Buck horn sights

musicmatty · January 4, 2025, 08:36 AM

I've used these sights for so long, I like them and they work very well for me. I know there are other options available for open sights. I was wondering if others on this forum have love for these old school sights?

TheFlyingScotsman · January 4, 2025, 10:41 PM

My 1873 has leaf sights, as does my recently-acquired Ithaca saddle gun.

**44 AMP** · January 4, 2025, 11:13 PM

Full buckhorn or semi buckhorn??

Hawg · January 4, 2025, 11:31 PM

I like full buckhorns. I use them as a ghost ring.

The Happy kaboomer · January 5, 2025, 12:50 AM

I FILE all the ears off my buckhorn sights...........They obscure too much of the target.

Sarge · January 5, 2025, 01:40 AM

I hate full buckhorns, give all mine a crew-cut.
https://www.thesixgunjournal.net/imp...puma-model-92/

Jack Ryan · January 5, 2025, 01:40 PM

I hate them as well.

JasonD67 · January 5, 2025, 02:11 PM

Can't stand them, with my 50ish year old eyes. When I was 20, they were just meh, but I can't stand them now. I have a Winchester 1873 that I put the Marbles peep sight on and that sighting system is incredible.

bamaranger · January 6, 2025, 11:35 PM

I condemned full buckhorn sights for a very long time and what little time I spent with them seemed to confirm the usual criticisms, many noted previously here by others.

A Remington Model 14. mfg'd in 1914 ( in .30 Rem) in my collection is adorned with a King full buckhorn and its' ultra low OEM factory bead was near impossible to see, much less fit in the tiny notch. I lamented this fact with another shooting pal who stated he shot full buckhorns somewhat like a peep/aperture sight. Hmmmm?

I removed the low factory front bead (of course I saved it) and installed a taller bead front with a much longer stem. By experimenting with the elevator on the buckhorn rear, I found that I could center the entire stem and bead in the buckhorn "window" and get the rifle zeroed. With the stem and bead entirely visible, floating above the barrel as it were, it was far easier to see versus trying to fit the bead in the tiny notch. A long stemmed front with an even bigger bead would improve the arrangement even further, but what I have works for now.

I get a kick out of hunting that old rifle. While I give up a good bit of range and twilight shooting time, the trip into the past, hunting with a rifle popular in my Grandad's era is enjoyable. Any buck that wanders near under 100 yds is in grave danger, given enough light.

musicmatty · January 9, 2025, 12:31 AM

Quote:

I removed the low factory front bead (of course I saved it) and installed a taller bead front with a much longer stem. By experimenting with the elevator on the buckhorn rear, I found that I could center the entire stem and bead in the buckhorn "window" and get the rifle zeroed. With the stem and bead entirely visible, floating above the barrel as it were, it was far easier to see versus trying to fit the bead in the tiny notch. A long stemmed front with an even bigger bead would improve the arrangement even further, but what I have works for now.

One of my rifles is a 1969 commemorative Winchester model 94. The rear Buckhorn is one of the smallest that I have seen. You can’t even see through it unless the hammer is fully cocked. Somehow, I’ve trained my eye well with this Very small Buckhorn which allows me to shoot this rifle very accurately out to 50 yards. The only other gun I shoot with open sights is a modern Henry 410 side gate which has a much larger Buckhorn. I’m also getting good accuracy with this Henry 410 shooting slugs out to 50 yards. I’m sure if I wasn’t having success with either of these lever action Buckhorn’s, I would be searching for aftermarket sights. I guess this is about as old school as it gets.

radom · January 9, 2025, 03:48 AM

That is why they invented tang peep sights. Try that and you will never go back.

**44 AMP** · January 9, 2025, 01:10 PM

Somewhere in my library (non digital) I have an article written by no less an authority than Townsend Whelen himself (about 1950), clearly stating his opinion that the only reason the whitetail deer population still existed in North America was because the buckhorn sight!

He didn't much care for them, it seems....

bamaranger · January 9, 2025, 03:05 PM

The modern condemnation of the full buckhorn is well known, by noted authorities like Whelen and many folks here.....I get it, I was one of them.

Yet the dang things persisted, and were common on a wide variety of old school rifles and muzzleloaders as well. Recently I read a piece where the author (sorry, can't recall source) suggested that full buckhorn allowed for a multi hold type sighting system.

Zero the rifle at long range with the sight stem and bead floating fully above the barrel like a peep. Half that is your mid range. Settle the bead in the notch and that's your short range zero.

