Change to Oregon Muzzleloader Hunting Regs in 2019

[Zonie]

Just to remind folks, we do not talk about In-Line guns, sabots, or bullets with plastic parts in them on the forum or the hunters that use them.

 

[ugly old guy]

@Atticus69 Too bad there isn't an open season on poachers.

 

[yellowlab]

I understand your pain with old eyes. Sometimes I have to guess which fuzzy front sight to try to use. A longer barrel puts that sight just a little farther away so I can sort of focus on it. Also an aperture/peep helps me focus on the front sight and I don't have to focus on the rear one. The last gun I sighted in, I only filed the front down far enough to use the buckhorn as a "sort of" peep so I don't have to put that blade into the notch and focus on both at the same time. Also, It seems I got off track talking about some things I should not have. I looked for the forum rules and was unsuccessful in finding them, I'm sure they were right under my nose but could I get some direction here. thanks

 

[Kestrel]

I too have had problems with the fuzzy sites. I measured the distance from my eye to the front sight on my rifle. I then went down to the local Rite Aid and started trying on different powers of readers until I found the set that clearly focused to that distance. My rear sight is fuzzy and my target is fuzzy but my front sight is sharp. Figure I'm still PC (not that I'm anal about that) as they had such glasses. Gonna get me some antique style frames for the lenses. The only down side tho, is if you are doing a lot of shooting, it tends to fatigue my eyes quicker and can give me a headache if I do a lot of looking around at distance.

 

[Atticus69]

I too have had problems with the fuzzy sites. I measured the distance from my eye to the front sight on my rifle. I then went down to the local Rite Aid and started trying on different powers of readers until I found the set that clearly focused to that distance. My rear sight is fuzzy and my target is fuzzy but my front sight is sharp. Figure I'm still PC (not that I'm anal about that) as they had such glasses. Gonna get me some antique style frames for the lenses. The only down side tho, is if you are doing a lot of shooting, it tends to fatigue my eyes quicker and can give me a headache if I do a lot of looking around at distance.

I have reading glasses. If I put them on then the sights are very clear but I can't see the target hardly at all. No glasses and the target is clear, but can't see the sights!!! My Dad warned my about getting old!!!!! My current solution is to hunt with my smoothbore, which only has a front sight (recently thickened and enlarged) and requires the target to be closer than 50 yards. OK for deer, but wouldn't work on a small target like squirrel. I passed on a huge 8 point buck yesterday, after watching him come into range, mill around with 8 does all within 15-30 yards, it just didn't seem fair to shoot him as he had no idea that I was even there. That is another downside to hunting close, at least for me. Didn't have those problems pulling the trigger when I was younger, used a rifle and shot from farther away where I hadn't been sitting watching them close up. Not sure if I'm mellowing with age or what?

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

I use 200 power reading glasses. Like mentioned above, makes rear sight clear, front sight fuzzy and target impossible for any accuracy. I now use a 100 power reading glass for shooting; rear sight is fuzzy, front sight is sharp and the target is at least in much better focus.

 

[Howard Pippin]

I use 200 power reading glasses. Like mentioned above, makes rear sight clear, front sight fuzzy and target impossible for any accuracy. I now use a 100 power reading glass for shooting; rear sight is fuzzy, front sight is sharp and the target is at least in much better focus.

Being bifocals are a part of my life, I built a peep site that sets where the rear site goes and that solved the problem with front sight, back site and target.The Lyman rear peeps work well, but aren't the entire answer for hunting. My forward peep does work much better as I can see through it, and around it, to see what else is going on besides a deer. My bifocals have lines which would look out of place in a period campsite, but they do make bifocals that don't have lines so would disguise the fact. At four score I have exceeded the age of most hunters and trappers of that time period. Anyway, If they couldn't see, they would've had to just quit Hunting and trapping. Wasn't Meriwether Lewis only 34 when he was killed? I believe Capt. Clark was 69, which was a pretty ripe age for that time. Kit Carson made 59, Jedediah Smith 32. Jim Bridger did very well, 78. John Coulter was 39. Joe Meek was 65. I actually can't imagine trying to trap for Beaver when I was 65.
Squint

 

[SDSmlf]

Another option for a forward or barrel mounted peep sight is the Marble Bullseye sight. Definitely not traditional, but I have put them on some late 1800 cartridge guns and was presently surprised how well they work. They come in two lengths that have elevation adjustment, and one that is fixed. If they weren’t all bright and shiny from being new, they wouldn’t be very noticeable.

The photographs are of the longer version that has elevation adjustment. Wanted to bring the peep back and as close as possible to my eye.