Average Joe
New member
The only rifle I can see the front sight on is my M1A, because it has a peep sight, otherwise I need a scope.
I can't see the front sight
- Thread starter fshfindr
- Start date
I have an adjustable-aperture Merit SIGHT on a Ruger International.
With the custom-made front blade that replaced the Ruger version on that gun, it gives me a wide range of aperture sizes & a much better sight picture than what originally came on it.
Two things to keep in mind on rear aperture sizes (not ghost rings, REAL apertures
) are that most people can shoot tighter groups (assuming a visible front sight) with a SMALLER aperture, and that the smaller aperture is probably better suited to target work, since it can cover up more of the game if used for hunting.
The Merit sight gives you the best of both worlds- you can crank it way down for paper, open it up for hunting.
I'd use the Merit on a couple other rifles, but I find it slows me down on rapid sight/target acquisition.
I can line up much quicker with a notch & post, on selected rifles acquired for critter defense.
Denis
With the custom-made front blade that replaced the Ruger version on that gun, it gives me a wide range of aperture sizes & a much better sight picture than what originally came on it.
Two things to keep in mind on rear aperture sizes (not ghost rings, REAL apertures
) are that most people can shoot tighter groups (assuming a visible front sight) with a SMALLER aperture, and that the smaller aperture is probably better suited to target work, since it can cover up more of the game if used for hunting.The Merit sight gives you the best of both worlds- you can crank it way down for paper, open it up for hunting.
I'd use the Merit on a couple other rifles, but I find it slows me down on rapid sight/target acquisition.
I can line up much quicker with a notch & post, on selected rifles acquired for critter defense.
Denis
The principle of the peep sight is that the eye automatically centers in the hole over a wide range of aperture sizes. When hunting game with a 6" kill zone, a large peep can be very effective, especially in low light.
I've helped hapless hunters who continually overshoot on game using open rear sights, especially when excited. At the range, these people can hit a 3" circle from a rest, to 100 yards or so, but put a deer in front of them and they don't see the rear sight and overshoot almost all the time.
A good friend told me that he'd never hit a deer, but shot at them many times. I took him to a range and found his accuracy with open sights not especially good, but figured a peep sight would help. After mounting a Williams 5D, we sighted it in for 100 yards.
That weekend, he saw a running deer at about 50 yards. He shot and thought he missed, because the deer kept running, so he shot again. The result was one shot through the heart and the other through the lungs!!!
When in high school, a friend using a Marlin 336 with open sights missed five shots at a nice buck about 30 yards away. That's all the ammo he had with him. I yelled, asking if he got it and he said, "No." I yelled again, asking where it went. The answer, "It's standing here, looking at me!" It slowly walked away and neither of us saw it again. In his excitement, he'd shot right over that deer too. He got a receiver sight fitted soon after.
Case closed.
I've helped hapless hunters who continually overshoot on game using open rear sights, especially when excited. At the range, these people can hit a 3" circle from a rest, to 100 yards or so, but put a deer in front of them and they don't see the rear sight and overshoot almost all the time.
A good friend told me that he'd never hit a deer, but shot at them many times. I took him to a range and found his accuracy with open sights not especially good, but figured a peep sight would help. After mounting a Williams 5D, we sighted it in for 100 yards.
That weekend, he saw a running deer at about 50 yards. He shot and thought he missed, because the deer kept running, so he shot again. The result was one shot through the heart and the other through the lungs!!!
When in high school, a friend using a Marlin 336 with open sights missed five shots at a nice buck about 30 yards away. That's all the ammo he had with him. I yelled, asking if he got it and he said, "No." I yelled again, asking where it went. The answer, "It's standing here, looking at me!" It slowly walked away and neither of us saw it again. In his excitement, he'd shot right over that deer too. He got a receiver sight fitted soon after.
Case closed.
ammo.crafter
New member
eyes
Red dot sight
Red dot sight
One other element to add to the mix- some of us have an eye condition that causes the front sight to "double" through an aperture, IF the aperture's too big.
The human eye perceives light that comes through a set of sights in different ways, depending on age, astigmatism, and the physical characteristics of the sights themselves.
