new Shiloh hunting sight help

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coolhand
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:20 am

new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by coolhand »

Hey guys,
I received my new Shiloh 45-90 one week before whitetail season opened here in Texas. I had an 1875 CSharps years ago, and remembered that the typical long range tang sight would not work in early morning hunting situations. So I had developed a new plan. I ordered this gun with the Beech front sight with a small post. I installed a Marbles tang sight at the rear. I figured this arrangement would work. Sight in at normal daylight went great with no issues. Last week, during early and late hunting conditions the setup did not work well. I tried switching the Beech to the blade position, but the copper color did not work well either. Maybe I've come to the point where my 60 year old eyes just can't handle those situations any more. I'm thinking now if the front post would glow, I'd be fine. Like I said, normal light is fine but when it's early or late(when the big boys move) I'm screwed. Hoping you guys might have some ideas? BTW, Happy Thanksgiving!
Call Turner
Posts: 163
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:30 am
Location: Nine Mile Falls Wa

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by Call Turner »

My copper penny completely disappeared on me this fall on a white tail, it blended in perfect. I tried polishing it up and that didn't help. I just couldn't find the blade. I ended up hitting it with a black felt marker to get me thru the season, but that didn't bring my deer back :( . I handled a 50 a while back that had the silver blade and it really stuck out, so I'm thinking about trying one again. I also switched the full buckhorn for a semi buckhorn and that really helped.
77 sharps
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:45 pm
Location: N. CA

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by 77 sharps »

My Marbles tang sights have interchangeable apertures Have you tried removing the aperture and using it like a ghost ring? That will let a lot more light through. It has worked very well for me in low light conditions.
BFD
Posts: 2789
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:36 pm

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by BFD »

What 77Sharps said.

Also can add that the cowboy lever gunners have become adept at building fiber optic inserts that would fit most front globe sights that use interchangeable inserts. A very fine red or green fiber dot really jumps out well for a lot of shooters. They sometimes cut windows or skylights in the top of the globe to let in more light and they sometimes paint the inside of the globe white to reflect more light at the fiber. I stick with standard inserts or silver front sights and deal with things a they come, but the fiber optic approach is pretty effective, having handled and shot a few rifles that were so equipped.
coolhand
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:20 am

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by coolhand »

I drilled my Marbles out to 1/8", and that helped. I thought about the idea of just screwing out the insert, but wondered if it would be too big. I'll try that next. Think I'm going to try some of that glow paint on the front post too.
Kurt
Posts: 8428
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:28 pm
Location: Not Far enough NW in Illinois

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by Kurt »

It's awfully hard to beat the barrel sights for low light hunting.

I don't get along to well with full buckhorns because the horns close up to much around the front blade. A semi buck horn will give you more flat area to pick up in low light to get the blade centered.
My hunting rifle has a Lawrence rear with a notch widened enough so there is light on both sided of the front blade to be able to get a good center in low light.
The reason I like the Lawrence is I have three known range fixed settings with the ladder down and in the raised position. My front blade a=is .070" wide made of bronze that will easily shine up if I need it brighter by just a rub with my thumb and it is set with a 1/16" above the rear sight flats for a dead on hold. This makes it easy for me to pick up the front blade in low light even in the very dark UP Mich woods with the heavy over cast conditions I mostly hunt in up there. This also gives me two fixed settings with the ladder down alone, but you have to learn shooting a barrel sight rifle to get the most out of it.
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rdnck
Posts: 1885
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 9:33 pm
Location: Woodlawn,Texas

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by rdnck »

The full buckhorn comes with a very narrow notch that doesn't admit much light and makes the front sight difficult to see under good conditions and all but impossible under low light conditions. The notch needs to be opened up just a bit with a small Swiss file--but be careful, as a little goes a long way and you can't put the metal back once you remove it.

A copper penny front with a Lawerence rear has been my sight of choice for a number of years, but I have taken a lot of game with both the full buckhorn and the semi buckhorn modified in conjunction with the copper penny front. Shoot straight, rdnck.
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rdnck
Posts: 1885
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2002 9:33 pm
Location: Woodlawn,Texas

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by rdnck »

The full buckhorn comes with a very narrow notch that doesn't admit much light and makes the front sight difficult to see under good conditions and all but impossible under low light conditions. The notch needs to be opened up just a bit with a small Swiss file--but be careful, as a little goes a long way and you can't put the metal back once you remove it.

A copper penny front with a Lawerence rear has been my sight of choice for a number of years, but I have taken a lot of game with both the full buckhorn and the semi buckhorn modified in conjunction with the copper penny front. Shoot straight, rdnck.
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coolhand
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:20 am

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by coolhand »

I do have the semi-buckhorn rear sight for the reasons mentioned before. I tried it in conjunction with the combination sight in the blade position, but the shots went 6" low. Bottom line is I don't have a lot of ammo to really do a lot of experimenting right now. I really prefer the simple post front sight/tang combination because I see more of the animal. My shots are all in the 100 yd. range, so if I can get the front post to show up in the dim light I should be fine. With the Marbles insert removed, what would you think an average accuracy would be at 100? Maybe 2-3"? I appreciate all the replies. I will be bothering you guys much in the next year as I begin to find a good Black Powder load for hunting. I got the rifle late for this season, so this year was mainly a test to see if my 60 year old eyes can shoot accurately with the iron sights. I have high hopes because I've killed quite a few deer and hogs with a M1 Garand and the standard sights. I will be spending most of December at the ranch in south Texas, so I hope to have some pics to share. Take care all. and have a good holiday season!
77 sharps
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:45 pm
Location: N. CA

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by 77 sharps »

The accuracy with the rear sight insert removed will be more than adequate for 100 yards. Should be good for much farther. Try painting your front sight with flat white enamel paint. For me, an open rear sight and a white bead or blade works best in low light. I used a Marbles tang sight with a white bead for elk with that combination. I really liked it because the tang sight can be folded down below the comb to use the barrel sights. Try painting the sight and go outside tonight and try it out. Good hunting.
Mike
Blackstone
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu May 29, 2014 11:28 am

Re: new Shiloh hunting sight help

Post by Blackstone »

I prefer a deer antler or ivory blade or blade insert . Traditional and it stands out perfectly and in high light it appears dark .
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