Henry Rifle Forums

I worked up my nerve today and filed the front sight on my Pedersoli Frontier .50 cal rifle. Windy but had to try it out after that.

First of all, this is the first time I ever shot from a bench rest. I bought some birdseed sacks today coincidently, and they were still in the truck box. So took one of them, set it up on the bench and took all shots from it. I wanted to remove as many variables as possible to see what was really going on.
At home I took 1/8" off with a file. Then off to the range.

25 yards.

Shooting 55 grains of Triple 7, .490 patched lead ball, the first 3 shots are the lower 3 below the target. Better than before I took the 1/8 off, they would have been a couple inches lower. Then took a little more off with the file. Moved up to the next lowest group. A little more at a time. Better and better. Finished with a full 1/4" filed off, and the elevation is near perfect, just the wind I had to contend with which is the near level horizontal ones with the center shots. Those are now with the top of the blade in the buckhorn notch. The one at 12 o'clock is me using a different sight picture, B on the chart below. Thinking that may be my 50 yd sight pic. Anyhow, pretty happy I took the time to actually assess the sights properly, most of the time I can't be bothered and just shoot. I took 2 quick passes over it with the file when I got home just to give me incrementally more height on the target, dressed it with a very fine file and emery paper, and it's slick as can be now.




From now on, whatever I level this rifle at; it's going down.







Shoot safe...RR

Maybe shoot tomorrow and round out a full week of range time

Wish I was there to go shoot with you. Glad you like it target looks good. Have fun for me to.

Very happy to start to get it dialed in!! These guns are unique that's for sure. I bet 98% of the guys killed in the Civil War got it while reloading....how those guys fought a war with these is mind boggling.

Have you watched any of Black Powder Maniac Shooters videos on Youtube. He has one where he does 5 shots I think with a flinter in so much time. Pretty cool to watch Mark. That guy has alot of fun. He also gets alot of people involved in the sport. Heck of a nice guy I have PMed him on the other forum.

Yes I watch his stuff, he sure enjoys himself.

So glad you got this solved, RR. I knew you could do it. With anyone else, I would add that there's no more excuse for missing, now, but you never missed even with the original sight.

The file I have actually removed the material quite fast, it only took a about a dozen passes with it to get the finished product. Keeping it level left to right across the top was the real challenge but it's dead on straight and level now. Just cut a small slit in a piece of cloth to protect the barrel and muzzle, and worked careful. No mishaps. Might shoot it today but the wind is ramping up to 70+ mph later today.

So it might take you 45 minutes to get back to the bench instead of 40

I am more aerodynamic crawling...that's what science teaches us and Greta says we must listen to the science.

Enjoyed the tech of dialing in the front sight!