Buckhorn Sights

[dakota]

Is there a single person that has a use for buckhorn sights?

I use different iron sights for different rifles and pistols. I can reasons for and can really appreciate aperture sights on rifles. I can see use for different open sight styles such a open V, and 'flat' with notch rear sights. But I truly hate buckhorn sights. Why oh why do manufacturers put these worthless (IMO) sights on anything.
(But then some might say that I am opinionated.)
If I ever have bought a rifle with buckhorn sights, I have knocked them off ASAP and gave them a fling. What do you think about these awful excuse for sighting equipment?

[Purebred Redneck]

Well, if there is anyone on this site that is going to use and defend second rate equiptment, it's me

I have a buckhorn sight on my muzzleloader; and as far as iron sights go, I wouldn't trade it.
Now I don't shoot it very often, in fact I haven't shot but a half dozen rounds in it the last few years.
If I shot iron sights more often, yeah I'd be getting something better --- like a peep sight.
I don't like the V rear sights. I don't hate them, I would just prefer the buckhorns which are finer.

But for a person who might shoot a couple rounds to make sure it's on and then go hunting with a traditional rifle, buckhorn sights are definatly an option.

[dakota]

I should have mentioned - modern rifles. I understand that there are reasons such as tradition for BPR's.

[stumpjumper]

I love buckhorn's & semi-buckhorn sights. The first one I ever used is off of that beauty of a rifle, my original Hatfield .50 cal. As for the traditional part, well yea, that they are. I ordered two other sets from www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/partList.aspx?catID=14&subID=167&styleID=764 here awhile back. One I installed on one of my Hawkens & the other I braised on the bbl. of one of my rifled 12 ga. H&R's, which isn't traditional for this H&R. With mine, I took a triangle file & deepened the v in then. I didn't alter the buckhorns on my Hatfield.

Dakota ~
How good is your arm? The next time you have a mind to chuck them out, then face east & give them a good toss ;D

[bounce]

Well I have had Two moons make the the notch better for my eyes on ocasion as far as the horn if you don't like it it can be ground down but it's for different elivations at far off distances so if your buffalo hunting or elk and it's a ways further than you wish for your notch if you have done your sighting work you would be glad you did not through it away!!!

[stumpjumper]

Ahhh. How did I know you'd be pro buckhorns for what they are worth bounce ? ;D Now around my area, superr long shots doesn't present itself in the thick timbers of south Jersey here, but I like how it they lay a bead (so to speak) when you are leveled out on a deer.

[klsm54]

I really don't have much use for them.

BUT....as a youngster, an old-timer in town had a 99 Savage, 300 Savage of course, with a Buckhorn rear sight and I thought it was about the coolest thing I'd ever seen on a rifle.

[Jack]

I'm not a fan of buckhorn sights. Never seen a purpose for the raised part, other than to catch on things, and obscure the target.
I should say, I'm not much of a fan of open sights in general. I like iron sights, but, to me, it's a peep or nothing.

[twomoons]

Buckhorn sights had a purpose. My Grandfather explained this to me many years ago. The buckhorn is a sight for a light traveling wildernes man. The sight is capable of putting shots from a M/L a 45-70 or the like on a deer or elk at up to 300 yards. A fine bead with the bead well don in the notch is close range either 50 or 75 yards according to the rifle and caliber. A course bead or the bead centered in the notch is 100 yards. A full bead held just above the notch is 130 to 150 yards. A bead in the center of the horn is 200 yards and a bead in the center of the tops of the horns is 300. As you use your rifle yu learn the individual distances for your gun. This lets a felow knock a squirrel off the lime with a head shot at 25 or drop a deer at 125 all without moving anything or holding over or under. When folks had only one gun for everything and they shot that gun a lot this was a very sturdy and effective sight as compared to a staff mounted peep or a sight with flip up leaves, where it was possible to not have the right leaf up or down as necessary. This was never a city fellows sight and with the advent of rifles in the 30-06 class it was unnecessary. If you sith 3" high at 100 you are on all the way to 300 with the flat trajectory of a modern gun. If you know your gun and know your sights with the looping trajectory of the old guns a man who is good with a buckhorn can drop a deer before a fellow with a peep can start to dial in. As to accuracy, I practiced with my flinter and was able to hit cow pies ot to 200 yards with no trouble as long as the wind wasn't a factor. By using the horn at the top I have shot under 10" groups at 300 yards with a 45-90 and my best group of 5 at 300 was right at 7" with a Soule peep. That is plenty good for hunting. Badmouthing the buckhorn started with Townsend Whelen and has gone one since about 1920, just after the sight was no longer needed or understood. I was lucky enough to connect with folks who learned to use them when they were a prefered item.

