70.

I hear ya on those back burner projects Tim.  I've been accumulating a lot of those these days.   

[kevinsmith5]

1892 Krag sight off of E-bay. Little Dremel time on the base and it works great.  Comparable to the Smith sight, but I paid $16.