Scope or Receiver Sight

11 December 2001, 13:38

<Zeke>

Hello All,
Was out load testing today with Gramdpa's M99 Savage. I have come to the conclusion that my eyes aren't what they used to be. I had a tough time seeing the target with the OEM factory sight(some sort of buckhorn and a brass bead).
So, those of you who have M99 Savages.
Are you shooting receiver sights or a scope and why.
I tend to keep my shots unber 100yds with this gun. FYI mine is drilled for a scope.

Thanks
ZM

11 December 2001, 15:22

Zeke I have not got a savage 99 but I do have a couple of marlin levers and one wears a tasco pro point red dot device. For shots around 100 yards it is great, particulary on moving game. You do not have the same precision as a scope for shot placement, but you have less to concentrate on. Maybe this may suit you?

I'm certainly impressed with it's performance on my 45/70.

Regards PC

------------------

[This message has been edited by PC (edited 12-11-2001).]

11 December 2001, 16:47

TomP

Hello Zeke

I shoot a Savage 24V with scope and peeps. I passed up a nice Maine buck at about 75 yards on a gray day awhile back because there was a birch thicket behind him and I could not be sure there were antlers; this was when it had only the peep sight. When the time he moved his head, it was to get moving, and that was that. I put scope back on the gun post haste. I can hit well enough at 100+ yards, but I think I need optics now in situations where it wasn't always so.

Tom

11 December 2001, 16:53

Big_R

Zeke:

I have a '99 in .308 that I got from my father. He bought it used and whoever drilled/tapped the receiver did a pretty poor job requiring shims to make the scope come to point of aim. Anyhow, I took the scope off to see what it could do. With Speer 180 grain spitzers, I can shoot about 3" groups at 100 yards with the factory sights. I thought this was good enough until I held one with a receiver sight, I can't remember what brand the sight was. Anyway, now I've put on my long list of projects to have a receiver sight added. There really is a big improvement over the factory sights.

Since your gun is drilled/tapped, it would be easy to try mounting a scope. Ray could probably recommend a good set of bases. If your shots are at relatively close range, I would keep the scope fairly low powered. Maybe a 1/5 - 4X. The lower magnification scopes tend to be easier on the eyes, mine anyway.

Ryan

12 December 2001, 01:51

p dog shooter

I have hunted with a 99 on and off for years. Scopes are the only way to go putting a nice group togather on the range is one thing trying it when it is kind of dark or brushy is another. Right now my 99 wears a 1.75 x5 burris great scope. I have scopes on all my hunting rifles. They are the only way to go. I well make shots that there is no way you could even see the game with open sites. Picking holes in the brush at over 100 yards ect. Put a good scope on you well wonder why you ever thought about a peep.

12 December 2001, 02:48

sxr6

Scopes have their place but not on a 99 Sav. Go with the peep you'll never look back. The peep mounting on a Sav gives a long sight plain & is very accurate & quick. Try it you'll like it!!

12 December 2001, 04:57

Stonecreek

If, as you say, "my eyes aren't what they used to be", then scoping your 99 is what you need to do.

As we age, the ability of the eye to focus at more than one distance deteriorates. Any type of metallic sight requires your eye to do just that -- open sights require focusing on the rear and front sights as well as the target all more or less simultaneously, while peep sights require focusing only on the front sight and target, which is somewhat easier to do.

A scope, in addition to magnifying the target, only requires your eye to focus on one plane -- that of the image in the scope.

A compact fixed or low power variable will make you and your 99 a much better shooter, and, contrary to some uninformed opinions, will be faster than open sights.

12 December 2001, 05:23

Atkinson

I wear bi focals and am 67 years old and I still shoot iron sights quite a bit and if all my shots are under 200 yards then I wouldn't want a scope..I like the reciever sight....

But if you were raised on a scope, then that is the way to go..Shots beyond 200 yds. are easier to make with a scope.

