As the old saying goes: "Civil War soldiers shot at brigade size targets." The theory the military subscribed to then was the same as it subscribes to today: Put enough rounds in the air and the enemy is bound to take some hits a.k.a. the "Spray & Pray School of Marksmanship." The difference today is that with semi-and fully automatic arms, a lot more bullets can be sent flying in the general direction of the enemy.
Skirmishing is an entirely different marksmanship discipline, as it requires very accurate shooting at "short" ranges (50 & 100 yards.) So, IF you are going to be competitive, you are going to have to make certain changes to your factory original replica rifle or replica rifle-musket.
For Skirmishing, the front sight that comes on your replica is way too low. Some Skirmishers simply file down the blade and then use a hacksaw blade to open up a channel in the sight base. Then they solder a new, TALLER front sight blade in the channel.
There are two "down" sides to this procedure. I have observed on several occasions, during a Musket Team Match a soldered on front sight blade simply fell off, OOPS! So, unless you can find your missing front sight blade or have a spare and some solder and a propane torch handy, you are out of luck.
The second "down" side is that when you bench your rifle with the taller front sight blade, you discover that your "Windage" is off. I have seen some Skirmishers try to alter the windage by filing down one side or the other of that front sight blade. The problem with that procedure is there is only so much "meat" you can remove before your blade gets very thin and weak.
Well, IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT COMPETING you need to consider getting a DOVETAILED, TALL FRONT SIGHT.
http://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=58S148A&cat=87
Although the above, new front sight is for a Springfield it will also do for an Enfield because the original Springfield front sight adopted in 1855 was a copy of the original Enfield front sight anyway.
What the N-SSA Inspectors are looking for is a front sight base that is like the original front sight base. The base on the S & S replacement front sight passes muster in that respect and is "N-SSA Legal.".
Then you need to take the barrel off of your replica and head down to a local gunshop that has a competent gunsmith that has a milling machine. What you will ask him to do is to heat up your front sight and knock it off of the barrel. These old front sights are usually silver soldered to the barrel so with a little heat from a propane torch, they will come off easily.
Then the gunsmith is going to have to mount up the barrel level in the machine and cut the "Dovetail" groove in the top of the barrel. Of course, you new front sight has to be in the exact same location on the barrel where the original factory mounted sight was.
WARNING - AN ENFIELD OR SPRINGFIELD FRONT SIGHT THAT IS ONLY DOVETAILED IN IS ILLEGAL UNDER N-SSA RULES!
The N-SSA has a pesky rule that states that the front sights of Enfields and Springfields have to be SOLDERED in place. Here is how we are going to comply with that rule. It is a two-step process.
Take your new S & S front sight and find a drill press. Flip the sight UPSIDE DOWN and mount it in the vise of the drill press. Then drill two small holes in the bottom of the sight. The depth? About half way through the base.
Now, throw some heat on the bottom of the sight and touch some silver solder to it. The silver solder will run into the holes and cover the base.
After the silver solder cools, then gently file the base flat so you end up with the two holes you drilled full of silver solder. THIS IS THE END OF "STEP #1."
Now mount your front sight in the dovetail of your barrel and re-assemble your replica rifle or replica rifle-musket and head for the range.Presumably you will be using loads that you have developed and shoot a tight group in your replica. What we will be doing next is the "Zero" your rifle's sights for this ammo.
You will be "Shooting off the Bench" at 100 yards. You "ZERO" your "Windage" by tapping the front sight back and forth until your bullets are hitting "Dead Center" in the target. VERY IMPORTANT-WHEN ADJUSTING YOUR FRONT SIGHT, YOU HAVE TO TAP IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION YOU WANT YOUR BULLETS TO GO!
How to make the N-SSA Inspectors happy! Now that your Windage is Zeroed, light your propane torch, throw some heat on the front sight until the silver solder in the holes in the bottom of the sight base melts. The silver solder will run down into the dovetail and "Presto" you have complied with N-SSA rules because your dovetailed front sight is now "soldered" in place! This is STEP #2 of the Two Step process. Congratulations, you are now "N-SSA Legal."
After your Windage is Zeroed, now it is time to take care of the Elevation. For this you will need to shoot "Off the Bench" and have a file handy. Simply flip up your 50 yard sight and start shooting three shot groups. Simply file down the top of your sight until your bullets are landing "Dead Center" in the target.
Your 50 Yard sight is the most important sight setting because the vast majority of N-SSA Team Matches are shot at 50 Yards. That being said, you also want to also have a Dead Center Zero for 100 Yard targets. With a Springfield, you will have to modify your rear sight to put it "Dead On" at 100 Yards.
Generally, your "Peep Hole" or Notch for your 100 Yard setting will be approximately 1/16th of an inch above your 50 Yard Peep hole or Notch. Keep in mind that is only a general guideline as this figure will vary from gun to gun and with different loads and bullets. You just have to experiment to find what works for your, your replica and your load combo.
