Vernier Tang Sight

Andrew28

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Hi

Just got my first 45-70, a replica sharps. Love the gun but the vernier tang sight only folds forward making cleaning from the breech impossible. Such an odd design.

This will be a big inconvenience cleaning after every few shots shooting BP. Taking the sights on/off at the range would be a pita.

Replace sight is the only option but trying to avoid spending more money.

Any suggestions?
 
Slide your bare rod down from muzzle to open breach, attach your mop, brush or patch pushed over threaded part of jag and pull back through muzzle.
 
Long ass 34" barrel. Not sure how the ROs will react cleaning from muzzle end.

Just noticed that the sight is not staying vertical after folding and adjusting the sights. Starting to think, maybe I installed the leaf spring incorrectly. The gun was shipped with the leaf spring out,

Chris, I checked website photos and the sight base is correct. BTW, what did you with your Pedersoli situation? Reverse the sight base and it was ok ?
 
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Any range used to black powder shooters shouldn't have an issue and those not familiar can hopefully see reason and accomodate the cleaning required.

I use a blow tube to avoid having to wipe. Cleaning from the muzzle sucks for the difficulty in keeping all the good from getting into the action.

Maybe you can find a flexible rod and make an angled guide for the chamber that keeps it from hitting the sight.
 
Long ass 34" barrel. Not sure how the ROs will react cleaning from muzzle end.

Just noticed that the sight is not staying vertical after folding and adjusting the sights. Starting to think, maybe I installed the leaf spring incorrectly. The gun was shipped with the leaf spring out,

Chris, I checked website photos and the sight base is correct. BTW, what did you with your Pedersoli situation? Reverse the sight base and it was ok ?

I sold that rifle quite a while ago, but I did get it solved and I believe that's what I ended up doing.

Chris.
 
For now, going to use a pull rod through from the muzzle end to avoid the crap from pushed down into the action. Just cant get over why anyone would put a sight on this kind of rifle.

https://www.amazon.ca/BARSKA-AW1196...1246164&sr=8-1&keywords=flexible+cleaning+rod

I was panning on using a blow tube as well. Blow tube can avoid wipes?

Definitely. Most of the people I shoot with in Canada use a blow tube and only clean at the end of the day. Conversely, all of the Americans I shoot with wipe between shots.

I'm a dyed in the wool wiper. If you blow tube, just remember to blow gently as you want to get moisture into the barrel. If you blow hard like you are blowing up a balloon it won't transfer much moisture into the bore.

Also, one of the things I learned with the blow tube is that eventually, one day, you will accidentally inhale :).

Chris.
 
Thanks Chris. Sorry for the BP newbie question, what is dyed in the wool wiper ?

I can see Inhaling happening and that would be very bad. Worst than smoking 100 cigars in one puff. Either instant lung cancer or turn you into an Xmen of some sort.
 
Using a blow tube is better than nothing but doesn't eliminate the need to swab the barrel after every group and before putting to storage. I had a couple of Pedersoli Sharps and solved the issue by getting a 12" length of thin brass tubing from a model airplane shop. I don't recall the outside diameter but as close to the diameter at the case mouth as you can get so it passes near to the front of the chamber. Then I carefully bent it so when in the chamber it just clears the rear sight when the sight is reclined to the rear. That way the cleaning rod and brush won't hit the rear ladder sight or drip goop all over it or the stock. I try to push all the goop out the muzzle so the minimal drips into the action. I cut the tubing to extend only about an inch past the top of the ladder sight when reclined rearward.
 
Thanks Chris. Sorry for the BP newbie question, what is dyed in the wool wiper ?

I can see Inhaling happening and that would be very bad. Worst than smoking 100 cigars in one puff. Either instant lung cancer or turn you into an Xmen of some sort.

I just mean that I don't blow tube but I run damp patches through the bore after each shot. For silhouette matches I run 2 patches between shots ( 30% NAPA water soluble cutting oil / 70% water ), and for black powder target rifle matches I have been shooting in America I generally use 3 damp patches between shots but have sometimes used 4 :). The patches go on a Tipton Nylon brush and I use either a flexible carbon fibre, or Delrin, wiping rod.

I know lots of people (blow tubers) that will shoot an entire silhouette match with no cleaning of the rifle, but when it gets really hot and very dry, like in the desert states down south, wiping between shots is the key.

I think that for most places here in Canada, a blow tube will get the job done with the least amount of fuss and equipment.

Chris.
 
By the way Andrew, I don't know if you know it, but we have a really nice silhouette match near Kamloops (Heffley Creek Gun Club). Unfortunately just once a year on the fathers days weekend, but it's also a great range to practice on and learn to shoot these rifles at long distances.

Chris.
 
I'm glad you asked this question because it's been one of those lingering annoyances with my Pedersoli Sharps; my sight folds forward too and blocks getting in there from the breech (which from Googling looks like the "correct" set up). I'm going to try reversing that base, eyeballing it the sight should still bottom out level with the barrel.

EDIT No go, it's even more in the way. If I remove the bottom most jam screw (prevents the dovetail on the staff from moving) then it folds back sort of enough to get a flexible rod in there but that doesn't seem like a great idea either.

I am considering simply making another base, making tang sights is becoming something of a hobby. This base is VERY simple. Moving the pivot point to the half way point & then making a custom lower "jam" screw (or maybe reversing it... hmmmm) would probably work, I'll have to do some measuring first.
 
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By the way Andrew, I don't know if you know it, but we have a really nice silhouette match near Kamloops (Heffley Creek Gun Club). Unfortunately just once a year on the fathers days weekend, but it's also a great range to practice on and learn to shoot these rifles at long distances.

Chris.

Thanks for that info/invite. I will keep that in mind. My 14 year old would love that. He is the gun nut, I am just the guy paying for it (at least that what I tell the wife).

Planning to move Kelowna/Vernon/Penticton area in about 7-8 years retirement. Golf, fish & shoot guns, what more can you ask for !

Time to get out of this chaotic city.
 
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I'm glad you asked this question because it's been one of those lingering annoyances with my Pedersoli Sharps; my sight folds forward too and blocks getting in there from the breech (which from Googling looks like the "correct" set up). I'm going to try reversing that base, eyeballing it the sight should still bottom out level with the barrel.

EDIT No go, it's even more in the way. If I remove the bottom most jam screw (prevents the dovetail on the staff from moving) then it folds back sort of enough to get a flexible rod in there but that doesn't seem like a great idea either.

I am considering simply making another base, making tang sights is becoming something of a hobby. This base is VERY simple. Moving the pivot point to the half way point & then making a custom lower "jam" screw (or maybe reversing it... hmmmm) would probably work, I'll have to do some measuring first.

I will be your first customer. DO IT !

I am still a bit convinced my leaf setup on the sight is not 100% though. It will lose it vertical hold if i play with it back and forth and I always have to re-adjust the leaf screw.
 
There is a size of plastic airline available from truck parts stores, 1/4 inch if memory serves, that is just the right ID to thread standard jags into...allows you to work from breech end...it is flexible enough to work around your sight, but stiff enough to put some push on a tight patch. I use it on lever-guns too.....
 
I neglected to mention that the brass tubing I used for the cleaning rod guide also works for a blow tube. I cut off a length about 1/2" longer than the cartridge and fitted it to a 10" length of 1/2" inside diameter neoprene tubing to make a blow tube that extends to the front of the chamber as with the guide.
 
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