Sights And Sighting

Lyman Great Plains Rifle: Fixed Rear Sight Installed, Front Sight. Note the rough casting of the rear sight.

I haven’t gone into much detail about shooting. So let me take this opportunity to share some of what I know about sights, the physiology of shooting, and a little about the guns we compete with.

Open Sights: Traditional muzzle loading rifles will usually come with rear sights that are adjustable for elevation. Most will be attached via a dovetail milled into the barrel, although some, like the Thompson Center and the Investarms Hawken*, are held in place with screws. In addition, the front sights usually resemble a "bead" front sight when viewed from the rear. Typical rear sights are often equipped with a "V" notch. These configurations work, but for the 21st century shooter attempting to emulate the 19th century frontier explorer, I recommend a standard, non-tapered post type front sight and a square notched rear sight. If you're lucky enough to own a Lyman Great Plains Rifle, it came with both an adjustable buckhorn rear sight (installed) and a fixed square notch rear sight (replacement). 

Sight Alignment: The most important first step towards shooting accurately is the ability to recognize and maintain proper sight alignment. The square post front the square notch rear will make this much easier to do. In this illustration, can see that the top of the front sight is perfectly level with the top corners of the rear sight. Equal amounts of light can be seen on both sides of the front sight. This arrangement provides a easy to repeat, perfectly symmetrical sight alignment configuration.

Young Eyes, Old Eyes: The more you shoot with open, barrel-mounted iron sight, the more the limitations of human eyesight become. For example. in the above graphic, I illustrated the "ideal" sight alignment for the ideal iron sights as seen by younger eyes. It is, in fact, normally impossible to see both the front and the rear sight in sharp focus. We only think we do because young eyes can rapidly shift focus from the front sight to the rear sight, and back again.  This graphic (right) simulates the moment when the eye has brought the front sight into sharp focus. I exaggerated the blurry rear sight to make a point: If you can only see one of the Holy Trinity (rear sight, front sight, target) choose the front sight.

From Sight Alignment To Sight Picture: Sight alignment is defined as the relationship between the front and rear sights. Sight Picture introduces the third visual element, the target. For this illustration, I am using a round target similar to those used in competitive bullseye pistol shooting. Also, I am not blurring the target, as it would be if you were actually sighting down the barrel of a rifle.

• In the leftmost sample, you can see the "ideal" sight picture for a typical squared off front and rear sight. Using this combination, it is easy to recognize when the sights are not properly aligned.
• In the second sample, can see a red dot has been placed in the location where your bullet would strike if the sight has been adjusted for accurate shot placement on a round target. 
• In the third sample, the shooter has drifted off to the left. If the shooter is careful to maintain proper sight alignment, the shot will land in the exact same spot as before, relative to the position of the front sight.
• In the final sample, the shooter allowed the rifle to fall slightly. Again, the shot would land in exactly the same spot, relative to the front sight. 

In a future posting, I'll cover the nuts and bolts of sight adjustment. In the mean time, take a close look at the sights on your current muzzle loader. You may have to re-define your optimal sight alignment if your sights are not perfectly square, which, unfortunately, is normally the case.

I will also cover the mechanics of shooting, including suggestions for shooting off hand (standing, unsupported), and how to optimize your shooting position and your breathing. 

* Investarms is/was a major manufacturer of Hawken style rifles, and were the manufacturer of the Lyman Great Plains and Trade Rifles, and the trade pistol. All of the samples I have seen have a lightening cut in the breech plug, just below the nipple. Investarms Hawkens were sold through Dixie Gun Works, and through Cabela's. Apparently Dixie still carries the Investarms .50 Hawken. When I checked, the selling price was $550.00. You can see it out by clicking here.