Well what if you still want to mount a bayonet on your rifle-musket? If it is a socket bayonet, simply have your gunsmith throw it on the milling machine and mill a slot, through the "bridge" of the bayonet's socket. That will allow the bayonet to slide on to the barrel.
GOOD LUCK!
Skirmishing is an entirely different marksmanship discipline, as it requires very accurate shooting at "short" ranges (50 & 100 yards.) So, IF you are going to be competitive, you are going to have to make certain changes to your factory original replica rifle or replica rifle-musket.
For Skirmishing, the front sight that comes on your replica is way too low. Some Skirmishers simply file down the blade and then use a hacksaw blade to open up a channel in the sight base. Then they solder a new, TALLER front sight blade in the channel.
There are two "down" sides to this procedure. I have observed on several occasions, during a Musket Team Match a soldered on front sight blade simply fell off, OOPS! So, unless you can find your missing front sight blade or have a spare and some solder and a propane torch handy, you are out of luck.
The second "down" side is that when you bench your rifle with the taller front sight blade, you discover that your "Windage" is off. I have seen some Skirmishers try to alter the windage by filing down one side or the other of that front sight blade. The problem with that procedure is there is only so much "meat" you can remove before your blade gets very thin and weak.
Well, IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT COMPETING you need to consider getting a DOVETAILED, TALL FRONT SIGHT.
http://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=58S148A&cat=87
Although the above, new front sight is for a Springfield it will also do for an Enfield because the original Springfield front sight adopted in 1855 was a copy of the original Enfield front sight anyway.
What the N-SSA Inspectors are looking for is a front sight base that is like the original front sight base. The base on the S & S replacement front sight passes muster in that respect and is "N-SSA Legal.".
Then you need to take the barrel off of your replica and head down to a local gunshop that has a competent gunsmith that has a milling machine. What you will ask him to do is to heat up your front sight and knock it off of the barrel. These old front sights are usually silver soldered to the barrel so with a little heat from a propane torch, they will come off easily.
Then the gunsmith is going to have to mount up the barrel level in the machine and cut the "Dovetail" groove in the top of the barrel. Of course, you new front sight has to be in the exact same location on the barrel where the original factory mounted sight was.
WARNING - AN ENFIELD OR SPRINGFIELD FRONT SIGHT THAT IS ONLY DOVETAILED IN IS ILLEGAL UNDER N-SSA RULES!
The N-SSA has a pesky rule that states that the front sights of Enfields and Springfields have to be SOLDERED in place. Here is how we are going to comply with that rule. It is a two-step process.
Take your new S & S front sight and find a drill press. Flip the sight UPSIDE DOWN and mount it in the vise of the drill press. Then drill two small holes in the bottom of the sight. The depth? About half way through the base.
Now, throw some heat on the bottom of the sight and touch some silver solder to it. The silver solder will run into the holes and cover the base.
After the silver solder cools, then gently file the base flat so you end up with the two holes you drilled full of silver solder. THIS IS THE END OF "STEP #1."
Now mount your front sight in the dovetail of your barrel and re-assemble your replica rifle or replica rifle-musket and head for the range.Presumably you will be using loads that you have developed and shoot a tight group in your replica. What we will be doing next is the "Zero" your rifle's sights for this ammo.
You will be "Shooting off the Bench" at 100 yards. You "ZERO" your "Windage" by tapping the front sight back and forth until your bullets are hitting "Dead Center" in the target. VERY IMPORTANT-WHEN ADJUSTING YOUR FRONT SIGHT, YOU HAVE TO TAP IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION YOU WANT YOUR BULLETS TO GO!
How to make the N-SSA Inspectors happy! Now that your Windage is Zeroed, light your propane torch, throw some heat on the front sight until the silver solder in the holes in the bottom of the sight base melts. The silver solder will run down into the dovetail and "Presto" you have complied with N-SSA rules because your dovetailed front sight is now "soldered" in place! This is STEP #2 of the Two Step process. Congratulations, you are now "N-SSA Legal."
After your Windage is Zeroed, now it is time to take care of the Elevation. For this you will need to shoot "Off the Bench" and have a file handy. Simply flip up your 50 yard sight and start shooting three shot groups. Simply file down the top of your sight until your bullets are landing "Dead Center" in the target.
Your 50 Yard sight is the most important sight setting because the vast majority of N-SSA Team Matches are shot at 50 Yards. That being said, you also want to also have a Dead Center Zero for 100 Yard targets. With a Springfield, you will have to modify your rear sight to put it "Dead On" at 100 Yards.
Generally, your "Peep Hole" or Notch for your 100 Yard setting will be approximately 1/16th of an inch above your 50 Yard Peep hole or Notch. Keep in mind that is only a general guideline as this figure will vary from gun to gun and with different loads and bullets. You just have to experiment to find what works for your, your replica and your load combo.
Well what if you still want to mount a bayonet on your rifle-musket? If it is a socket bayonet, simply have your gunsmith throw it on the milling machine and mill a slot, through the "bridge" of the bayonet's socket. That will allow the bayonet to slide on to the barrel.
GOOD LUCK!
Bringing the