Dust cover mounted peep sight?

ndnchf · January 07, 2009, 08:55:00 PM

It looks pretty dang good, is it acraglassed on? Are you able to focus through it OK? Looking forward to your range report

Hoof Hearted · January 07, 2009, 10:30:51 PM

Quote from: ndnchf on January 04, 2009, 12:45:18 PM
An interesting concept. Here are a few observations:

A quick measurement tells me the rear of the dust cover on my Uberti is about .070" thick. Not a lot of meat to tap for mounting screws. You would want very fine threads.

I have a riflesmith #30 tang sight on mine. When aiming, my eye is about 1.5" behind the sight. The distance from my tang sight eye cup to rear edge of the dust cover (when in the rear position) is 4". If the dust cover sight were mounted at the rear of the dust cover, for me, it would be about 5.5" from my eye.

If you try it, get a spare dust cover. Keep your original set aside.

I did a very simple, unscientific experiment. Brownells description says the aperature is .150". I took a mini plastic straw (coffee stirer) that has hole size of abouit .150" and cut a .5" long piece. I taped it to the end of the dust cover and tried to look through it with my normal hold. To my 50+ year old eyes the straw aperature was a blurr. 5.5" was just too far away.

Your idea is interesting and may work for someone with better eyes, but since the tang sight works well for me, I'll stick with it. Good luck.

This is exactly why the top of the receiver mounted sight on the very early Henry rifles were moved farther forward to the breech end of the barrel. Your eye will not focus on an object in that focal plane.

Wes Tancred · January 08, 2009, 02:49:17 AM

That is not bad at all, Evodude! It looks much better than the typical receiver sights used on lever action rifles. However, I still don't see how you will get the elevation to shoot at four hundred yards.

By the way, I can not find the Marbles Bullseye sight on Brownell's web-site. Are you sure they carry them?

evodude · January 08, 2009, 07:54:00 AM

Wes, I guess I wasnt real clear about my goal. What I was looking to do was to create a peep sight set up that is simple, yet effective for shots out to 200 yds max. Im using this brute for shooting paper, plates, and big game. I think I made the comment I hoped it would shoot out to four hundred yards just because its such a pumpkin ball thrower! Now I know that bullet will make it out that far and beyond, I was just making a funny! This caliber became known as the cat gun, because a lot of them went over to Africa and used on the big cats- I would guess because of their incredible capacity for firepower. Theres nothing quicker that a levergun for quick third, fourth, fifth sixth,etc. follow up shots if needed! I can only imagine how fast one can fill up ones pants after the two shots out of your double rifle are gone and that big kitty is comin' on still to join you for a quick bite to eat! I changed out that ladder sight for a buckhorn, which was an improvement, but I still like the precise bullet placement a peep offers. But I didnt want to hurt the asthetics of the 76's great looks, either. This '96 rear peepsight really fits the bill, you loose the elevation adjustment installing it flat on the dust cover, but you can control that with changing the front sight height. It just works like a fixed rear sight, you control your elevation with hold-over. One advantage with the elevation screw hole that I can see is that if you tap through the cover, you can use that screw to tighten up a loose cover, just by putting a little pressure on the top rail-not enough to bind it, just to snug it up. I just cant see much long range possibilities out of this cartridge, the .45-70 is much more suited for longer shots, I think thats why the 86 eventually put the 76 to bed. Theres just something about the .50-95 that holds some magic, some wildcatter back in the old days designed it to fill a void, and it impressed Winchester enough to offer a chambering for it. One of its mystics is the lack of info on it, you have to play around with loads almost blind, which is one of the things that makes reloading so much fun!

evodude · January 08, 2009, 07:57:53 AM

Oh Wes, I pushed post before I answered your question on the Marbles Bullseye sight! Call Brownells and customer service will take care of you. Just tell them you want one in either the short or long configuration and they will get one coming your way. Its too new to show up on their web sight yet.

evodude · January 08, 2009, 10:23:01 AM

Well, just got back from the range- shot a 5 shot group at 100 yds. after checking at 50 yds. Durn, did I hit the nail on the head! Thing that surprises me is that its shooting 4 or5" low. I was figuring it would be pretty high, guess that peep sites lower than I was expecting. Im going to attach it with Acraglas and call this project a sucess. For those who dont believe in the miracles of Acraglas holding this base on the dust cover- I held the sight in place with a couple pieces of masking tape! Didnt seem to move at all. Ill bet that I can tighten up that group a bit if I weigh my bullets- I know there is a few grains difference between them. Guess Ill have to file down the front sight a tad.

ndnchf · January 08, 2009, 12:29:20 PM

Wow - that's great! Congrats, looks like a real winner

evodude · January 08, 2009, 03:07:25 PM

Hey pards, thanks for all the feedback- it was a great help!

