Newbie to blackpowder with CVA bobcat

[brerrabbit]

I bought my lifer hunting license last year. In order to participate in more of the hunts, I traded a junk .38 for a CVA Bobcat in .50 caliber. The sights on the rifle look like they were improvised out of spare parts. I would like to change them out for a set of fiber optic sights, They appear to be a 3/8 dovetail mounted like what a 10/22 uses.

The Bobcat looks cheap, but after a bit of cleaning, oiling, etc it has turned out to be a pretty reliable rifle with a very low rate of misfires. I like it enough that I want to improve it a bit.

Am I correct on about the sights? Does anyone have a good suggestion for a set of replacement sights, front and rear, preferably fiber optic?

 

[arcticap]

Deer Creek Products, P.O. Box 246, Waldron, Indiana, phone # 765-525-6181 has many sets of fiber optic hunting sights for Traditions & CVA sidelock octagonal barrel muzzle loaders.

The Deluxe Fiber Optic hunting sights specify it's for 15/16" Octagonal barrels and are $27.99. (Item A1411)
They also list a Lite Optic Site system that doesn't mention any specific size of octagonal barrel, for $17.49. (Item A1571)
Both sight sets have a round barrel version too so be sure to specify that it's for a sidelock with an octagonal barrel. I believe that the Bobcat has a 15/16" barrel, they'll know, and these are made by Traditions.

They also list other (sidelock) fiber optic sight sets elsewhere in their catalog (CVA Brand):
CVA Illuminator Solar Sights - Item AC1621SP for $18.95
CVA Illuminator II Fiber Optics - Item AC1620SP for $27.95
Illuminator Sight System (deluxe, I guess) - Item AC1529SP for $45.95

They don't have a website, just call them. They sell all kinds of CVA & Traditions parts and they are very easy to deal with.
Let us know how it works out.

I bought my son a Traditions Deer Hunter with the cheaper Traditions adjustable sight set and I think that they work fine and seem to be durable.

 

[brerrabbit]

I ordered the illuminater II sights AC1620 as you suggested. . They arrived yesterday. I think I see how to install them and the package has a brief set of directions is on the back.

I am going to try to install them and get them sighted in this weekend.

 

[arcticap]

That should "brighten up" your shooting sessions!

 

[brerrabbit]

I took them dovetails out of the package, Apparently they were about a 1/16 of an inch too big. I was not sure if it was the wrong part, or just the manufacturing practice. I worked them on a coarse aluminumn oxide sharpening for about an hour to work them down to the size of the other sights and till they had good fit, and knocked them in with a punch. After that, the rest of the installation was very easy.

They look very good. They seem to make a huge difference in aiming and visibility of the front sight.

Now to sight them in friday. thanks for the help.

 

[Aaryq]

I'm too old school, man...If I think of a blackpowder rifle, I just can't imagine fiber optics or any optics on a rifle. I think of a guy in a coon hat shooting his meal for the night, his clothes for the year, and his stuff for trading...I don't have the experience with muzzle loaders to make suggestions for you, but I just had to comment though.