Good all,
Please excuse the dumbness but we are trying to learn.
We have just purchased a winchester m70 375H&H this gun must be a new model as it has no sights it has only bases for a scope.
We normally only hunt in bushveld(thicks) and would like to put some sights on.
Now for the tricky bit we donot have any gunsmiths as such and any attempt would be a DIY job, is there any sights anyone can reccommend?
Regards

Zambian your M70 has no sight & no plugged sight screw holes? Then this is indeed a task for a gunsmith to undertake.

If your rifle is not pre-drilled and tapped, you will need a GOOD skill to install succesfully open sights on it. You will have to EXACTLY drill and tap (usually 2 + 2 holes) to avoid misalignement between the front and rear sight and from the two sights and the line of sight.....think it over! - Lorenzo

It doesn't have to be that difficult. Is it drilled for a receiver sight? If so start with a Lyman and a barrel-band front sight that matches your barrel diameter. Usually these are soft soldered and use a single set screw in the dovetail slot to lock them in place. Start with the set screw just snug (may have to get a short screw), no indent in the barrel. Do a little trial and error shooting, rotating front base until the gun is shooting to to the sights, then mark location, carefully drill dimple and set the sight. You could probably use a good epoxy instead of soft solder it that is a problem. A lot of fooling around but not impossible for a good craftsman. Of course a 'smith' with a jig could probably do this in 30 min. If Brownells is an option they would have everything you would need.
C.G.B.

cgbach that is a great idea but the new M70s i've seen arn't even drilled & tapped for peep sights.

The stock is set up for a scope. Iron sights will be to low. It will be very uncomfortable to shoot. I would order a low power scope, like a Leupold 2X. You can do that on the internet. Get some good rings, install it, and go hunting. It wil be much simpler than any iron sight solution. You will find the low power scope to be faster than iron sights,......really. Unless you are after nostalgia or shooting an antique, a scope is better. The idea of iron sights and heavy round nosed bulelts for brush hunting are myths of the past. The Leupold, or equivelent, 2X or the 1.5X-4x are good stuff. Do not buy a cheap scope. Get a top quality one. Personally I would go for the fixed power.

I second Scota's suggestion 100% - Lorenzo

quote:

Originally posted by zambian:
Good all,
Please excuse the dumbness but we are trying to learn.
We have just purchased a winchester m70 375H&H this gun must be a new model as it has no sights it has only bases for a scope.
We normally only hunt in bushveld(thicks) and would like to put some sights on.
Now for the tricky bit we donot have any gunsmiths as such and any attempt would be a DIY job, is there any sights anyone can reccommend?
Regards

Zambian,

NECG sells a very nice adjustable rear peep sight that clamps right to a weaver style scope base. You can buy them directly from NECG or Brownells. You can also buy a banded/ramp front sight matched to your barrel diameter and contour that can be epoxied to the barrel.

As long as you have the capability, and ability, to level the rifle and square it up this shouldn’t be all that hard for a guy with a little better than average mechanical/handyman skills.

Don't know about it having to be a new model to have no iron sights. My .458 was made in 1976
and shows no sign of ever having iron sights.
It is drilled for a rear open and an action mounted peep.
A real disapointment at first then I reminded myself that I can't see iron any more, so looks like the scope stays on.
John L.