Way back in the good old days, we hunted Elephant in the Ethiopian Rain Forest around Teppi. Here 12 yards was a long shot and you never saw the whole elephant but had to study to figure out where everything was. You could literally bump into a leg if you weren't attentive. Anyway, I used a big white 1/8" bead and a shallow, wide, VEE rear sight mounted on an island base. Today, were I to do it again (with my current 60 year old eyes) I'd likely use a wide, white square front sight and a ghost ring.

Rich Elliott

Retreever!

Having also killed two bulls on the Gongue, I know exactly what you mean.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by Rich Elliott:
Way back in the good old days, we hunted Elephant in the Ethiopian Rain Forest around Teppi. Here 12 yards was a long shot and you never saw the whole elephant but had to study to figure out where everything was. You could literally bump into a leg if you weren't attentive. Anyway, I used a big white 1/8" bead and a shallow, wide, VEE rear sight mounted on an island base. Today, were I to do it again (with my current 60 year old eyes) I'd likely use a wide, white square front sight and a ghost ring.

Rich Elliott

Definitely the best setup.

Ghost Ring: For either the elderly or the young, the handiest in the brush, and just as fast as a 1X scope, and faster than VEE&BEAD express sights, if you want to hit what you are aiming at. Saint Finn Aagaard taught me that with his published time and accuracy trials, before I proved it to myself.

Even the big square patridge front sight can be very precise with a screw-in aperature added to the ghost ring. Then a shooter with perfect vision can center the POA at the top & center edge of the patridge, for a precise target zero.

Then, screw out the aperature and just slap the big white or gold square front sight on target for fast and furious close range hits.

If you have foggy vision or eagle eyes, either way, Rich's choice has a lot to recommend it.

A QD scope, aperature rear, square front, and none of those obsolete shallow VEE's cluttering up the barrel, please.

Why do you guys like a square front sight rather than a round bead, for use with a ghost ring?

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
One of the very best compromises out there is a large ring rear aperture ghost ring with a square white line front post.

They are excellent in low light. They are extremely fast to use. They are very accurate. And are much less difficult to use for people with poor vision than a regular V sight arrangement.

I'd venture to say there is no superior iron sight system in the world for close fast encounters.

Hey RIP,

What was my recommendation? Chicken soup?

JPK,

A square post with a white line is picked up by the eye easier than a standard front "ball" it is easier for the brain to accurately place it in the middle of the aperture and it gives a better representation on the target. It is more intuitive therefore quicker for the brain to line up a flat line I.E. the top of the post on a horizontal plain than to line up a round ball on the same.

I've got a message into Ashley Emerson the past proprietor of AO sight systems to help clear this up. He and Finn Agard put a lot of time and study into just this question and they came up with the idea that the large ring aperture and the square post white line front sight were the best choice for most conceivable situations where rapid sighting was needed.

If you've never tried them they are available from XS sights and are truly a fantastic system for the above intended application.

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
One of the very best compromises out there is a large ring rear aperture ghost ring with a square white line front post.

They are excellent in low light. They are extremely fast to use. They are very accurate. And are much less difficult to use for people with poor vision than a regular V sight arrangement.

I'd venture to say there is no superior iron sight system in the world for close fast encounters.

Hey RIP,

What was my recomendation? Chicken soup?

Right,
I read that and got all excited to see such good sense, that I scrolled to the bottom, and saw Rich's echo of your suggestion.

Then I was so giddy I spasticly quoted Rich because it was quick.

Surestrike gets the Gold Star for being first to post the right answer to this conundrum.

So any help with my question?

Thanks,

JPK

JPK,

Did my post not help with your question?


RIP,

UUUHH UHHH ME ME PICK ME !!!

ADDS is a bitch..

Can I have sparkles on my star?

Surestrike,

OOPS, I didn't read all the way down.

The only aperture sight I currently use is a Williams mounted on a Model 94, with the center taken out so it is a ghost ring, along with a bead front.

I have always believed you just put the bead where you want the bullet to go. I'll have to give a square post front with a white line a try.

Thanks,

JPK

An ELEPHANT with shooting sticks?

Come on!

You are pulling my leg!

I hate shooting sticks!

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
JPK,

Did my post not help with your question?


RIP,

UUUHH UHHH ME ME PICK ME !!!

ADDS is a bitch..

Can I have sparkles on my star?

You can have sparkles and a pat on the back too.

Actually a thin white line in the middle of a big square gold patridge would be my idea of perfection.

Like gilding the lilly, or white-lining the gilded lilly.

I have used the Ashley blades and peeps on leveractions.

I have never made the leap to white-lining the gold square though. Thanks for prompting this. Now I can use the dividing line on the front sight for Kentucky Windage too. You are my hero tonight.

I've got a stainless .458Lott with Ashley's sights on it as well as a pre-64 M-70 .358 Win. And of course a couple of lever guns too.

This stuff just works! And the amazing thing about the ghost ring when set up right is how well it works at long range too. Why don't you come out to the ranch and we'll do some North American target rock busting at all ranges maybe stick a pig or two as well?

I'd really like to set up a double with a ghost ring. It'd be just about the perfect thick jesse rig.

Hell maybe I'll set one up just to see if I can get Will to call me "flowery" again.

While I always used sqyare sights on my handguns for competion, and peep sights in my rifles for competition, I prefer the sightsw that are on my 450 No2 best of all for hunting.

It has a wide V [not too wide] and a fairly small bead. The sights do not stick up above the bbls very much at all. The shape of the rear sight is perfect.

In fact I like the wide V and bead sight so much for hunting I, put that type of sight on my Freedom Arms 475 Linebaugh.

450,

Yet another fine sight cinfiguration. This is what I've got on my double. It is a fine configuration for pistols as well.