Sighting In the Black Powder Longrifle

Our thanks to B.E. Spencer for the folowing information. (Of course the editor has to add a little down home edits here and there.)

How do we set up the sights on our rifle to make that happen, though? This discussion will consider some basics in accomplishing that, shooting your favorite load, at your favorite distance and target. If we cross paths sometime in the future, I would appreciate it if you don't ask for a demonstration of how well I can shoot. Hmmmmm......I talk a better story than I shoot. Anyway...I Hope the following information will help you in some small way. A quick review of what exactly happens when we fire that shot, and the relationship of the flight of the bullet to the line of the sights is in order, so that we are all using the same terms. Assume we are shooting a rifle that is already correctly sighted in. When we put the rifle to our shoulder and line up the sights on the target, we are looking along the line of sight. This line is perfectly straight, as only light can be, and runs from our eye through the rear sight, then the front sight, then to the spot on the target we want to hit. Unfortunately, this doesn't coincide with the flight of the bullet or ball. Since the bore of the rifle is below the sights, the bullet starts out below the line of sight, crosses it traveling upward, stays above it for a time, then begins to fall downward, crossing the line of sight exactly at the target. Every shot we fire will travel this curving loop. The bullet will reach its maximum height above the line of sight at about 60% of the distance to the target, and this point is called the Mid-Range Trajectory. Once the bullet travels past the target, it will be below the line of sight until it stops, for whatever reason. The problem we have in sighting the rifle in, then, is to adjust the sights so that the bullet falls back to the line of sight at exactly the distance of the target. We must also adjust them so that the flight of the bullet is exactly lined up with the line of sight from side to side, of course. Adjusting the up and down flight of the bullet is called  adjusting the elevation, that of adjusting the side to side flight is called adjusting the windage. Before we get to the actual process of adjusting the sights to hit where you want, some decisions must be made. Where do you want it to hit, for instance? We all want that bullet to fly to the center of the target, but at what distance? Target shooting or hunting? Heavy load or light? What sight picture are you goint to use, 6:00 o'clock hold or center hold? These decisions must be made by each individual shooter, based upon what he needs the gun to do, bark a squireel, knock down a moose or punch holes in a paper target at close or long range. Throughout the process of sighting the rifle, it is wise to make changes in the sights only after having fired a number of shots, never a single one. While doing the fairly coarse, up close work, three shots are probably adequate, possibly even two. As the range increases, though, groups of 5 shots are recommended, especially if the changes to the sights involve any filing. For this discussion, we'll assume you want the rifle sighted in to hit point of aim at 100 yards. We'll also assume you are sighting a new rifle, and have no idea what the sights are set for, if at all. You must figure a way to get started, to get "on the paper", as we say. You could just put up a big piece of paper at 100 yards, fire a few shots at it and hope the bullets hit the paper. If so, then the sights could be adjusted to bring the shots directly on the bull. That involves a lot of walking, though, and there is an easier way. Remember that we said the bullet crosses the line of sight the first time going upward? We'll use that fact to get you started. The point at which that first crossing takes place is, on average, somewhere in the 10 - 15 yard range in front of the muzzle. We'll split the difference, and place your target at 12 1/2 yards. Use a small bull or aiming point on a BIG piece of paper, and shoot from some kind of rest. There is a paradox we must deal with at this point. In order to sight a rifle in properly, the rifle must shoot consistent, small groups. Yet, in order to develop an optimum load for the rifle, one which shoots consistent, small groups, it must be sighted in at least well enough to get on the paper. We compromise and do the best we can. Using manufacturer's recommendations, prior experience or advice from a knowledgeable friend, you must decide what initial load to shoot. Within reason, it really doesn't matter, but you must shoot that exact same load ever time. If you shoot one load and then another, you will never make sense of the sighting-in procedure. The load can be modified later, honed to the best you can work out, after you have the rifle shooting on the paper at that distance. MORE INFO TO COME LATER.

How sweet is is to be able to put shot after shot into the bull, and shoot those small groups we all admire so.

Send me your comments on the above subject. Glad to hear any recommendations.