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Iron sights

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02 February 2002, 07:45
Fritz Kraut
Iron sights
Hunters and shooters,

which type of iron sights do you prefer, and why?

1. Round notch and gold/silver bead;
2. Square notch and post;
3. V-notch and bead;
4. V-notch and post;
5. Williams "fire-sights" or similar;
6. Peep-sight and post;
7. Peep-sight and bead;
8. Some other type.

Curiously,

Fritz

02 February 2002, 08:54
Kent in IA
#3
02 February 2002, 09:20
LE270
You need another possibility:

9. None

That's the one I'd choose.

02 February 2002, 12:24
<Mike M>
For close up work a V notch & ivory bead.
For longer ranges a good peep & tapered post.
02 February 2002, 15:39
hawky
I have used the v and ivory bead on my muzzleloader a u and gold bead on my 30-30. I have had good service out of these over the years. Last year I picked up a set of fire sights for my wifes muzzleloader and I love them. They are the answer to old tired eyes.
02 February 2002, 16:24
beemanbeme
#6
02 February 2002, 16:44
<Pre64>
#6 for me too.
02 February 2002, 16:50
Ray, Alaska
#3
02 February 2002, 18:00
DavidReed
# 2. Square notch and a square post with no fancy colors.
02 February 2002, 18:59
<Paladin>
#5, or #2.
02 February 2002, 19:03
TomP
Hi Fritz

Peep and post. Grew up with it.

Tom

02 February 2002, 22:45
Wachtel
#3 for fast shots, #2 for precision.
03 February 2002, 05:57
tsturm
#1 & #5


03 February 2002, 07:23
<Fat Bastard>
On a handgun, #2, all black. On a rifle, #6 with some bright orange color on the post.
03 February 2002, 07:41
Jiri
U notch and post, simply I can aim fast and enought accurate . . .
03 February 2002, 08:11
John Frazer
For target shooting, front globe and rear aperture. Never tried this until I shot a biathlon rifle so equipped last weekend. (Unfortunately, I don't live in MT/WY/ID or NY/VT/NH so there is little chance of me competing in biathlon.)

For hunting, #6, front post and rear peep.

03 February 2002, 12:13
HunterJim
Fritz,

The answer prabaly depends on age of the shooter (actually of his eyes), and what types have been tried. I used to shoot them all, but at almost 60 my "near point" is moving down the barrel as happens to us all.

Choice #6, the front post and rear aperture for both target and hunting.

For hunting the ghost ring aperture is both fast and accurate. You look through the larger aperture so that it "grays out". We older eyed guys can use this sight when we can no longer focus on the rear open sight.

I use a smaller aperture for target rifles.

I have recently bought a 12-ga turkey shotgun with red and green fiber optic sights. I have not had the chance to shot much with them yet, so the jury is still out. They look really good so far. Is this silicon sight counted as an iron sight?

jim dodd

------------------
"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

04 February 2002, 09:30
Fritz Kraut
quote:
Originally posted by HunterJim:
I have recently bought a 12-ga turkey shotgun with red and green fiber optic sights. I have not had the chance to shot much with them yet, so the jury is still out. They look really good so far. Is this silicon sight counted as an iron sight?

jim dodd


Jim,

I think that this is one of the better uses for silicone. This answer could count under #5. If I can get some of this type - "Firesights" or yours - I�ll make a try. It seems to be an interesting devolepment of the irons.

Best regards,

Fritz

04 February 2002, 08:07
<Slamfire>
I do my best target shooting with the peep and post, but for game prefer the fiber optics, through an aperature of course.
04 February 2002, 10:26
<Don Martin29>
For hunting I suppose I could get by with most of them. On pistols they are common and I like a "square" type front sight and rear.

For target the apature front sights are about as accurate as a scope.

For safety a scope is worth it right there.

04 February 2002, 11:01
Tombo21
Peep and post// peep and bead Use both and like both. Scopes are for sissies.
04 February 2002, 13:52
Atkinson
I only use a few variations:

1. Receiver sight with a post (partridge)

2. A shallow V with a post that is sighted with the post even with the top of the V such as a pistol sight picture would look..this is very fast and good for older eyes.

