Winchester 1886 tang sight question

[JohnnyB]

Hi folks, I have a Winchester (Miroku) 1886 Deluxe takedown in 45-70 with a tang safety. I was thinking about installing a Marble's tang sight. Midway has one specifically for the tang safety models for $124. They say that you must drill and tap the tang for the other screw on the sight. The photo shows 1 hole, I'm assuming the other one is under base assembly. I hate the thought of drilling into this beautiful rifle. My question is: is there any way to avoid drilling that second hole and only use the one hole. Would that one hole hold the tang sight on rigid enough to maintain alignment?
Are there any other alternate methods that are non-destructive?
any help would be helpful.
thanks,
John

 

[rcmodel]

No.

You would almost have to have two screws to keep it in place on a 45-70.

I suppose you could try one screw & Lock-Tight Black-Max adhesive.
But I wouldn't count on it working that great.

rc

 

[Buzzard II]

Drill the second hole and don't give it a second thought. Keep your shooting eye right where it's at, and functioning. You using Black powder in there, I hope! Good luck. Bob

 

[Onmilo]

I installed a tang sight on one of the takedown pistol gripped Miroku made rifles.
You will need to drill and tap for the second hole and, fair warning, the tang is super hardened so you will need to break the surface hardening with a carbide spot drill, then anneal the hole location before you drill and tap.

I munched two HSS spot drills before it dawned on me how hard the surface finish on the tang really was.