Dioptre sight mystery

[Phil Russell]

Ho ho ... I had to laugh on reading the previous two posts ... so much for standardisation. I can see it is a minefield and I had not even considered the dovetail angle.
For the record, I have a Parker Hale PH1 foresight that fits very well on the LGR and I assume the angle is OK. But I have a foresight which I think is a HW one, or maybe Original that although it looks as if it should slide on the dovetails, will not. The difference is minimal, but enough. I have not resorted to Swiss files ...
The rear dovetail seems to be standard 11mm, or as near as I can judge as a set of normal scope mounts fit OK.
I am still learning and really appreciate all the information being given.

Onwards ..
Cheers, Phil

[Phil Russell]

OK: more confusion to be added to the fray. Not exactly 10m rifles but Original did 'Target' versions of the 35 and 50 models, equipped with dioptres.
I had a chance to look at their dioptre fittings this afternoon and guess what: they are all different and no way will any fit onto an LGR; indeed they will not be transferable from one model to the other. The ones with the large 'thumb wheel' fitting clearly fit onto dovetails with cross grooves to allow fine tuning of the position. Another version can be adjusted for elevation but seen to be screwed to the cylinder.
I wondered if a HW dioptre from a HW57 might fit, but no, the rails may fit but the fact that the bottom rear of the sight is below the cylinder means the LGR cocking lever cannot operate. Maybe a riser block would help but it would clearly be a bodge and so I consider it a 'no go'.
Clearly a lot to learn ...
Cheers, Phil

[zooma]

Problem solved Phil - I have the sights packed and ready to send to you!

Now you can relax and enjoy shooting your LGR as soon as they arrive!

Best regards,

Bob.

[RichardH]

Dont laugh but SMK do a perfectly serviceable diopter rearsight for standard dovetails for about £20

Cheap cheerful but works

[Phil Russell]

Thanks for the info Richard. I think (?) the SMK dioptre is the same as the one Air Arms sell?
But main problem is solved thanks to Zooma (Bob) and his dioptre set are now sitting on my LGR. Thanks Bob.
But I am now wiser regarding sight compatibility: Out of interest, I had an opportunity to try a Walther Sport rear unit (at least that was how it was described to me) but hey ho .. it would not fit the LGR. The dovetail grip was a thumb wheel tightening the rails by, for want of a better description, deforming them so that they gripped. It was impossible to get the rails to clip on the LGR in the first place but with a little persuasion and 'springing' them they did go on. But it was then not possible to tighten them because the part of the thumb wheel that threads onto the cross bolt to tighten the sight on the rails was touching the top of the LGR mounting on the cylinder so when you turned the thumb wheel, the complete sight would move on the dovetails. Again, so much for standardisation as it appears even Walther were not consistent.
So ... still learning. What fun; but I can see it being a bit frustrating for dedicated 10m target shooters. Maybe the standard 11mm rail air rifle shooters with scopes have it easy.
Cheers, Phil

[RobinC]

Phil

The sight you describe as a "Walther Sport", was not a Walther sight, all Walther sights from early days to current ones have a clamp similar to the ones on the LGR set Bob sent you. All Walther sights old and new, are compatible on old and new Walther dovetails

What you describe is an Anschutz 6700 series sight, they used that clamping method for many years, and on any thing, even Anschutz's, it was common to see people trying to pry them apart with a screw driver to get them off! The common mod with them was to saw off the front half of the clamp so it was just on one thumbwheel and less bend so they still clamped OK but came off easier!

Have Fun
Robin

[Phil Russell]

Thanks Robin.
Were there fakes around? The so called Walther Sport I saw was clearly marked with the Walther name. There was only one thumbwheel. A bolt on the LH side passed through the LH sight side and screwed into the thumbwheel; this was into a threaded 'tube' that was part of the thumbwheel and passed from the RH side of the sight across the dovetails. On fitting to the LGR, this threaded tube clearly just contacted the top of the LGR cylinder so that when the thumbwheel was turned the 'tube' in contact with the LGR cylinder moved the sight along the rails.
The mysteries deepen.
Cheers, Phil

[TenMetrePeter]

Thanks for the info Richard. I think (?) the SMK dioptre is the same as the one Air Arms sell?

No very different design. But similar "quality" if that's the right word.
The Air Arms one will not take standard irises as the thread is 9mm not 9.5mm I dont know about the SMK.

[RobinC]

Not worth a lot, but at least you now have the correct Walther LGR set from Bob. Air arms and cheapo sights are really not worth the effort, they look like sights, but there it ends!
The ten metre rifle ten dot is 0.5 mm, the backlash and slack on the cheap sights produce an inaccuracy several times over that, you get what you pay for with sights.

The original LGR and LGV sight although a course adjustment by modern standards are a very good and tight sight, I have a couple I use on rifles for small juniors, as they are short and let a shorter person do an over the sight pre zero check, where some of the modern ones are too tall for that. The modern trend is towards smaller sights which aids pre sighting, and also aids balance, as there is a wider view, but you are now looking closer to upwards of £400 for a top spec modern sight, although I strongly favour the Gehmann compact at £140 ish as the best buy value for money. We've used those for everything, and my wife currently has one on her 300 metre Keppeler.

Have Fun
Robin