Does anyone still use open sights?!

[Hsing-ee]

Hsing-ee, I was interested to read what you wrote and I agree with you that apertures are so much better than ordinary open sights. At school, we shot in competitions with apertures on re-barrelled .22 rifles, which had previously been .303 Lee-Enfields, at 25yds. A good shot could obtain 1/4in groupings quite easily. A pity, really, that more manufacturers did not copy the Webley Mk2 and introduce apertures on their models; probably the cost made it beyond consideration.

The cost doesn't seem to be the issue. The BSA Meteor and the BSA Buccaneer were offered with a rear-sight that could be moved to the end of the cylinder and converted to a peep-sight, and neither rifle carried a premium price for the adaptor. The Sharps Innova and Ace pump-ups were also sold with peep-sights, as were some of the Sussex Armoury springers. This was in the late 70s and 80s. That they were not fitted to more rifles might have something to do with their poorer performance in low light, but more likely the average customer did not understand how they work. The BSA Meteors made for the Army Cadet Force contract ONLY had the rear aperture sight, the barrels were not threaded for the rearsight mounting screws. People who have been in the military will have come across aperture sights, civilians look at them with suspicion - what do you mean 'your eye/brain automatically centres the foresight?' - it seems too simple.

Anyway, if your rifle has a front sight then the Williams sight for airguns is an ideal match and they cost about £40 including post from America - the price of a rubbish scope.

Try googling 'Williams-Diopter-Rear-Sight-for-11mm-Dovetails'

[eyebull]

Anyway, if your rifle has a front sight then the Williams sight for airguns is an ideal match and they cost about £40 including post from America - the price of a rubbish scope.

Try googling 'Williams-Diopter-Rear-Sight-for-11mm-Dovetails'

Worth noting there are two types of these - the better sort with twiddly knobs, and the less good one that uses allen keys. The better one is not easily obtainable in the UK, and few - if any - places that stock it in the US will ship to the UK.

By all means if you find a supplier that will ship to the UK, please let me know.

[hwtyger]

For Vintage rifles I always use opens (peeps); distance 6yrds
For airpistol I still use opens; usually 6yrds or 10m, but 25m is possible
For 10m match AR I use peeps

Dont care much bout regular opens but woul appreciate more rifles sold new with peeps (or option for peeps)

[Blackrider]

I like the "Irons" but my eyes aren't up to it nowadays.
From a hunting viewpoint they are great as you can see the surrounding area of the target so you get quick acquisition and if you're lucky the chance of another target !

[trajectory]

Yes, still use open sights, bead & v on vintage is fine with me, quite like a square post front sight with square notch rear. Easy enough to hold over or under with both types to allow for range. Fine on more modern designs too. Not so keen on peep sights in some instances. Ok in constant reasonable light at regular shaped well illuminated targets but in varriable circumstances I'd opt for something else as first choice. Scopes have their place though but perhaps aren't always needed in my opinion.

[SRV1]

Mmmm...maybe I am missing(!) something....Never used a 'scope on any of my collectables......

[series2a]

Mmmm...maybe I am missing(!) something....Never used a 'scope on any of my collectables......

Never use telescopic on any of my old Rifles either just doesn't seem right.

[Quig]

Open sights , I think they are great . In my opion a rifle has far far cleaner lines without a scope . I try to get them fitted to lots of my collection if they aren't standard fit .

[andrewM]

Open sights , I think they are great . In my opion a rifle has far far cleaner lines without a scope . I try to get them fitted to lots of my collection if they aren't standard fit .

Always a pity when - as often occurs - a second hand rifle is bought, without the open sights because the owner removed them and then lost them. I am looking for undamaged FWB 127 open sights for that reason; I don't suppose I will be successful in that objective.

[tomlinn]

I do on some of mine as i really enjoy it. A bit more skill involved that looking down a scope.

[Gerry B]

I absolutely love open sights ....

My Diana mod 45 I only use the standard open /iron sights , such a good feeling knocking down small targets at 25 Metres

Plus , My 2 BSA's and all my pistols .

I use a scope on my PCP , but that is for clinical shooting , hunting etc .

[PhatMan]

Hello to All,

I use iron sights on all of my twenty-three (23) odd air rifles & pistols.

All my rifles (including the 'modern' ones - TX200, HW99S, HW30S, and HW95 SuperMatch) - are fitted with aperture rear sights.

Being a blind old git, I use Varga 3000 shooting glasses with the irons.

I really enjoy using irons

Have fun

Best regards

Russ