I wouldn't make the broad statement that the case is "closed" in favor of apertures.
Over the years I've worked with literally hundreds of guns, with all sorts of sight set-ups.
My eye, through a typical aperture (say AR15, for example) now sees a double image of the front post.
I can still shoot decently through such a setup, but not as well at longer distances because the front post's outline is not clear.
This is not a matter of that sight being blurry, the shooting glasses take care of that, it's a matter of seeing a doubled outline, very similar to two posts partially super-imposed against each other.
Reduce the size of the aperture, letting less light through, and it clears up the outline of the post.
But- it also covers up much more of the target & immediate area around it.
I can use a larger aperture ghost ring & do have it on a Marlin Guide Gun, in conjunction with a large & very visible front sight, but that's for quick-reaction shots inside 50 yards, not for pinpoint accuracy out beyond 100.
What I've found over the past 10 years or so is that I can now do better when accuracy's a key goal with a GOOD set of notch & post sights.
By good, I mean one with a solid front blade or post that's big enough to see (no tiny beads) and a well-dimensioned rear notch that provides just enough light on both sides to easily center the front blade in it.
Wide & shallow notches combined with tiny indistinct beads are too much work, don't define the front sight sufficiently well, and are a nuisance to work with.
The right "fit" between notch & post also more clearly defines the front sight outline, for me, and eliminates the doubling I get with a typical aperture.
I'm not saying this'd be the case for everybody, and I'm certainly not saying "case closed" based on my own experiences, but I AM saying that there's no granite-chiseled one-size-fits-all solution to finding the right sight configuration.
The aperture works well for a large percentage of shooters, but its efficiency is dependent on the size of the aperture and the eye of the shooter, combined with the visibility of the front sight.
How a sight combo transmits light to the eye matters, and for many it's a matter of experimenting till you find one that works best for YOU, as an individual.
Last week when I put three .357 holes under an inch with the Henry levergun, it was because those sights, with that big bead, gave me a clear sight picture (not to mention an accurate barrel helping).
I seriously doubt I could pull that off with a standard-sized aperture anymore.
Just can't get a clear front sight through one.
On the Ruger International with the Merit, yes; I can dial that one way down till the light transmission through the aperture clears up the front blade.
Point being that you try till you find the best solution for YOU.
Denis
The human eye perceives light that comes through a set of sights in different ways, depending on age, astigmatism, and the physical characteristics of the sights themselves.
I wouldn't make the broad statement that the case is "closed" in favor of apertures.
Over the years I've worked with literally hundreds of guns, with all sorts of sight set-ups.
My eye, through a typical aperture (say AR15, for example) now sees a double image of the front post.
I can still shoot decently through such a setup, but not as well at longer distances because the front post's outline is not clear.
This is not a matter of that sight being blurry, the shooting glasses take care of that, it's a matter of seeing a doubled outline, very similar to two posts partially super-imposed against each other.
Reduce the size of the aperture, letting less light through, and it clears up the outline of the post.
But- it also covers up much more of the target & immediate area around it.
I can use a larger aperture ghost ring & do have it on a Marlin Guide Gun, in conjunction with a large & very visible front sight, but that's for quick-reaction shots inside 50 yards, not for pinpoint accuracy out beyond 100.
What I've found over the past 10 years or so is that I can now do better when accuracy's a key goal with a GOOD set of notch & post sights.
By good, I mean one with a solid front blade or post that's big enough to see (no tiny beads) and a well-dimensioned rear notch that provides just enough light on both sides to easily center the front blade in it.
Wide & shallow notches combined with tiny indistinct beads are too much work, don't define the front sight sufficiently well, and are a nuisance to work with.
The right "fit" between notch & post also more clearly defines the front sight outline, for me, and eliminates the doubling I get with a typical aperture.
I'm not saying this'd be the case for everybody, and I'm certainly not saying "case closed" based on my own experiences, but I AM saying that there's no granite-chiseled one-size-fits-all solution to finding the right sight configuration.
The aperture works well for a large percentage of shooters, but its efficiency is dependent on the size of the aperture and the eye of the shooter, combined with the visibility of the front sight.
