Sounds dumb, but how do you use peep sights?

P

PaladinX13

New member
A little background, I bought the Sheridan Blue Streak airgun suggested by TFLers for killing squirrels and am quite happy with the gun, but after having some contrast problems (picking out small grey/brown animals on a grey/brown background after they go fuzzy from focusing on the front post) I took the advice of expert airgunners and got a peep sight.

1. The contrast issue is no better with the peep sight, IMO... maybe slightly so.

2. How do you keep your aim consistent? I keep lining up the top of the front post with what I hope is the exact middle but most of the time I'm slightly off (which, of course, translates into a 1-2 inches off 20 meters down... enough to miss a squirrel). With the iron sights, lining them up was a mechanical thing, but I feel like there's a lot of guess work with the peep sights!

Help?
 
PaladinX13,
Don't try to line it up. Just look through it, ignoring it as much as possible and focus on the front sight. For reasons that I do not understand your eye will automatically try to center the front sight with no effort from you. That is the beauty of peep (aperture) sights.

Good Luck

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Audemus jura nostra defendere
 
Yep, what 11xray said. Use them in archery too and you never know they're there (kind of). In great light, you want small peeps. In bad or varying light, you want larger peeps. Makes huge difference. But, your eye will automatically line up in the center of it. Concentration should be on the front sight anyway!!

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"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
I have actually removed the peep insert on one of my .22's at times and used it kind of like a ghost ring sight. Not sure if you can remove the one on the Sheridan. You might also consider scoping it. I think you can get scope mounts for them. I have one too, but it just has the standard sights which work well enough for pop cans.
 
Ditto what those guys said. Look through, but ignore, the rear sight. Your eye cannot focus on the rear sight, the front sight and the target at the same time. You can't even focus on two of the above at the same time.

Looking through the rear sight, keep the front sight in focus, and position it on the target, which will be fuzzy. Your eye and your muscles will automatically center what you are looking at (the front sight) in the middle of what you are looking through (the rear sight).

Likewise, while you are lining up the shot, the front sight will waver in little circular movements across the target. Don't try to time the shot for the exact instant when the front sight is right on the target. Trust your instincts and your muscles. Line up the sight picture, hold your breath, and press the trigger. Your body can shoot a lot better than your brain can.
 
I didn't think your question sounded dumb at all. Hey, at least you were smart enough to ask it in the first place.
DAL

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Reading "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal," by Ayn Rand, should be required of every politician and in every high school.

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined."
--Patrick Henry, during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788)

GOA, JPFO, PPFC, CSSA, LP, ARI, NRA
 
If you're having problems you're trying to hard. Don't worry if you front sight isn't in the exact geometric middle of the peep. The important thing is it in the same place every shot. Your eye and trigger finger are hardwired to automatically lock-in the same sight picture every time, it's not a fully conscious thing. That's the beauty of a peep sight. -- Kernel
 
FWIW, whenever I shoot with peep sights these days, I keep both eyes open. This way I can see more of the target - which helps at 500 yards. :D

-z
 
Take it out and punch some paper to get a feel of how it sights in they are different than open sights. Although to be honest I'm not sure my middle aged eyes would do well with peeps on squirrels either, I'd probably go with a scope.
 
I think it is better if the target is in the center of the peep, with the front sight below it rather than with the top of the front sight centered.

Jim
 
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