Another Sight Question (front)

[PaulG]

One thing I have learned is that sights and optics are very personal, and to a large extent subjective, and depend not only on individual preferences, but perhaps more importantly on the person's age, vision, etc.

That said: Are there any trends in front sights for silhouette? The NRA rules allow only a post or bead, which is OK, but there are still several choices of type or dimension. Do "most" shooters go with a bead or a post? I have 1939 vintage eyes, and the usual near vision and focus issues, but intuitively I lean toward a post, perhaps a fairly wide one. I have tried different inserts in BPCR silhouette for which they are allowed, and have come to prefer an aperture insert. What doesn't work for me are fine outlines or crosswires. I need something fairly coarse.

Do any lever rifle shooters mount a globe sight on a ramp, like a Lyman 17A, or does that put the sight too high?

Thanks for the help. Much to learn about this new game for me.

Paul

[HPSilhouettes]

Paul G

I shoot Cowboy Rifle Silhouettes with a Winchester 94 in 30-30. I use a Lyman 17a AHB (.404) globe in the ramp front sight with the narrow post insert provided. I use a William's receiver sight (TK 94/36) with an adjustable Merit disk aperture on the rear sight. When shooting factory or equally loaded jacketed bullets my rear sight is only elevated about one and a half revolutions (30 clicks) from dead bottom. When I shoot slower lead bullets I have to elevate 7 revolutions or so with no problems as this is still in the middle of the William's range. Some of my older friends who shoot a similar setup will substitute the wider post insert in their Lyman 17A and use a 6 o'clock hold to help them see the targets better . The adjustable Merit helps with changing light in that you can open or close the aperture like a camera lens.

Hope this helps
James

[jnyork]

Almost everyone I know uses the 17A front sight with the wide post and a 6 oclock hold. I have 5 of them myself. My eyes are only 71, so they are probably a little better than some of the older fellows on this board. Still, I find the Merit adjustable aperture to be just the ticket for sharpening up the front sight, I have one on all my rifles and would hate to be without them. The 17a is made in 4 different heights IIRC so you need to get one for your setup, althought the second one up from the lowest seems to work pretty well for everything I have found.

[boats]

I do the same at the other guys except don't like my 17As in the Ramp dovetail. Makes the rear too high and not enough stock comb height to compensate. Not enough cheek pressure to suit me. So I have the 17's mounted in a dovetail. Lots of friends of mine do run them on top of the ramp though.

On the front post, have used all kinds but now using the smallest bead topped post. Think it's .04 hard for me to focus have to get in position close my eyes and shoot soon as they open. Real pain but the smaller post lets me pick a spot on the animal. Wide post my groups on painted swingers or cardboard painted targets are larger. Thin post I also have to crank my Merrit disk a lot when light changes, much more than with a flat topped wide one.

In addition to regulation silhouette We shoot a club match that allows apertures. Tell you what it's 10 times better than any post if you can get on large enough to circle the animal and leave a lot of light. BPCS were apertures are allowed most use them. I stick with the post on Lever guns rather than switch back and forth club & regulation match.

Boats

[PaulG]

Thanks to all for your responses. Even though I haven't shot lever rifle silhouette, what you guys are saying makes sense based on my experience with BPCR. I have no doubt that an aperture in the front would work better than a post for my 72 y/o eyes, if it were legal.

I have/had a couple of 17As lying around, one low and one the second lowest, and for life of me I can't find the lower one anywhere. It'd be nice if the other, second lowest, would work, but I understand the issue of cheek position. The amount of crap you have to buy to get a new rifle up and running is unbelievable!

The question of post vs. bead goes right along with what I said earlier about individuals and how they see the sights and targets. Very personal. I'm just going to have to do some checking when I get to the range after we arrive in Arizona. Maybe I'll get a chance to look at other guys' rifles and see the sights for myself.

Back to drilling a board to haul along for my loading press. Hope the place we're renting has a place to clamp it.

Paul

[boats]

Two more things

You can just get a 3/8 dovetail under a Marlins front ramp. That will be covered should you ever put the ramp back on. And Jim at distantthunderbpcr.com will make almost any kind of front sight insert you want.

Boats