New C. Sharps 45-70

[Eric Johanen]

Lumpy, I think there are at least two reasons why the Baldwin and Distant Thunder fronts are a bit better. #1 Both are longer in the tube which can make a difference on internal shadows if the range is firing east or west due to the position of the sun. More consistent view through the aperture. #2 The ID with the DT sight is a bit larger and allow more light through for older eye's. (I believe the Baldwin may also be a bit larger ID). I played with the new aperture's from Distant Thunder today and really liked the view using the horizontal thin cross wires supporting the aperture's. I can see the bubble level much easier that with the 6 O'clock support post. The angle that Jim is building into his front sights is really nice on the view as the muzzle is raised higher. You see a round circle rather than a oval at the farthest range. I have his long range on my 45-90 for Creedmoor and just installed the mid-range on the new C. Sharps 45-70 for mid range shooting. These are really great front sights!! I still have the MVA #113 on my Shiloh Roughrider 45-70 and will probably leave it in place as out to 600 yards it is not really too much of a problem. (but the DT mid-range is better!)

[Lumpy Grits]

THX for the info Eric
One thing I did with both of my MVA Soule sights was to angle the staff 2*-3* towards the muzzle. Really helped in keeping the 'round' you speak of at the higher(longer range)settings.
Who was/is your source for Baldwin? BACO stopped carrying them.
Will be looking at DT also......
G.

[Gunlaker]

I like the finish on the MVA sights more than the finish on the DT sights, but other than that I think the DT is a superior front sight. THe lack of a spring clip to hold the inserts is good. The placement of the spirit level is an improvement over the MVA. I have shot in circumstances where I could not see the bubble at all on my MVA front sight. I've never had that problem with the DT front sight.

I don't know if the DT midrange front is lower than the MVA low profile, but it is much lower than the C. Sharps front sights. My elevations came down ten points when I switched my .45-90 from a CSA front sight to a DT midrange.

With all that said, MVA makes excellent stuff and most of my rifles have their sights front and rear. I will be switching some rifles over to the DT fronts though.

Chris.

[Old Jim]

I have used Baldwin front sights and others, but I use DT inserts in them. If I'm sighting on a round bulls-eye, I need a DT insert.

Jim

[Don McDowell]

The Baldwin sits lower, and the inserts that come with it come in a large variety of diameters. Plus they are held in place by a screw in end piece like a Lyman 17.
He's not that hard to get ahold of, just call him, if he's not off to a match somewhere or hunting he'll answer the phone.

[Eric Johanen]

Distant Thunder also use a screw in end piece to secure the aperture's. Being notched on the side, the post style aperture's can be inverted so post can be from the bottom or the top. Lumpy, I am also adjusting my staff position to a bit more forward to get rid of the shadow in the eye piece. I am experimenting with shims placed under the rear to get the perfect sight picture. Just adjusting the tension of the spring does not cut it for me. Cleaned up the staff spring notch for a perfect fit and just need the right shim to get it done. I will see about having my friend surface grind the base when I determine the proper shim. The base will be then fit perfectly to the tang and will repeat time after time.

[Eric Johanen]

Shot the rifle yesterday at a steel match and was pleased with the results. 300 getting used to the rifle and sights. 50% hits with some close misses on those pesky little targets. 600 yards went 8 for 12. 2 close misses and 2 missed wind calls. BACO 535 grain Money Bullet (Actual 526 grains). Seated with 1 lube groove exposed, CCI BR primers, 73 grains of OE 1.5 and a .060 poly wad. Did not shoot the 200 yard stage as I was plumb tuckered out and can shoot 200 at my home range. ( Can't believe just how much the Chemo robs one of energy. My ass is lower than a frogs). The load shot very well as hits were pretty well centered with no cheap ones. Wiped with a bore pig, badger, hog,...... and 1 dry patch left a very clean bore between shots. Need to contact Distant Thunder for some larger apertures as I'm used to 30 inch barrels and the extra 4 created too tight a sight picture with my largest aperture. Sold the C. Sharps front sight to a forum member so for a 900.00 rifle it's a real good shooter!

[Lumpy Grits]

Eric-You did GOOD
Keep on healing from the chemo, and you'll be a force to deal with on the firing line.
Gary

[Eric Johanen]

Thank's LG! Oral Chemo and it look's like I'll be on a heavy dose for the next 16 months. Sure takes the wind from my sails pretty quick but, I can still pull triggers. Just not as long as I'd like. I'm at that age where my eyes are no longer competitive but just being on the range at distance never loses it's appeal. Based on the last steel match it does like the BACO Money Bullet load. This bullet is one of their first designs with all bands at .458 and with the C. Sharps chamber I can seat it out with the first lube groove exposed. In my Shiloh Rough Rider with it's slightly tighter chamber I must seat it with all lube grooves in the case. With the same powder charge it also shoots very well. 16/1 alloy is working well. I plan on a session on Saturday and want to test a paper patch load out of it and see how the rifle likes it. The Shiloh really likes the Money Bullet or the Elliptical with a heavy charge of Swiss or OE 1.5 fg. Case full of powder with just enough room to start a .060 poly wad and compressed to .150. Bullets are patched to .4505 wet. Experimenting with dry patching. Next steel match the 44-77 will be slinging poison.