Dunno.......might work well with a large caliber BP rifle or bigbore muzzleloader. Not so useful with a flatter smokeless cartridge I suspect.

It's a thought............

jetinteriorguy · January 10, 2025, 07:54 AM

For most of my life I never really understood the purpose of a buckhorn sight. I never owned a rifle with one until about ten years ago. After a little reading I came across an article explaining how to use them and headed out to give it a try. Wow, it actually worked to a degree and I thought how cool. Granted it’s not an MOA accuracy thing but within certain parameters and with a ton of practice I was pretty surprised. Now all that said there are definitely better systems out there but when you consider the origins and age of Buckhorn sights it’s pretty ingenious.

musicmatty · January 10, 2025, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Now all that said there are definitely better systems out there but when you consider the origins and age of Buckhorn sights it’s pretty ingenious.

Fully agree. My wife does very well with the buck horns. Here she is today out in the snow smacking a steel plate with slugs from our Henry 410 lever 30yds out from a standing position.

Driftwood Johnson · January 12, 2025, 02:08 AM

I like Buckhorn sights.

Marbles Semi-Buckhorn on my Uberti 1873

Track of the Wolf rear sight on my 1860 Henry

Semi-Budkhorn on my Marlin 1894 carbine

Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1873

Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1892

Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1892 Carbine

Flat Top Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1894

Full Buckhorn on a Marlin Model 39A

Semi-Buckhorn on Antique Winchester Model 1873

Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Marlin Model 1894

**44 AMP** · January 12, 2025, 03:38 AM

The full buckhorn rear sight (a fine example of "full" is shown by Driftwood on his Model 39A) has the advantages of options, and a degree of the features of other sights, though few people understand or use them well. And like most systems which do several things they don't do them quite as well as a dedicated system.

The "horns" coming up and nearly meeting mimics a hooded front sight, and by nearly forming a circle, allows you the option to sight the gun in like a peep sight (top of the post in the middle of the circle), or the usual "bead in the notch" method.

Doing some shooting using both ways will show you the difference in bullet impact and can provide a handy "drop compensator" once you learn the range it covers.

The drawback is the horns restricting your field of view, making it a bit more difficult to find and follow moving game.

The semi buckhorn with its much smaller, lower horns is better for that, and one of, if not the most popular sights for deer rifles and others where shots will be from point blank out to a few hundred yards.

Despite various experts condemnation, its a very "useable" sight system for the average deer hunter using iron sights.

GHOL · January 13, 2025, 11:02 PM

he full-buckhorn is almost as good as a peep rear sight. The eye automatically centers in the opening. You do NOT need to drop the front sight down in the notch, as long as you have sighted the rifle in for elevation with the front centered in the rear opening.

January 4, 2025, 08:36 AM	#1
musicmatty Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 354	Buck horn sights I've used these sights for so long, I like them and they work very well for me. I know there are other options available for open sights. I was wondering if others on this forum have love for these old school sights? Last edited by musicmatty; January 4, 2025 at 02:39 PM.

January 4, 2025, 11:13 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,007	Full buckhorn or semi buckhorn?? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 5, 2025, 01:40 AM	#6
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,483	I hate full buckhorns, give all mine a crew-cut. https://www.thesixgunjournal.net/imp...puma-model-92/ __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

January 5, 2025, 01:40 PM	#7
Jack Ryan Member Join Date: November 9, 2009 Posts: 88	I hate them as well. __________________ It is amazing how a person's opinion of a back stop can change, depending on if they are shooting toward their own house or someone else's.

January 6, 2025, 11:35 PM	#9
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,600	change of heart I condemned full buckhorn sights for a very long time and what little time I spent with them seemed to confirm the usual criticisms, many noted previously here by others. A Remington Model 14. mfg'd in 1914 ( in .30 Rem) in my collection is adorned with a King full buckhorn and its' ultra low OEM factory bead was near impossible to see, much less fit in the tiny notch. I lamented this fact with another shooting pal who stated he shot full buckhorns somewhat like a peep/aperture sight. Hmmmm? I removed the low factory front bead (of course I saved it) and installed a taller bead front with a much longer stem. By experimenting with the elevator on the buckhorn rear, I found that I could center the entire stem and bead in the buckhorn "window" and get the rifle zeroed. With the stem and bead entirely visible, floating above the barrel as it were, it was far easier to see versus trying to fit the bead in the tiny notch. A long stemmed front with an even bigger bead would improve the arrangement even further, but what I have works for now. I get a kick out of hunting that old rifle. While I give up a good bit of range and twilight shooting time, the trip into the past, hunting with a rifle popular in my Grandad's era is enjoyable. Any buck that wanders near under 100 yds is in grave danger, given enough light.

