Quote:
Originally Posted by David
I imagine these reproductions are a fair bit more accurate than the originals  |
That would appear to be intuitively obvious at first blush, what with modern manufacturing techniques and everything. In actual practice, however, it turns out that originals can be every bit as, if not more accurate than modern made reproductions.
Here is my Ballard "Pacific" model, manufactured in 1878, chambered in .45-70. All original, "lock, stock, and barrel". I used it to win many, many mid range (out to 600 yards) matches over the years. It is shown here with its hunting sights installed - I used it to kill one of the biggest mule deer that I have ever taken. When used in the matches, it wears an MVA "Soule" type rear sight along with an MVA globe and spirit level front. This rifle will shoot with, and often out shoot, any modern reproduction.
Here is the match rear sight that I use on all of my rifles, from Montana Vintage Arms. It's known as a "Soule" type, named for its inventor back in the 1880's. Windage is adjusted with the micrometer barrel, elevation via the vernier scale on the side. It has several aperture sizes that are available by turning the little wheel. The lower position is its 200 yard setting, the upper its 1,000 yard setting on the 1874 Sharps on which it is mounted. I have bases for it for all of my black powder single shots, so all I have to do is move the staff from rifle to rifle.
Here is the globe type front sight I use, also from MVA. The apertures are interchangeable in it as well, by swinging the little clip on top out of the way and removing the little spring steel aperture disc. The spirit level is critical to long range success, once that rear sight gets a ways up the staff. Any canting of the rifle affects vertical dispersion.
We see a real mix of originals and modern reproductions at these matches. Either is entirely capable of winning.
