I am well aware how redneck this question must sound, but bear with me.

I removed the scope from my BFR 10" 45-70 and put on a rear sight. With the sight screwed all the way down to it's lowest point, I am still consistently shooting about 8" high at 50 yards. Apparently, I'm going to have to order a lower front sight, once I figure out the numbers.

In the mean time, I am getting those ballistics with Leverevolution 325 factory ammo. This is a fast ammo, though not heavy for the caliber. If I changed ammo, like slower old-fashioned Remington 400 grn's, would this drop my POI significantly with the current irons set-up? Im not hunting till spring, just wanting to get profitable time behind the trigger while waiting for the opportunity to change the sight setup.

I also have some HMS Bearloads that I've not shot through it yet, but they are hot and heavier, so I'm sure they would POI even higher.

Any feedback or advice?

You will need a "Taller" front sight..not a lower one to bring your POI down.

Generally speaking, the heavier the bullet and the slower it is moving will result in a Higher POI. Because of inertia and a longer "dwell time" in the barrel...giving the barrel more time to rise before the bullet exits.

HSM "Bear Loads" are not that hot..they are actually designed to be powerful, yet "controllable"...With that being said, they are classified as +P because SAAMI spec is very low in the 45-70 to accommodate the 1873 Trapdoor.

So you may find that the HSM actually hit lower than the slow Remington, which is loaded to Trapdoor pressures.

I think you will actually need a taller front sight.

Taller front sight. You need to push the muzzle down so it aims lower and lowers your POI compared to your POA.
In the mean time, can you change how you line up the front and rear site? shift the front site when aiming so it just clears bottom of the groove in the rear site?

Also, I wouldn't expect the POI to shift much (more then a few inches) in 50 yards due to velocity/weight differences between loads.

This hill billy says taller front site.

Of course the other option is to lower the rear sight. Can BFR supply you with a lower rear sight or sight blade?

You may have to take a file to the rear sight blade.

Dwayne,

As already stated you'll need a taller front sight or shoot a faster lighter bullet, as this will also lower your impact.

OK. I was confused. It happens.

The scope is back on anyway, and as today is relatively warm I'm gonna go out in a while and put some rounds down range at about 50 yards. I'm going to shoot off of a rest, and I'm going to compare the POI of the Hornady Leverevolutions at 325grn that I have with the POI of the HSM +P Hardcast 430grn "Bear Loads" that I also have on hand. Looks like my boys and I are going to get a boat ride across the bay out of Homer this spring for a bear hunt. I'm psyching myself up to take nothing but the BFR, so I'm going to start buckling down and getting used to / confident with it and myself.

I don't much like the Leupold fixed 2X that's on it, but it's what I have. It just seems like the field of view is much smaller than other scopes I have used, and it doesn't draw light in as well. But we will see. I'll let you know how the session goes.

Just got back in. Took the scope off and shot some with open sights. Way high. You guys are right, a taller front sight is in order. The firearm sure handles better without the glass, and my pattern at 50 yards were almost as good. Recoil was more noticeable, but to be expected. I have a Ruger SBH rear sight on it, screwed all the way down. I could file it, as has been suggested, but the front sight is pinned in, and easier to change.

Just ordering the front sight and screwing it in on a bfr is the easiest way to go. That said id be really careful with the hunting shack loads on bear. Theyre really soft and ive had some lengthy chases with them on perfect shots thru the shoulders. This with 454 and 44 mag. Neither exited and the recovered bullets strongly resembled a melted hershey's kiss. Little damage was done after deformation going in. If it was a bear hunt i would atrongly consider tougher bullets.

Thank you. That's very good to know.