[Bill]

Like two moons said, If'en you know how to use them their better than a peep. Their not hobbled by one range. Most buckskinners learn over a period of time what their for and how to use them. People that shoot modern guns get locked into a single mindset and forget rather quickly what they can do with a buckhorn. Something else that Two Moons failed to mention is that at under 50 yds on a running deer the loop of buckhorn makes one awsome sight. You just center the front sight in the center of the buckhorn circle and pull the trigger. I have shot two really nice bucks doing this and if I would of tried to use the sight like I normally would I probably would of missed.

[deputydon]

stumpjumper said:

I love buckhorn's & semi-buckhorn sights. The first one I ever used is off of that beauty of a rifle, my original Hatfield .50 cal. As for the traditional part, well yea, that they are. I ordered two other sets from www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/partList.aspx?catID=14&subID=167&styleID=764 here awhile back. One I installed on one of my Hawkens & the other I braised on the bbl. of one of my rifled 12 ga. H&R's, which isn't traditional for this H&R. With mine, I took a triangle file & deepened the v in then. I didn't alter the buckhorns on my Hatfield.

Dakota ~
How good is your arm? The next time you have a mind to chuck them out, then face east & give them a good toss ;D

Better yet send me a PM and tell me how many your tossing and I'll send you my address and the postage to send them to me.........

[dakota]

Sorry, the ones I had are in the garbage. But if I come acros one I certainly will give it away if someone wants it. My first .22 had an aperature sight on it and most of the other sights I have had are straight with notch. (I have three 30-06's with aperature sights.) I find I can lead better with the straight sight and I can shoot tighter groups with the aperature. While I can see your point regarding using the buckhorn for different ranges, I am used to sighting for different ranges with a single setting. Same goes with a telescopic sight. I suppose I could get used to the mil dot system but I would just as soon use the hold over method. That is if the point of impact at 300 yards is 6 inches low I can modify my hold.
With a buckhorn sight there is simply too much metal in the way. For me, Leading a running animal with that type of sight is difficult. Further, it has been my experience that round balls are affected by wind much more than modern bullets. To me it is easier to hold for wind than to have a mass of metal in the way.
Having said all that, why do manufacturers put these buckhorn style sights on modern rifles? Do they think it is more attractive?
I concede that on muzzle loaders and BPC's a buckhorn might have a place for those who are used to such things, but it is not for me.

[Purebred Redneck]

Of the modern guns (excluding any lever actions), who does have buckhorn sights

[stumpjumper]

stumpjumper said:

One I installed on one of my Hawkens & the other I braised on the bbl. of one of my rifled 12 ga. H&R's, which isn't traditional for this H&R. With mine, I took a triangle file & deepened the v in then. I didn't alter the buckhorns on my Hatfield.

Does this count PBR. ;D

[dakota]

I believe that lever actions are modern rifles. The advantages of lever guns, imo, is the ability of levering in a new round faster than bolt actions, (probably not slide actions). The advantage? of buckhorn sights to me is for rifles that do not have flat tragectory; and to hunting situations where you will likely be able to shoot at game when they are standing still and when there is no wind. That to me means the best fit for these sights is a muzzle loader.
I don't have the experience that many on this forum do with muzzle loaders, but I have never tried to shoot any game that was running with a muzzle loader. I shot a muzzle loader at a deer when there was a strong side wind and the deer was perhaps 200 yards. The load was a .54 round ball with about 120 grains of black powder. (I do not recall what type). I aimed for the wind but I shot the south facing doe too close to the north end, I underestimated the effects of the wind. The ball dropped the doe though. (I need to have much more experience in practice with side winds and muzzle loaders.) One problem I had was the buckhorn sight was the inability to have a good sight picture taking into consideration the wind.
Though it might not look authentic, I replaced the buckhorn sight with a flat blade and notch.
I find that this combination for me is much faster and more exact. But why put them on anything but muzzle loaders?