Wes Tancred · January 09, 2009, 02:43:20 AM

Well, Evodude, I think you have solved your problem perfectly! And by using epoxy to affix the sight to the dust cover, the modification is reversible should you ever change your mind.

Yes, of course, the .50-95 is an Express loading, intended for relatively flat shooting (by black powder standards) over a reasonable range. A 300-grain, .50-calibre bullet does not have the sectional density normally considered necessary for effective long-range shooting. But the Uberti 1876s, at least, have a considerably faster rate of twist than the original rifles, making it possible to use longer bullets and a lower powder charge. In principle, for example, a 400-grain bullet could make the .50-95 1876 perform reasonably well at four hundred yards.

I could not agree more with your comments that the .50-95 is a mystical calibre! I knew I had to have my 1876 in this loading.

My favourite gun author, Henry M. Stebbins, wrote (in his book, "Rifles: A Modern Encylopedia"—wonderful reading, despite the somewhat sterile sounding title) of using his father's .50-95 1876 on varmints! This would have been in the first quarter of the 20th century.

evodude · January 09, 2009, 02:58:23 AM

Boy, a .50 95 on varmints? This slug must look like a RPG coming in to a coyote!! I got into casting my own boolits because of this gun- opened up a whole new realm in reloading. Im quite happy with that Lyman 515-139, hope this new administration doesnt outlaw the use of lead for wheel weights!

Grizzly Adams · January 09, 2009, 09:35:15 AM

Never underestimate a man with a plan!

Looks promising, indeed evodude!

Keep us posted.

evodude · January 09, 2009, 01:36:06 PM

Quoting a character named Hannibal from past fame-"I love it when a plan comes together!" (Name the show!)

Mossyrock · January 09, 2009, 01:50:15 PM

I think this is a neat idea, but I have to wonder about long-term if the dust cover loosens up. Having said that, could you do us purists a favor?

Before you permanently mount the sight, could you please either color case harden it or at least rust blue it? That ultra-modern machine-polished and blued finish just looks WRONG!

evodude · January 09, 2009, 03:54:56 PM

There is a screw behind the peep sight that can be tapped through the dust cover and tightened ever so slightly to contact the rail, this pressure would firm up the cover. The finish on the base is a semi matte finish, and really does come fairly close to the finish on the cover. I think the picture brings out the difference more than it really is. One would have to blue both pieces together to get a perfect match, and I dont think itd be worth the trouble. Sure do like the way it comes up to my eye though, and it gives you a great sight plane in both the opened and closed position.

Mossyrock · January 09, 2009, 05:06:47 PM

Quote from: evodude on January 09, 2009, 03:54:56 PM
There is a screw behind the peep sight that can be tapped through the dust cover and tightened ever so slightly to contact the rail, this pressure would firm up the cover. The finish on the base is a semi matte finish, and really does come fairly close to the finish on the cover. I think the picture brings out the difference more than it really is. One would have to blue both pieces together to get a perfect match, and I dont think itd be worth the trouble. Sure do like the way it comes up to my eye though, and it gives you a great sight plane in both the opened and closed position.

When you get a chance to test it, see if there is any difference in point of impact with the cover open or closed.....

evodude · January 10, 2009, 07:58:59 PM

went out shooting today, terrible day to venture out- 40 mph gusts with 20 degree temps. Couldnt hold a tight group out at 100 yds, best I could do was 4". Did shoot 1 1/2" 3 shot at 50 yds, then it opened up to 3" on the fourth shot. Guess I got greedy-shouldve left it at 3"! Shoots the same open or closed, didnt make any percievable difference.