JackStones
Pilgrim
- Joined
- May 10, 2015
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
I've read one or more posts on this forum (including a few new ones) discussing the addition of rear sights to a smoothbore musket. I understand that some people on the forums suggest using a tang screw as an impromptu rear sight. There are a variety of other suggestions (dovetailing barrel, adding small brackets attached to tang screw, using a magnet, etc.). Most "solutions" involved permanent or semi-permanent fixes. On the other hand, problems can result from any permanent solutions (e.g.- some shooting competitions do not allow such sights on smoothbores; some reenactment groups prohibit such sights for authenticity purposes).
I purchased a smoothbore fusil earlier this year and had difficulty lining up shots, even using the tang screw as a reference point. After some thought, trying out some recommendations, and a little wandering around a hardware store, I discovered something that that will work as a passable rear-sight for the smoothbore that can be added or removed in a matter of seconds.
Here's what I did. I purchased a pack of small self-adhesive vinyl bumper pads (see below) for a couple bucks at a local Home Depot (but available at many hardware stores). I then cut one in half with a small pocket knife (using the point to break through the harder cover). I then removed the cover to the adhesive and placed on the musket. Each half was positioned at the rear of barrel near the rear tang screw, with a small "empty" channel between the two halves which afforded a clear view of the front sight. I could make the channel larger or smaller by moving the half-pads outward or inward. I could also make the “wings” formed by the half-pads taller or shorter by moving them further forward or backwards on the barrel. I could also work on windage by moving the half-pads to one side or the other of the barrel. After playing around and shooting with them on a couple occasions, I figured out the best configuration for placement of the half-pads for my particular musket to allow for accurate (at least for me - ha) shooting at 50 yards.
The vinyl pads are clear, are essentially small buttons, and aren’t noticeable unless someone is standing close by the gun. The adhesive sticks pretty well to the "in the white" a/k/a non-blued/browned barrel of my musket. Though the adhesive sticks well, you can still take off the pads relatively easily (in fact, you can usually just scoot them around slightly on the barrel for fine tuning). When removing, you can wipe off the remaining adhesive with a slightly-moist corner of a rag or with a spittle-moistened finger. At one point, I was afraid that heat might affect the pads, but I live in a desert climate and have used the pad-sight in 100-plus degree temperatures with over 40 shots in a hour (and a hot barrel as a result) without any effect (though, my pad-sight is behind the "chamber"). These pads have worked well in below-freezing temperatures, too. I've utilized them on dozens of occasions to good effect. When cleaning the gun, the sights can be removed (or stay on, if you are careful). I purchase the clear pads, but they come in other colors (e.g.- black) which might work better with some firearms or some weather/lighting conditions. I haven't tried them out on blue/browned guns, but they seemed to go on and off easily without damage when I tried it on another gun.
I think the best analogy for these pad-sights is to “post-it” notes. In regular use, they will stay in place; however, they can still be readily removed, and they don’t leave any permanent or serious mess/damage when removed. The pads can provide a better, more-adjustable rear sight than a tang screw and don't involve any permanent modification to the firearm. Being easily removed, shooters could use this method to use a rear sight for the practice range (or hunting), while removing it for competitions or reenactments that forbid such sights. Importantly, the pads cost about 20 cents each, and can be quickly installed when needed (especially if you have some prepared in advance); you just need to remember your preferred placement location and configuration, but that shouldn't be too difficult. I thought I'd pass along the idea to the readers of this forum (since I've gotten plenty of ideas from others on this site).
Here's a link to Home Depot's version:
Adhesive Pad
I purchased a smoothbore fusil earlier this year and had difficulty lining up shots, even using the tang screw as a reference point. After some thought, trying out some recommendations, and a little wandering around a hardware store, I discovered something that that will work as a passable rear-sight for the smoothbore that can be added or removed in a matter of seconds.
Here's what I did. I purchased a pack of small self-adhesive vinyl bumper pads (see below) for a couple bucks at a local Home Depot (but available at many hardware stores). I then cut one in half with a small pocket knife (using the point to break through the harder cover). I then removed the cover to the adhesive and placed on the musket. Each half was positioned at the rear of barrel near the rear tang screw, with a small "empty" channel between the two halves which afforded a clear view of the front sight. I could make the channel larger or smaller by moving the half-pads outward or inward. I could also make the “wings” formed by the half-pads taller or shorter by moving them further forward or backwards on the barrel. I could also work on windage by moving the half-pads to one side or the other of the barrel. After playing around and shooting with them on a couple occasions, I figured out the best configuration for placement of the half-pads for my particular musket to allow for accurate (at least for me - ha) shooting at 50 yards.
The vinyl pads are clear, are essentially small buttons, and aren’t noticeable unless someone is standing close by the gun. The adhesive sticks pretty well to the "in the white" a/k/a non-blued/browned barrel of my musket. Though the adhesive sticks well, you can still take off the pads relatively easily (in fact, you can usually just scoot them around slightly on the barrel for fine tuning). When removing, you can wipe off the remaining adhesive with a slightly-moist corner of a rag or with a spittle-moistened finger. At one point, I was afraid that heat might affect the pads, but I live in a desert climate and have used the pad-sight in 100-plus degree temperatures with over 40 shots in a hour (and a hot barrel as a result) without any effect (though, my pad-sight is behind the "chamber"). These pads have worked well in below-freezing temperatures, too. I've utilized them on dozens of occasions to good effect. When cleaning the gun, the sights can be removed (or stay on, if you are careful). I purchase the clear pads, but they come in other colors (e.g.- black) which might work better with some firearms or some weather/lighting conditions. I haven't tried them out on blue/browned guns, but they seemed to go on and off easily without damage when I tried it on another gun.
I think the best analogy for these pad-sights is to “post-it” notes. In regular use, they will stay in place; however, they can still be readily removed, and they don’t leave any permanent or serious mess/damage when removed. The pads can provide a better, more-adjustable rear sight than a tang screw and don't involve any permanent modification to the firearm. Being easily removed, shooters could use this method to use a rear sight for the practice range (or hunting), while removing it for competitions or reenactments that forbid such sights. Importantly, the pads cost about 20 cents each, and can be quickly installed when needed (especially if you have some prepared in advance); you just need to remember your preferred placement location and configuration, but that shouldn't be too difficult. I thought I'd pass along the idea to the readers of this forum (since I've gotten plenty of ideas from others on this site).
Here's a link to Home Depot's version:
Adhesive Pad
