Sight notch

[wvmtnman]

My son is wanting a new rear sight on his gun.  He’s wanting a squared notch.  How do you guys cut a square notch?  I’ve always done triangles. 
       Thanks, Brian

[2 shots]

seems the edge of a proper size file should work

[Hungry Horse]

 Square notched sights were the big deal when I started shooting black powder in the mid 70’s. They even were being sold out here on the left coast as a “California sight”. But, once my eyes began to fade on me I started looking for something better. That wound up being the fine V notched sights of my ancestors. Square notched sights are combat sights designed for rapid alignment and snap shooting, not target shooting where precision is required.

Hungry Horse

[wvmtnman]

Any sources on Micro Files?  Any brand seem to work better?

[Long Ears]

Depending on how wide you want it you can file the set out of a hack saw blade and then cut the notch. I also like a square notch and just a bit of light on both sides of the front blade. Like stated above, they are very quickly acquired. I do however disagree with using them for target shooting. Mine works fine for short or long range paper punching. Just sight it in dead center. Bob

[Scota4570]

I use a Dremil diamond cut off or the abrasive wafer types.  I run them in a milling machine.  A careful hand may get acceptable results with a drill press. 

I use a slotted rear sight exclusively.  I use front sights that match the rear slot. 

[Clowdis]

The edge of a flat needle file will cut a perfect square notch.

[flehto]

I've always preferred a square notch in the rear sight and file it in w/ a rectangular needle file. The thickness where the slot is minimal and the sides of the slot are slightly slanted ....the slot is wider at the front . The "light" on both sides of the blade is quite a bit otherwise it's  picked up too slowly. .....Fred

[Marcruger]

" Square notched sights were the big deal when I started shooting black powder in the mid 70’s. They even were being sold out here on the left coast as a “California sight”. But, once my eyes began to fade on me I started looking for something better. That wound up being the fine V notched sights of my ancestors. Square notched sights are combat sights designed for rapid alignment and snap shooting, not target shooting where precision is required."

That is an interesting comment.  Many modern target guns have worn square notch rear sights in competition for years.  Look at just about any open sighted target pistols in matches with pistols.  I cannot resolve vee notches well at all. 

[smylee grouch]

Everyone has their favorites mostly based on what they see and where they use them. I prefer a very shallow wide V notch, back of sight as flat as I can make them and the actual V cut to a KNIFE edge on the front of the rear sight. Rear sight straight up and down or leaning FORWARD just a tish. I can pick this up in low light or shadow. This is very quick to pic up. It works very well for me. YMMV

[Scota4570]

I should have added,

With a front sight about 0.110" wide, I use a rear sight with a slit of about 0.040".   I have no files that thin.  The aim, the front sight is level across the top of the rear.  The slit of light in either side of the front sight of about the right width with those dimensions on a long rifle.  The slightest misalignment is obvious.  Even when using a tang sight not perfectly centering the peep hole is obvious in the rear sight.  The wide front sight is a good width for the 50 yard aggregate target black.

For field shooting or trail walks it may not be optimal.  It does make the smallest groups on paper targets for me. 

[Craig Wilcox]

Brownell's has special files for cutting slots in screws.  They come in several thicknesses.

[P.W.Berkuta]

It takes some skill and time to get a square notch filed into a rear sight WITHOUT a mill or a GOOD drill press set up. Those thin flexible files wobble a lot and you end up with a not so parallel and square notch in relation to the top of the sight. I had to remake MANY a rear sight because of this. The "Vee" notch has its advantages. As your eyesight diminishes you can widen the "vee" to let more light through so you can center the front sight blade better.