Are adjustable apertures like the Merit disk legal for cowboy lever silhouette?

Does anybody use them?

I use them on all my rifles, they work great for someone with aging eyes, really sharpen up that front sight post. Several other people I shoot with use them also. The question of legality has never arisen, but we are not a group given over to arguing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, rulewise. I guess the best way to find out is to show up to the Nationals with them installed and see how many protests you can generate!

Are both sizes of disks on the Merit adjustable apertures legal? I have the one with the bigger rubber eyeshield that I would like to use and would rather not destroy anything on it. I don't think I can just pop that rubber piece on and off, though. It might be easier to just buy one with the smaller disk separately if the bigger one isn't legal.

Not a word in the rule book about disk, just the Manufactured for the rifle part, that is widely ignored in matches. Everybody uses Merritt's or some other kind of adjustable disk and have never seen one questioned in a match. Be hard for me to shoot without it. Carry a number of different sized fixed apertures in my bag just in case though.

On the large vs small. I have both but prefer the small hunting model. It opens wider than the Target model which is useful on dark days. Glare from direct sunlight behind the target could be some advantage to the wide shade. If so can take the small disk off and screw it back on with a piece of target paper for a shade.

Merritt is making one now that has a receptacle for diopters built into the disk. Might be useful for sharpening up the front sight picture instead of using corrective shooting glasses. Few of the Schuetzen shooters are using them now. Like other sights used in Cowboy it's questionable.

Everybody's sight preference is different, if it works use it.

Boats

Well, heck, Boats, great insomniacs must think alike. I was just going to post a question about best size of the Merit disk, and you went ahead and answered it.

Thanks again to everybody for the very helpful responses to my questions. Now I just have to find a good source for the disks. Midway is completely out of all versions.

My first-ever lever rifle will be shipped on Monday. I'm trying to get as much stuff together as possible, in anticipation of our snowbird adventure. Shooting silhouettes in a warmer clime is high on my list.

Now one more question: What kind of accuracy can be expected, realistically, from a 336 .30-30, say 100 and 200 yard five shot groups from a decent rest? I'm not talking about once in awhile bragging groups, but what these rifles are capable of routinely with good loads and the shooter doing his part. Rifle is an XLR with 24" barrel.

Paul

Paul-

Don't be bashful about using a .050 fixed insert either. While I do have a Merit adjustable that I'll occasionally swap between rifles, all of mine have the .050 peep as standard fair. I usually only swap to the Merit if I'm shooting in extremely bright sun almost directly in my face, or extremely overcast days when I need to open the iris up to see well. I used to have 2 of the Merits, but one lost a screw and fell apart... I don't miss it as about 90% of the time a .050 fixed works fine, for me.

I've a 336XLR and typical groups with Remington or Federal factory 150gr or 170gr ammo are 2" at 100meters.

With hand loaded ammo (31gr of Varget, WLR primer, 125g Sierra HP/FN to 170gr Speers FN) I regularly get 1" to 1-1/2" groups using peep sights. I have seen some 1/2 & 3/4" groups with those using a scope.

Best lead bullet load with it has been 26g of Varget with 165gr gas checked at a best of 2-1/2" (scoped). It typically runs 3 to 4" though.

More load/accuracy info in your 30-30 crash load thread at:
http://www.steelchickens.com/forums/vie ... f=7&t=6299

My .02,

- Tim

I am not a hand to sit around at the bench and shoot endless groups, rather spend my time on my hind legs improving my marksmanship. Sierra 125 grainers with 30 grains of 3031 will shoot as well as you need it to shoot and knock down everything you hit with very few exceptions.

Right size rear aperture is important more so on Silhouette targets than bullseye with nice round defined center & good dark to light contrast. If light is consistent and you have choices can screw in the correct aperture for that day. If the light is on and off the Merritt or other adjustable are real useful. Sat's match guys came off the line complaining one relay sun came out and White Rams were much brighter causing misses over the back. They did get brighter, adjustable disk stopped down cut the shine, and got the benefit of a sharper front sight due to the smaller aperture size.

Most out of the box aperture rear sights come with either a real large hole hunting disk or very small hole target disk, too small to be useful. I have taken my Merritt after a match and stuck a drill in the hole measuring size. Then take one of the fixed large disk chuck it up it the lathe and drill the hole out to same size the Merritt was running. Works fine as long as the light stays consistent. Problem is light rarely stays consistent.

If you are using a Tang sight MVA's Hadley is a good adjustable disk too.

Boats

Do any lever silhouette shooters use a vernier or Soule tang sight on their rifles? I'm very familiar with them on my BPCRs. Don't see why they wouldn't work on a lever gun, but they sure are expensive. The Hadley is popular with BPCR silhouette shooters because adjustable apertures like the Merit aren't legal. A Hadley really doesn't do anything that an adjustable iris can't.

Paul

Tangs are legal in CLA.

I use Lyman 66's & Merritt's on my modern Marlins to stay consistent all 3 guns. They are cheap and work good. Original Marlin 1894 38/40 I use MVA's simplest tang the 133, & MVA's Hadley off my Schuetzens fit it. Base on the Marlin will also fit the MVA 130 off my Low Wall Rim fire Schuetzen but don't feel the need for the more complicated sight in 100 meter Pistol Caliber match. You do need perfect elevation settings and the 133 works every time.

One thing I have always done with sights is put a dial indicator on to confirm clicks work as they should. Some do most don't. Tang sights with Verniers if read properly are absolutely accurate and repeatable

Choices vary shooter to shooter but I think the optional sight solution for all 3 CLA guns is Winchester style front with interchangeable disk and spirit level, Veiner tang, lead screw, adjustable windage and elevation with the Hadley disk. If a Match remarks spirit level they clip on and off and can replace with a non level equipped clip. This combination proves itself over all others 200 yard Schuetzen offhand matches.

Boats