adjusting front sight

[keith44]

Ok so I have a .32 cal flinter with a 41 inch barrel.  The most accurate load is 20 gr volume of Goex 3F primed with 3F.  Trouble is it shoots 6 inches low at 30 yards.  I know I need to file the front blade down, question is, how much??  I have been able to take squirrels with it by holding over, and on paper can put four shots into a neat little cluster, but I really want the sights to be on at 30 to 50 yards.  When I start filing I don't want to blow through a bunch of powder by not taking off enough at a time.  I do not want to take off too much either.

[keith44]

Also should I undercut the face to have a prominant aim reference

[srussell]

there is a formula that works but i cant remember it maybe one of the other guys will

[Hooker]

Start by coloring the back of the front site white something like whiteout that is easily removed.
Take a shot from a good rest off of a bench using a sight in type target at the distance you want for a zero.
Now adjust your rifle in the rest so that the top of your rear site is level with your first shot and the top of the front site is level with your first point of aim. Then scribe a line on the front site where it is level with the top of the rear site notch. Using the line as a aiming point take another shot.
The distance between the first and second shots will give you reference of how much site removal it takes to move your point of impact per that distance. But it should also put your mark very close to the right spot.
After you get it on the money then blow through a bunch of powder it's good for the soul.

Pat   

[keith44]

   I should have been able to come up with that.

Thanks Pat, I knew there had to be a way!!

I'll report back when completed

Keith

[coyotejoe]

The formula is radius devided by distance times correction.

 Measure you sight radius from face of front sight to face of rear, that is "radius". Divide that by the "distance" to the target in inches and multiply by the desired correction. If we say your sight radius is 30" and you're shooting at 25 yards (900 inches) and you want to come up 6" then it would be 30 divided by 900 equals .0333, times 6 equals .1999" to file off front sight.
 Probably most people file their sights at the range, cut and try, cut and try, but I prefer to use the formula and file my sights in the shop with the barrel in a vise where I can keep the cut nice and square.

[quickdtoo]

Thanks Joe, that's worth stickying! 

Tim