99% of todays hunters do better with a scope under any circumstances...In your case I would suggest a 1x4X Leupold scope..I have one on my M-99 250-3000 and I really like it. thats about all the scope one needs on a nice light rifle..Putting a huge varible on a nice light rifle is an abortion...If you can't get a good sight picture with a 4X then he certainly is too far away to be shooting at. Big awkard scopes leave me cold.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

13 December 2001, 09:29

<Zeke>

Thanks for the suggestions
I think I'll try both. I believe my wife may be getting me a Williams Fool Proof sight for Christmas. In the meantime I'm already looking for the proper scope mounts and a mid-priced low power variable scope.
Thanks
ZM

13 December 2001, 03:18

sxr6

Having said I like peeps a lot. I do have a 250 with a straight 2X that works very well, but it's a knockabout gun, but if your 99 is a nice old original you'll be destroying the value drilling for scope mounts. I think it was in 1940's when Sav went to pre drilled receivers.

13 December 2001, 07:21

<Zeke>

Mine was made after 1951 and before 1954. The gun came to me already drilled and tapped.

14 December 2001, 11:21

<Reloader66>

Very simple solution to your problem is you can't shoot it if you can't line up your peep or open sights on your target. Put a good scope like a 2X7 or 2X8 on that rifle and see how well your game getting improves. Hunters who ware glasses or have poor eyesight are only fooling their self thinking they can still hunt game with open sights because they don't want to admit their eyes are not what they used to be. Get the scope installed and return to getting game instead of sqwinting at your open sights
and missing or wounding game.

15 December 2001, 08:32

John Frazer

I'm mostly accustomed to scopes but I put a Williams Foolproof peep on the Model 94 I won.

This raises a question. I do have some experience shooting the AR-15 with its rear aperture and square front post.

However, when I look at a front bead like the one on my .30-30 my eye wants to center the bead on the target.

On the other hand, I know some people put the TOP of the bead on the desired point of impact, just as I would do with an AR-15 -- so which do you prefer?

John

16 December 2001, 09:17

<Zeke>

I am strongly leaning towards a scope.

16 December 2001, 06:36

Mark

quote:
Originally posted by John Frazer:
I'm mostly accustomed to scopes but I put a Williams Foolproof peep on the Model 94 I won.
This raises a question. I do have some experience shooting the AR-15 with its rear aperture and square front post.
However, when I look at a front bead like the one on my .30-30 my eye wants to center the bead on the target.
On the other hand, I know some people put the TOP of the bead on the desired point of impact, just as I would do with an AR-15 -- so which do you prefer?
John

For -this- gun I would sight it in like you are thinking about doing, and have the bead cover the POI. For a target rifle it would be different, but I know what you mean about the unconscious centering of that bead... It will also allow you to be a little more effective in low light and also with quick shots, as all you have to do is line that bead up to where you want to hit, not figure out what is right above where your eye is naturally centering.

If you were to decide to aim off the top of the sight I would suggest getting a different post, or at least building up the sides of this one with JB Weld to make it more rectangular.

19 December 2001, 12:36

Atkinson

John F,
Sight it in the way YOU like it, smake on...

Reloader66,
I don't see the sugnificance of your post...If one can shoot, then one can shoot and why would any one go around missing..Thats just speculation with no basis on your part.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

19 December 2001, 15:51

<Slamfire>

I'm an old guy (61) who is well into presbyopia, the inability to shift focus. I've been a wearer of glasses since age 14, due to myopia (nearsightedness). I can still do some pretty good work with a receiver sight and a patridge type front sight. I have to focus on the front sight and let the target get all fuzzy, but it works for me. I say this because there are some rifles that just have too much drop in the stock to permit good facial contact with the comb, while looking through a scope. Surely some of the older 99s fall into this category. Oh there are cheekpieces you can lace or glue onto your stock, but with the addition of these and the scope, the old rifle just never has the same feel that you fell in love with when you were young and eagle eyed. The Williams sights don't cost a whole lot, and patridge inserts are available for just about any dovetail ever used on an American made rifle. Try the combo and if it doesn't work you'll just have to make up the lost money by shooting the gun less. Then you can put on the scope.

19 December 2001, 16:29

<Don Martin29>

Any scope at all is better for hunting than iron sights. The biggest reason is safety and by that I mean target identification.

I have two 99's and they both have 4X scopes on them. I think the standard Weaver mounts are just fine and they save money and weight.

If you are into bargain shopping, after all your season may be over now, look for a old Lyman All American in 4X. I think they have the sharpest optics of any scope out there.

But since variables are in a 2-7 will cover it all. Just don't get one with a big objective. It's a hunters rifle.