3. A shallow v and a 3/32 or larger bead....

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

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

05 February 2002, 02:58
dogtagger
On my Rem 660, I use a Williams FP 600 receiver sight (loose the screw-in apature), and have been using a fire sight on a shorty ramp. The fire sights are quite fragile though, breaking the "bead" much too easily.

This combo is very quick and accurate for short range shooting.

05 February 2002, 03:59
<allen day>
I like the fine milled-steel open sights that New England Custom Guns imports into the USA from EAW of Germany.

I have a set on my Echols-built custom Model 70 in .375 H&H. The rear sight is fixed, non-folding, skeletonized, adjustable for windage only, shallow "V" in its configuration, and with a reflective Tritium insert below the "V".

The front sight also has a Tritium dot and is adjustable for elevation only. The ramp is finely machined and unobtrusive, the front sight hood locks securely in place, and has a series of milled openings for the purpose of light gathering.

This is by far and away the slickest open sight setup I've ever used, and it's rock solid since it's of milled-steel construction and because Echols screwed and soldered these sights to the barrel. Since the rear sight is skeletonized, a minimal about of the target is covered (read obscured) by the sights.

AD

05 February 2002, 07:36
John Frazer
On a rifle with a 22" barrel and receiver peep, how thick a post do you like? Common thicknesses seem to be .065", .080" or .100".

John

05 February 2002, 12:19
RIP
Ray Atkinson's three choices are tops in my opinion, and I think Elmer Keith would have gone for that too.

The only other one I like is the square notch rear blade and gold post front that nestles precisely in the notch when lined up.

If I could change tradition, all double rifles would have ghost ring rear aperature sights and sourdough patridge posts on the front.

------------------
Happiness is a warm double and a bloody spear, but a 375 or a 416 will do just fine!
RAB

05 February 2002, 12:29
RIP
John Frazier,
0.100" or 3/32" or thereabouts, the bigger the better, as long as it doesn't affect the balance of the gun. A post that caused muzzle heaviness might be too big.

------------------
Happiness is a warm double and a bloody spear, but a 375 or a 416 will do just fine!
RAB

05 February 2002, 13:47
N'gagi
quote:
Originally posted by Tombo21:
Scopes are for sissies.

++++
I'm not sure if you are joking here or not. Your sarcasm may be missed by me.

Telescopic sights are for hunters who do not like to take chances on wounding an animal, or causing unecessary suffering. The light gathering characteristics of a scope ensure proper shot placement in low light conditions, as well as ensure good bullet placement in perfect light at medium to long ranges.

Iron sights are for use where a scope is not practical, ie heavy cover, tall grass and extremely close quarters......Or as a back up when a scope fails.

To say "scopes are for sissies" is an ignorant statement.


------------------
Quick, Clean and Painless.

08 February 2002, 19:58
Eterry
I have to go with #6.

Good luck and good shooting

09 February 2002, 08:17
Brent
#8 I guess, When hunting, I substitute crosswires for the front post - which is possible for many common front globes.

This has a one or two advantages over a post. Often the post is blurred out in low light because of ground shadows. But a set of crosswires will usually have 2 or more of the 4 segments visible and it is possible to bracket your target effectively - even in low light. Also, they can be thinner without risk of breaking or bending. This makes them easier to use at longer ranges, though it is not necessarily a major issue.

If I have to shoot barrel sights, I want a partridge style set up. Square wide notch with flat topped post. Wide notches let you see more of the lower portion of the target and help center things up a bit better.

Brent

09 February 2002, 14:30
Atkinson
Dagga Ron,

Funny you should mention that, on my last double rifle that Rick Stickley built and I stocked, Rick did just that at my request..He had two down on the 1/4 rib and a dovetail with ball and spring cut lenth wise wherein you could slip the ghost ring in or out...It worked so well with the New England partridge sight that I never used the flip ups..it was the best sight I ever had on a double and at a $100 cost. It also had a blank to fill the dovetail when the peep was not in use.

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

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com