Adding sights and scopes to Kimber .257 Roberts

T

The Bishop

New member
OK, Folks I just purchased a Kimber select grade in .257 Roberts. One of my favorite calibers from 40 years ago.

I look at this baby all naked without a scope, and I start thinking about adding front and rear sights as well as the ability to add a scope. Ok, I'm old, and I did not grow up with scopes only open sights, but to me there is something about a fine rifle of wood and steel that cries for sights.

Any thoughts from you all ?

The Bishop
 
Personally, I'd not put irons on it. Decent irons will cost much more to install (remember you have to pay a gunsmith) than a decent quality scope and mounts. (which you can install yourself) You don't want to go cheap on the irons either.

I used to feel the same way, wanting some sort of backups in case my scope failed. That may have been a legitimate concern 50 years ago, but I've actually had more iron sights fail than quality scopes. If you get a quality variable with about 2X, no more than 3X on the low end it will be faster up close than irons, work MUCH better in low light, and offer some magnification for longish shots. Buy quality and you'll never have any issues.
 
Measure the drop at the heel, if there is enough drop then you'll be alright. I know the Montana doesn't have enough drop to put sights on them without having to be obscenely tall. Not all stock designs facilitate the use of backup irons.
 
jmr40's right when he says that installing a good set of irons isn't cheap. I planned on having some nice open sights installed on a couple of my Ruger Model 77s but decided to stick with quality scopes sans irons after Williams quoted me their price for labor and material. I still prefer to have back-up open sights on all of my hunting rifles, even if the scopes were made by Zeiss or Swarovski. I weep for them irons too...:(
 
Much Obliged for the Feded Back

Thanks for the feedback, especially JMR. I guess I still think my 70 year old eyes can shoot a "Possible" at 500 yards with a peep rear. Hard to believe I am not a 18 year old jarhead any longer.

I use scopes on many rifles, but there is something about the lines of a fine rifle of wood and steel with open sights. However, I will probably go ahead and install the scope. Looking at a nice zeiss 3x9x.

Thanks again for the feed back.

The Bishop
 
My Mauser 257 carbine has a slick barrel and a 2-6x32. The rifle is black parkerized and the scope & rings are matte. Stock is a trim/low weight black synthetic with matching black nylon sling. No wood or shine on this baby. It's a working gun from the beginning.
I've reached an age where iron sights are not my best option. Therefore, all of the rifles I use are scoped according to what I expect them to do. Shorter range = lower magnification.
 
As a student of bolt action designs, I admire the Kimber and aspire to own one.

I have been shooting rats at the bird feeder with a Leupold 1x4 vari-X IIc scope.

My 62 year old eyes can pick up a target 15 feet away on ONE power.
 
I love an fine wood & blue steel rifle with irons but I've still got okay eyes. My dad also likes a rifle along the same lines but is getting to the age where about everything gets glass, although he's still pretty darn good with the NM sights on the M1A I got him for his birthday.

Like many things, it'll boil down to what works for ya the best. How far do you think you'll be shooting this rifle?
 
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I had a peep-sighted (Lyman) .30-06 Mauser 98 sporter for quite a few years, that was very satisfying to shoot, because it was so accurate.

I bought the sights for about $60 (20 years ago) & paid $5/hole to a funsmith to attach same.

(IIRC, the smith eventually died of starvation ;) )


.
 
Petah. At $5.00 a hole you robbed the guy. ;) My gunsmith charges $20.00 a hole to drill and tap for a scope. :eek: Maybe it was a lot longer ago that you thought. Back in the mid 70's when I ws working part time for a gunsmith, $5.00 was standard per hole. I know cuz I did quite a few for him.
My custom Mauser in .35 Whelen has a front sight but no rear. My two Winchester M70's in .257 Robt. and 7x57 Mauser do not have sights. I think I might like sights on the 7x57 but not the .257 Bob. No matter, my messed up eyeballs can't see sights anymore anyway. Maybe my recent eye surgery will correct that but I'm not holding my breath.
Anyway, to things back OT, congrats on the OP getting a .257 Bob. I have two, the M70 mentioned and a Ruger #1B that is almost a one holer with ammo it likes.
Paul B.
 
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