This post is in reference to fixed sights & target shooting only
Flintlocklar
Larry,
I'm glad you mentioned this is for target shooting only and do I take it to mean you will be shooting mostly or all Offhand when doing so?
If you are mostly talking about Offhand Shooting, then forget trying to change the sight "picture" for different ranges, as it won't work unless you spend many, Many, MANY more hours dry firing and shooting than most folks can or will do. It is far better to use the sight picture that best works for you for the best accuracy. This may be the top of the front sight blade is equal to the top of the rear sight or it may be the top of the blade is down at the bottom of the rear sight notch. Doesn't matter, just whatever works best for you and DON'T change it at different ranges unless you are doing 200 yards or longer shots.
Next I assume you will be shooting from 25, 50 and maybe at most 100 yards, is that correct? If that's true, then there is NO NEED to use more powder than your accuracy load, because it will just open up your group size and cause lower scores. All the ball has to do is punch through the paper, after all. Also, it is best to have the accuracy load that shoots the tightest groups when the wind comes up and pushes on the ball. You compensate for more wind by aiming a little towards the direction of the wind and you find that out by shooting more in the wind, checking range flags and even trying to aim left or right a bit when there is no wind at different ranges you shoot - to see how much the ball moves.
I am convinced most of the old boys used what we today call the
Maximum Point Blank Range approach, when they hunted. This meant they aimed "dead on" and fired that way from very short range to the maximum distance the bullet drop kept the ball on their target. The ball would rise above their point of aim along the way and fall at longer ranges, but they still aimed "dead on" until the distance was so great the ball would drop below the bottom of their target. Now of course that won't be the best way to do it for targets and to get the best score.
You need to shoot at the different ranges you will compete at to find out how much the ball raises or falls from the center of the target at each range. You will also need to see how the groups move from the center of the target at each range. You may find you need to adjust the rear sight so the rifle shoots a little to the right or left at 25 so it hits center at 50 and then only a bit to the left/right at 100. This will tell you where you need to sight in on the target at each range.
You absolutely must record this information, as well, or you can bet you won't remember when shooting matches at different ranges. I don't know the medical reason for it, but when you write something down, you are telling your subconscious mind the information is worth remembering. If you make a "Data Book" or "Shooter's Log Book" while you are shooting, it will help a great deal as well. You can also go back to that book later, to remind yourself before you shoot at different ranges.
Gus