January 4, 2025, 10:41 PM	#2
TheFlyingScotsman Junior Member Join Date: August 30, 2024 Posts: 7	My 1873 has leaf sights, as does my recently-acquired Ithaca saddle gun.

January 4, 2025, 11:31 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,312	I like full buckhorns. I use them as a ghost ring.

January 5, 2025, 12:50 AM	#5
The Happy kaboomer Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Posts: 262	I FILE all the ears off my buckhorn sights...........They obscure too much of the target.

January 5, 2025, 02:11 PM	#8
JasonD67 Member Join Date: February 17, 2021 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 15	Can't stand them, with my 50ish year old eyes. When I was 20, they were just meh, but I can't stand them now. I have a Winchester 1873 that I put the Marbles peep sight on and that sighting system is incredible.

January 9, 2025, 03:48 AM	#11
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,376	That is why they invented tang peep sights. Try that and you will never go back.

January 9, 2025, 01:10 PM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,007	Somewhere in my library (non digital) I have an article written by no less an authority than Townsend Whelen himself (about 1950), clearly stating his opinion that the only reason the whitetail deer population still existed in North America was because the buckhorn sight! He didn't much care for them, it seems.... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 9, 2025, 03:05 PM	#13
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,600	they persist The modern condemnation of the full buckhorn is well known, by noted authorities like Whelen and many folks here.....I get it, I was one of them. Yet the dang things persisted, and were common on a wide variety of old school rifles and muzzleloaders as well. Recently I read a piece where the author (sorry, can't recall source) suggested that full buckhorn allowed for a multi hold type sighting system. Zero the rifle at long range with the sight stem and bead floating fully above the barrel like a peep. Half that is your mid range. Settle the bead in the notch and that's your short range zero. Dunno.......might work well with a large caliber BP rifle or bigbore muzzleloader. Not so useful with a flatter smokeless cartridge I suspect. It's a thought............

January 10, 2025, 07:54 AM	#14
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,400	For most of my life I never really understood the purpose of a buckhorn sight. I never owned a rifle with one until about ten years ago. After a little reading I came across an article explaining how to use them and headed out to give it a try. Wow, it actually worked to a degree and I thought how cool. Granted it’s not an MOA accuracy thing but within certain parameters and with a ton of practice I was pretty surprised. Now all that said there are definitely better systems out there but when you consider the origins and age of Buckhorn sights it’s pretty ingenious.

January 12, 2025, 02:08 AM	#16
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,048	I like Buckhorn sights. Marbles Semi-Buckhorn on my Uberti 1873 Track of the Wolf rear sight on my 1860 Henry Semi-Budkhorn on my Marlin 1894 carbine Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1873 Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1892 Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1892 Carbine Flat Top Buckhorn on an antique Winchester Model 1894 Full Buckhorn on a Marlin Model 39A Semi-Buckhorn on Antique Winchester Model 1873 Semi-Buckhorn on an antique Marlin Model 1894

January 12, 2025, 03:38 AM	#17
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,007	The full buckhorn rear sight (a fine example of "full" is shown by Driftwood on his Model 39A) has the advantages of options, and a degree of the features of other sights, though few people understand or use them well. And like most systems which do several things they don't do them quite as well as a dedicated system. The "horns" coming up and nearly meeting mimics a hooded front sight, and by nearly forming a circle, allows you the option to sight the gun in like a peep sight (top of the post in the middle of the circle), or the usual "bead in the notch" method. Doing some shooting using both ways will show you the difference in bullet impact and can provide a handy "drop compensator" once you learn the range it covers. The drawback is the horns restricting your field of view, making it a bit more difficult to find and follow moving game. The semi buckhorn with its much smaller, lower horns is better for that, and one of, if not the most popular sights for deer rifles and others where shots will be from point blank out to a few hundred yards. Despite various experts condemnation, its a very "useable" sight system for the average deer hunter using iron sights. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 13, 2025, 11:02 PM	#18
GHOL Member Join Date: December 25, 2024 Posts: 20	he full-buckhorn is almost as good as a peep rear sight. The eye automatically centers in the opening. You do NOT need to drop the front sight down in the notch, as long as you have sighted the rifle in for elevation with the front centered in the rear opening.

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