Need a tang sight

[roverboy]

I wondered if anybody knew a good tangsight for a hawken or renegade type rifle? I like a good peep or aperture sight. Whatever you wanna call'em.

[idahoron]

I use the Lyman 57 SML. They are not bolt on easy but they are not too hard to install. I also use the Lyman 17 AML globe sight witht he Lee Shavers inserts. You can see my rifles in my posts. Ron

[roverboy]

Thanks IdahoRon.

[Dean D.]

You might try looking at www.marblearms.com or www.buffaloarms.com They both sell tang sights. Not sure they have one that is made for your rifles but they should have something that can be made to fit.

[475BH]

I made (filed) this out of some 1/8" thick angle iron.
W/ a .200" hole, I used to have vertical stringing prob's.
I can see the front sight clear now, and it was free.
I may leave it in the white for low light times.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/sbhg/1-2-10006.jpg

[idahoron]

Roverboy. Here is a write up I did for installing peep sights. It might be of value or not. At least it will show what it involves to install these sights. Ron


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Putting a Lyman 57 SML peep on a TC has two options. One is some of them were already drilled and tapped for the sight, I have seen several. Option #2 is drilling the tang your self. I have done four now and if I can do it anyone can.
What I wanted to do was give you the idiots view of how to install the Lyman 57 SML sight. I took one of the plastic cases I got with one of my Lyman sights and made it a sight installation kit.
It has a # 29 S drill bit, S stands for short in the Brownells catalog.
Also the kit has an 8-32 tap.
And it has a small Tap Wrench.
On The TC’s, and the Cabelas Hawken the sight base is too thick where it meets up with the wood next to the tang. I have seen this problem solved two ways. I have seen guys remove the wood and the way I do it. I remove some of the aluminum from the base so it will sit down all the way without touching the wood. I take the slider out of the base and gently sit the base in a vise and tighten it down. I use an Angle grinder to remove the metal. You can also use rat-tail files and bastard files. After I am done taking the metal away it looks like this.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/CuttingBase1.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/CuttingBase2.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/CuttingBase3.jpg

Now to put the base on.
I start out by removing the rear screw and I set the sight base on the tang and then I put the screw back in but not tight. I line the sight up, and use a small punch to go through the front screw hole in the sight base to make a dent in the tang to start the hole to be drilled.
You can also put masking tape on the tang and draw a line through the holes. This will give you your strait line to make sure that the hole is drilled in a strait line with the other two holes in the tang. Then put the base on like I said above and mark the spot to be drilled.
Then I take the tang off the stock and lock the tang into a vise. Make sure you are drilling straight down. Then I use the tap to make the threads. Make sure you have the tap lined up like you just did the drill bit. Start the tap in, go a little ways and back it up. Then go forward again and back it up. Do this several times until the threads are cut. You MUST back up once and a while or you will break the tap. Also make sure you apply lube to help the tap cut.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/Threading.jpg

After I thread the screw hole in the tang I install the tang on the stock. I put the rear screw into the sight base, but not tight. Then I use a small shim to raise the front of the sight base. I used galvanized metal that was .0035 “ thick and a little narrower than the sight base. I didn’t like the way the sight tended to “lean forward” on the tang. After the shim the sight to me tends to move more vertical. After I got the shim under the screw I lined the hole, added lock tight to the screw and installed the 8-32 screw to the front of the sight base. Here is what the sight base looks like installed.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Stock6.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/basefinished3.jpg



A picture with the slider installed. Notice I added white paint to the 0 to make it stand out. Also I took the scale off the slider and used a drill bit to increase the length to give me a little more range.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Rearsight2.jpg

Sorry about this picture being a little cockeyed.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Rearsight.jpg


http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/basefinished2.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd294/idahoron/Muzzleloaders/basefinished1.jpg


OK, What happens if I screw up and drill the hole in the wrong place?
Well several things can happen.
1— If the hole is drilled left or right of the centerline the windage will not move at the right angle.
2— if the hole is not drilled with the right amount of distance between the holes it will not sit down right. Even to the point of not being able to install with this hole.

If you drill in the wrong place DON’T WORRY!!!! Anything can be fixed.
First if you have a welder weld the hole closed. If you don’t have a welder most towns have a place that can do this. After it is closed smooth down the weld with a grinder and a file. Round two. Really watch what you are doing on round two. Check everything several times and drill again. After the hole is drilled in the right place and the metal is filed or grinded down. Apply cold blue to cover up the repair.
I have messed up plenty of times. In the end it is not that hard to install these sights.. Make sure to check everything and don’t get in a rush. I know I have probably forgotten something. If you are going to try this for your self and have any questions feel free to ask. Ron

[bubba.50]

a sight expressly for the thompson center guns is available from midsouth shooters supply for $52.00. all required would be to drill&tap one screw hole if your tang wasn't already tapped for it. godd luck and happy shootin', bubba.

[roverboy]

Thanks everybody, I want to do some kind of peep because I've never seen sights on muzzleloaders I liked.