Iron Sights: A Primer

[ike]

... Since many of you paid good tax money to teach me how to use them, I thought maybe I'd repay the favor if I can...

Good explanation - I'm glad I got something for all of those tax dollars!

[Eli Chaps]

Good explanation - I'm glad I got something for all of those tax dollars!

Thanks!

[kd115]

Iron sights are the way to go in heavy woods or brush country, and they look alot better on a lever gun.

[SwampDude]

Thanks, Eli. I've bookmarked your thread for future reference and to share with others. Remembering which direction to move the sight for correction has always been a problem for me.

In your experience, has the front sight hood provided any real advantage? I usually take them off for my own shooting, simply because I haven't figured out how they help.

[Eli Chaps]

Thanks, Eli. I've bookmarked your thread for future reference and to share with others. Remembering which direction to move the sight for correction has always been a problem for me.

In your experience, has the front sight hood provided any real advantage? I usually take them off for my own shooting, simply because I haven't figured out how they help.

Glad you found it useful.

No, I don't think the hood does anything in the field other than eventually get lost. I just take them off my rifles. Many people see the hood as a "too and from" device. Meaning, they like to have them for transportation and such but when in the actual shooting environment, they remove them. Some folks actually feel they hinder the overall sight picture.

I do run a Lyman 17A on my 1895G and have used it on my 336W as well. Though not a hood, it is an enclosed sight. It is a great sight for paper targets as it helps focus the eye and I chose it on my 95G in the pursuit of a fast acquisition sight for camp defense wherein encounters would be close and accuracy has a slightly different meaning than in hunting. For general field use, it is pretty hard to beat an exposed post. I think people get way too hung up on protecting their sights. The mounting screws are probably more likely to break than the post and/or rear aperture is to be knocked out of whack, bent or broke. Besides, I like to know where my muzzle is at any given time. Just my opinion of course.

[MarkAD]

I don't like upsetting the apple cart of praise. While the original post was informative it lacked specifically dealing with what a good sight picture is for a stock marlin sight system. I found that very disappointing and a bit of a disservice to the folks using marlins sights. I was hoping this thread would answer my questions and provide a good example to ensure I was doing it right.

[msharley]

I don't like upsetting the apple cart of praise. While the original post was informative it lacked specifically dealing with what a good sight picture is for a stock marlin sight system. I found that very disappointing and a bit of a disservice to the folks using marlins sights. I was hoping this thread would answer my questions and provide a good example to ensure I was doing it right.

Hey Mark,

Same as with handgun. Front sight "centered" in the notch, in the rear sight. And "even"/ level across the top.

Later, Mark

[Eli Chaps]

I don't like upsetting the apple cart of praise. While the original post was informative it lacked specifically dealing with what a good sight picture is for a stock marlin sight system. I found that very disappointing and a bit of a disservice to the folks using marlins sights. I was hoping this thread would answer my questions and provide a good example to ensure I was doing it right.

Mark,

The sight picture is always the same no matter what the setup. Sight picture means focusing on the front sight. Sight alignment is essentially the same regardless of the exact style of front and rear sight. With a notched rear you would start off by centering the front post (usually a bead on a factory Marlin) in the notch (cut out). The most important thing with sight alignment is consistency.

Let me know if I can help. I don't exactly have the best computer graphics skills so doing up a notched rear and bead front picture is a bit of a challenge.

[Eli Chaps]

Hey Mark,

Same as with handgun. Front sight "centered" in the notch, in the rear sight. And "even"/ level across the top.

Later, Mark

Correct. You basically ignore the wings and the notch becomes the focal point for alignment.

[MarkAD]

It sounds like i have it right. But I am hitting low even holding a consistent POA, My groups are getting tighter, but still low ever after raising the rear sight a step or two on the rear.