rear sight out of plumb

[chaneylake]

I picked up my Shiloh Sharps .40-65 from the gunsmith on Wednesday, I had a recoil reducer installed, during the process he removed the stock and rear sight to install the reducer. I shot the rifle yesterday in basically a straight-in head wind, "no cross wind at all", I had to adjust the windage 2 1/2 clicks[little lines/marks] to the left to be able to hit center of target at 300 yards.

pryor to trip to gunsmith "zero" was "zero"

what are my options? remove rear site and then reinstall just to see what it will do?

I have never liked the idea of "shims"

your ideas/opinions will be appreciated

[Dan Cash]

I labored long with plumb lines, levels etc to get my Hoke sight plumb on my Shilo sharps. The tang seemed to be ground too much on the right side as the sight base prooved plumb on a test fixture. Finally, I crafted a period correct shim from a handy piece of beer can. Walla! the sight ran plumb and true. That was about 15 years ago and the base has not been off since. The shim does not show.

Regarding your rifle, you seem to be making quite a correction. I would suggest that you mount the rifle in a vice where you can observe a plumb line 10 feet or so away. Align the sights on the plumb line with the rifle level and the rear sight bottomed out. Secure the rifle and run the elevator up the staff while observing the alignment on the line. This will determine if the sight is out of plumb and will let you make adjustments.

Is it possible your base was shimmed before? The wind into which you were shooting may not have been as straight on as you thought, at least not all the way to the target. Is the staff bent or loose at its pivot point. Just a few things to check.
Best of Luck,
Dan

[chaneylake]

Dan, my 300 yard target is across the lake at my house, reading the wind by observing the ripple action on the water is no problem.

the base was shaved by the same gunsmith about 18+ months ago as was just about perfect, I am guessing that removing and replacing the base while the work last week was being done just changed things.

the local weatherman is predicting a zero wind day on Sunday, I will verify my results then.

I am just more curious that it would be this far off when reinstalled

I still had rather the base be shaved than to shim it

[powderburner]

he didnt mount the base backwards did he?

[chaneylake]

he didnt mount the base backwards did he?

no, its mounted correctly

I will lock her in a vise tomorrow and do the plumb bob thingy

[Old Jim]

CL, don't suppose the g'smith bumped the front-sight over to the side?

[chaneylake]

CL, don't suppose the g'smith bumped the front-sight over to the side?

it does not appear so, I will check the plumb tomorrow and a good look at the front sight, I just might remove the rear site base, wipe clean, oil it and reinstall just to see what happens.

I am guessing everything is tightened down a little different than it was before it went into the shop

[Lumpy Grits]

CL, don't suppose the g'smith bumped the front-sight over to the side?

it does not appear so, I will check the plumb tomorrow and a good look at the front sight, I just might remove the rear site base, wipe clean, oil it and reinstall just to see what happens.

I am guessing everything is tightened down a little different than it was before it went into the shop

Could a shim have fallen out/lost when he removed the tang sight?
The smith didn't need to remove that sight, BTW.
If the sight is "square" to the bbl's top flat. Just move the front sight the get your "O" back.
Tell us how you ck the tang sight for sq.
Gary

[Old Jim]

I usually use machinist' levels and squares to check sights.

Just an old guy' thoughts, though.

Keep us posted,

[Lumpy Grits]

That works well, Jim.
I will also plum the tang sight to match the bubble on the front sight.
Gary