Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Tang sight questions for BB

I tacked this question on at the end of the B.B. post and I don’t think it will get as many views as making it a new thread.

Well, I got a Lyman 30 1/2 tang site for my BB. A couple of questions: first, do you guys think I’ll have to change the front sight? Any recommendations for a good front sight? Which direction do I drift off the old rear sight? And what filler plug would you recommend for the old rear sight dovetail. I’d like to get one that blends with the barrel.

You'll likely need a taller front sight. You might be able to find a taller Savage made front sight. If not, then I like the old Redfield sourdoughs, but any 3/8-dovetail base blade will work. It's just your preference on shape.. I always have to think about it but I think you move the rear sight in the direction you want the bullet to impact. The easiest way to fill the dovetail is to get a blank from Lyman. You could always also use a folding front sight too.

To remove the sight from the dovetail, drive it left to right, looking at it from the rear. Only way to tell about the front sight is to shoot it. I never had to change out the front sight on any of my carbines- and they all have 30½ tang sights on them. Don't know about later BB carbines.

Looking at your pic, I'll go out on a limb and say it may even need a lower front sight. The thing with tang sights is if the front sight is too high that means you'll be raising the tang sight staff a lot to compensate. That can spell a poor cheek weld on the comb of the stock.

As for sight dovetail fillers, I just throw in a Lyman or Marbles- whatever falls to hand first. Rounded/contoured to match the barrel is ok, but how are you gonna do it without marring the barrel and then have to reblue it? Besides, I always thought they looked kind of dumb, kind of an affectation that that is unecessary.

I saw a Pope-barreled Ballard once that old Harry filled the dovetail on the octagon barrel with a closely fitted piece of steel, matching the contour of the barrel (documented by correspondence between Pope and the customer). You needed a magnifying glass and catch it in just the right angle of light in order to see it. (The target scope blocks were attached to the barrel via dovetails, and the owner wanted the block spacing changed.)

While you still have the rear barrel sight in the gun, just set it at the lowest & highest positions and see if the tang sight will adjust to line up at both settings - if it doesn't it will give you an indication of how much of a change you may need in a front sight.

there are 3 different sight hights from Savage rifles in the 50s and 60s they will slide right in

norm

Actually there are 4 heights. A #38 is the tallest at about .470" OAH.

You won’t find much better advice than what the above four gentlemen gave you.

Thank you to all who responded. Great info that I will try. One problem - the knurled nut holding the elevation rod is stuck tight. I cannot budge the thing and I'm afraid I'm going to break it. What am I doing wrong here? Thanks!

Soak that nut with kroil if you have it. Those things can be a real pain!

Mike,
Could you post the other 3 numbers and their heights; would be great to have. Keith

FYI FWIW, my 56 EG .308 has a #34 on it and the 57F .308 has a #38.

Like most things Savage, there is no absolute with sight height to caliber to model. As you point out, 2 different .308s with different sights. I have studied guns at the Savage Fests to see if I could make a table but there are too many variations.

28 .375 to .390
31 0.410
34 0.445 +/-
38 0.470

Thanks, Mike.

The sights are probably different because the EG has a heavier barrel than the F,

...and a difference in length.