Mac Attack
Member
I was browsing ebay and saw a TC Tang Sight for a Hawken rifle. Out of curiosity, what is the purpose of a tang sight and is it an improvement over the standards v-cut rear sight?
Tang Sights vs. Standard Sights
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dispatch55126
Member
A peep sight was and still is the best sight out there. It allows you to look through the peep without having to line everything up.
In other words, you look through the peep and place the front post on the target. Your eye automatically lines everything up. They're easier on the eye that a standard notch and post, and less likely than a scope to be damaged.
They take some getting use to though.
In other words, you look through the peep and place the front post on the target. Your eye automatically lines everything up. They're easier on the eye that a standard notch and post, and less likely than a scope to be damaged.
They take some getting use to though.
Zeke/PA
Member
I once purchased a vernier tang and globe front sight for my T/C Hawkin.
The rifle shot like an absolute dream using 370gr. Maxi-Balls.
The sights were, to me, of little value for hunting especially in the poor light conditions of early morning and late afternoon.
Zeke
The rifle shot like an absolute dream using 370gr. Maxi-Balls.
The sights were, to me, of little value for hunting especially in the poor light conditions of early morning and late afternoon.
Zeke
A tang sight mounts at the rear of the barrel, at the tang (gee what a surprise.) This gives one a much longer sight radius. The sight radius is the distance between the front and rear sight. The longer the sight radius the more potential accuracy a weapon has. The further apart the sights are the easier it is to see any misalignment. The length of the sight radius is one of the reasons that a rifle is more accurate then a pistol. But there are some target pistols that have special sights where the rear sight is mounted on a base that extends well behind the hammer.
Steve499
Member
Another plus of a tang sight is the advantage they give by not requiring older eyes to perform like younger eyes. The look through feature dispatch55126 mentions requires no focus at all. I have tang or peep receiver sights on everything non scoped I own that I seriously plan on using. The removable aperture disc on most tang sights can be removed and the threaded hole used as a ghost ring sight for low light shooting. If it's light enough to make out your front sight, you're in business.
Pancho
Member
Steve499, have you seen the peep sight that is attached to a little suction cup and is meant to be stuck on your glasses?
Mac Attack
Member
If I installed a tang sight on my rifle, would I need to remove the existing rear sight?
Pancho
Member
Mac Attack, I just looked up tang peep sights in the Mid-south catalog and it confirms what I thought, that you probably would not need to remove the rear sight. They aren't cheap. The least expensive was $75.
fineredmist
Member
Tang sights go back a long way and were used in long distance (1000 yds) shooting. They are usually mounted on the wrist of the stock which brings them very close to the eye thus enabeling a quick target picture. As stated in earlier posts the eye naturally sights through the center of the rear sight and all you need is to align the front and you are in business. Depending on the type of rear sight you have now you may or may not have to remove it for the tang to be effective. Once you have shot a rifle with a tang sight you will see the advantages and wonder how you got along without it. Target tang sights differ from hunting types in the adjustment capability they offer. A good veriner tang sight will permit adjustments of .1" at 100yds. A quality target set, front and read sights can set you back $600 +. They offer the speed and precision of a rifle scope without the glass.
Steve499
Member
I suppose one wouldn't absolutely have to remove the rear sight. If you intend to use the existing front sight, though, I think you'll find the open rear sight in the way at the center of your sight plane. If you install a new, higher front sight, you may get the sight plane high enough to put the existing open rear sight below it, and therefore not in the way.
I always remove the rear open sight on my rifles. I just think it looks better. As a matter of fact, just today I removed the factory rear sight from an old Stevens pump .22 which was drilled and tapped in the tang at the factory for a tang sight. I finally found the proper Marble's tang sight for my rifle and have it on the way. I just made a blank to fill the dovetail where the old open rear sight was.
Pancho, I've seen those things on glasses but haven't tried them out. I only wear glasses to read. I could probably still use open rear sights just fine if I'd want to cut new dovetails on all my open sighted rifles about a foot farther toward the muzzle than they are now.
I even modified my 1861 Springfield replica. The rear sight on those things is so close to my eye that I can only use it very roughly. I drilled a hole through the second leaf of the folding rear sight to use as a peep. It's farther away from my eye than my other tang and peep sights but gives a good sight picture anyway.
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Mac Attack
Member
I decided to purchase a TC tang sight for my Hawken rifle. I installed it and will have to remove the rear sight. With the rear sight no longer present the screw holes are unfilled. How can I fill this - are there flush screws I can purchase to fill the holes?
Also, with an aperture sight, is the front sight supposed to be fuzzy?
Also, with an aperture sight, is the front sight supposed to be fuzzy?
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Gimlet
Member
Vernier adjustable peep sites were used extensively during international competitions in the mid to late 1800's.
Although the sites were often fitted to the tang or wrist of the stock they were also often fitted to the heel of the stock to lengthen the site line to it's practical maximum, this was possible because many of the top shooters of the time shot from the "Back" position where they would lay on their back and rest the barrel of the gun on either their knees or even the toes of their boots. In this position the left hand can either be used to steady the gun just forward of the breach or it can come across the body and support the heel of the stock.
I have been using this postion myself and have found that looping the sling around the toe of my boot helps in controling the the recoil. It's a very effective stance and quite comfortable as long as you don't hold your head up in the aiming position for too long at a time.
Mac Attack, the front sight normally looks fuzzy if the hole in the peep site is too large, or possibly your eye is a little too close to it. With modern target sights the rear site is normally adjustable and you reduce it until you get a clearly focused fore site. It works in exactly the same way as increasing your focal length by reducing the aperture on a camera.
Although the sites were often fitted to the tang or wrist of the stock they were also often fitted to the heel of the stock to lengthen the site line to it's practical maximum, this was possible because many of the top shooters of the time shot from the "Back" position where they would lay on their back and rest the barrel of the gun on either their knees or even the toes of their boots. In this position the left hand can either be used to steady the gun just forward of the breach or it can come across the body and support the heel of the stock.
I have been using this postion myself and have found that looping the sling around the toe of my boot helps in controling the the recoil. It's a very effective stance and quite comfortable as long as you don't hold your head up in the aiming position for too long at a time.
Mac Attack, the front sight normally looks fuzzy if the hole in the peep site is too large, or possibly your eye is a little too close to it. With modern target sights the rear site is normally adjustable and you reduce it until you get a clearly focused fore site. It works in exactly the same way as increasing your focal length by reducing the aperture on a camera.
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