How a sight combo transmits light to the eye matters, and for many it's a matter of experimenting till you find one that works best for YOU, as an individual.
Last week when I put three .357 holes under an inch with the Henry levergun, it was because those sights, with that big bead, gave me a clear sight picture (not to mention an accurate barrel helping).
I seriously doubt I could pull that off with a standard-sized aperture anymore.
Just can't get a clear front sight through one.
On the Ruger International with the Merit, yes; I can dial that one way down till the light transmission through the aperture clears up the front blade.
Point being that you try till you find the best solution for YOU.
Denis
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I have obtained a Skinner peep and front ramp (post) on order. I had tried XS and NECG but neither had sights for my gun that would help. Well I got the Skinner sights which really look good. I tried to remove the sight but I gave up quickly. I had wrapped the rifle with some leather that I had from an old holster. Put it in the vice with a piece of brass and a tack hammer I gave it a few shots. I think the sight moved a hair but I realized that I needed a heavier hammer and a better punch. I just was not willing to risk it so off to the gunsmith. A week later and I have it back and it looks like he did a great job, for 40 bucks I'm glad I went to him. It looks good to me but I won't be able to get to the range until Monday, then I'll zero it. Talk to you later.
Blindstitch
New member
Don't forget the pictures.
I use a cheap 1x reading glasses and can do OK with it. I shoot an M1, Mosin and 91 Argentine Mauser. They work real well with the M1, help quite a bit on the other rifles. I just had cataract surgery on the 15th on my left eye, wow!! My right eye is getting done on the 29th. My right eye is like looking through a dirty window now.
I have heard that .5 computer glasses from Staples or Office Max really help, 1x was the weakest I could find at the 99 cent store.
I have heard that .5 computer glasses from Staples or Office Max really help, 1x was the weakest I could find at the 99 cent store.
I got to the range Monday but just got around to posting. My first shot at 25 yds was very close so the gunsmith did a good job of determining the proper adjustment for the sight. At least I was on the paper. My fourth shot was on the edge of the bull. A few more shots and I was steady in the bull. It is about a 3 inch bull so not bad at all. I moved over to the 50 yard range with the same bull and I was still close to the bull edge. Some fine adjustments and again I was steady in the bull. I will get to the 100 yd range after the holidays but I am certain that it will be good. All of this is on a bench and sand bag. I really like the peep sight, suddenly I am a better shot. It's all good. I tried to post pics but I guess I just don't know how. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all and have a safe and happy new year.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all and have a safe and happy new year.
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I Also have a Ruger 77/357 like the OP mentioned. The factory sight are pretty bad. I know you have a problem seeing the front sight. I also had the problem. I got one of those skinner barrel mounted peep sights and suddenly I could see the front sight pretty well. I was amazed how changing the back sight could change how I see the front sight.
The next thing I did was install a HIVIZ front sight. This helped a little cause it was bright green but the back sight was the real fix.
The next thing I did was install a HIVIZ front sight. This helped a little cause it was bright green but the back sight was the real fix.
edward hogan
New member
Logged in to recommend an aperture rear sight.
Merit makes an adjustable target aperture which you can dial from wide-open to very fine. Greatly improves resolution. Williams and Redfield once sold a variety of apertures for their receiver sights. There are a number of AR-15 match iron sights that offer custom apertures. Might look at Creedmoor's website or Brownells.
Merit makes an adjustable target aperture which you can dial from wide-open to very fine. Greatly improves resolution. Williams and Redfield once sold a variety of apertures for their receiver sights. There are a number of AR-15 match iron sights that offer custom apertures. Might look at Creedmoor's website or Brownells.
OK, so I got the adjustable sight. There is no doubt that this sight is better, but I had to leave the range after a very good day. The sight does not adjust real easily, maybe it needs lube but the instructions said not to lube it. So maybe it needs to be broken in, further, I don't think that there is going to be very much need to adjust it. Once I have it set to my liking it should be fine as long as I am still using paper. First time with it I was hitting groups of 3 inches at 100 yds. This rifle is proving to be very accurate and only the first time out. No doubt, I like it. 
dieselbeef
New member
bushnell trophy works great..solved those same problems for me