1873 Tang sight questions

[Roland]

Considering a tang sight for my new uberti 1873 and I am wondering if I have to replace the front sight if I get a new one? I would rather not change the front sight, I like it and most after market sights are dots, I dislike dots, I want square posts.

I've read a lot online that seems to say a tang sight requires a higher front but what have been your experiences and what have you on your rifle? Is it a Marbles, Lyman, other?

I have a Marbles improved model on a 9422 lever and based on that I am weary of buying another one because of how floppy the stem is. It's spring loaded sure so it resets if you touch it, but I still dislike the feeling of it. Is the non-improved Margle any better in that respect? It does have a substantial advantage in my eyes in that it's windage adjustable so I can leave my front sight untouched.

[Blackfoot]

The front site should be fine.  I have never had to change one.

Blackfoot

[Roland]

Thanks, anyone have any experience with the C. sharps ideal tang sight?
http://csharpsarms.com/catalog-detail/55/New-Ideal-Sporting-Tang.html



They say the screw spacing is 2.185 and they don't have any screws that fit the 1873 uberti tang, I dunno if you need more than one screw for the rear tang where it goes through the stock, the front screw will require a new hole to be drilled & tapped so whatever they send with should fit?

[Mike]

Screws can be bought as a after market extra to fit Uberti.

I have just put a Mid Range sight on my 66 rifle too shoot BP at 100-150 yds. I drilled the frame and mounted the sight my self. Used a M4 7 tap.

The sight was a italain made sight.

It is not hard just measure twice and drill once.

[Blackpowder Burn]

If the spring gets weak on the Marbles and the post "wobbly", you can buy new springs from Midway, or other supply houses.  Cheap and easy to fix.

I have a C. Sharps 1875 Sharps carbine with with the Ideal tang sight.  It's a really nicely built sight with both windage and elevation adjustment.  I actually like it better than the Marbles in many ways.  The only problem is that it is not "click" adjustable as the Marbles is (no detent ball to hold it in place).  The lock ring on the staff tends to loosen up, so I put a dab of blue locktight on it when I got the elevation properly adjusted.

[Roland]

I'm consider a Marbles non-improved version at the moment. From what I've read online people are dissatisfied with the improved models, QC issues and such. The regular version seems much better received overall.

[Mean Bob Mean]

I'm consider a Marbles non-improved version at the moment. From what I've read online people are dissatisfied with the improved models, QC issues and such. The regular version seems much better received overall.

Good info, thanks.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have an original Ideal tang sight on my original '73, but use the new Lyman #2 on most other cas rifles.  I did not change the front sights, but did remove the back sights.  

For an Uberti '66 with the front sight on the band I used bushings cut from .38 cartridge cases to tip the back sight just enough to bring the groups to centre. The case walls are tapered just enough to do the job. When I did this, the Marbles windage adjustable tang sight wasn't yet available but would be a solution today. I do use a windage adjustible tang sight on my .45-70 Browning SRC.

[Dusty Earl]

I saw  pictures of a 1873 uberti 24 in barrel model and it had no tapped holes on the tang.

[Mike]

Correct they have to be drilled and taped. measure twice and drill once.