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Has anyone put fiber optic sights on a GPR?
- Thread starter bowjock
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NoJacketRequired
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Bowjock - I'll try to save you some frustration with this post. I don't have a GPR (but would love to own one), and as of about a month ago, I no longer have a gun with fibreoptic (FO) sights on it. This is for the plain and simple reason that most FO sights are NOT that visible in low light conditions. The principal reason for us not being able to see them is that some marketing guru decided that we had to have contrasting colours between front and rear sights. This results in almost all sights being sold with green rear sight and red front sight. Guess what? The human eye doesn't see red too well in broad daylight, and sees it even worse as we move toward "night" vision. The net result is that you can't see the front sight as well as you had hoped you would when you peeled off the 30 - 50 greenbacks you paid for the fancy FO sights. If you want more detail on this topic, look for a discussion on the Modern Muzzleloaders portion of this web forum.
I CAN suggest something to you that will work, is cheap, and almost looks "period correct". It's an idea I first read about here (again, look for an old post with "Bright Sight" in the title). You can take a drill and use it very gingerly on your front sight and rear sight to create three small divots (one on the front sight, one on either side of the rear sight notch). Using a toothpic, fill the divots with white gloss enamel paint (Testors model paint works a charm for this). You might be happy with the results of doing just this one step.
If you're still not happy with the results, go to Walmart and pick up a container of glow-in-the-dark paint. Be sure it's not the water-soluable craft paint. Again, using a toothpick, apply the glow-in-the-dark paint over the small white dots you've already painted on your sights. You'll be amazed at how well this will work. But remember that g-i-t-d paint requires a light source to "charge" it. This means that for the morning hunt you'll need to shine your flashlight on your sights for maybe 10 seconds as you walk to your stand.
Does this technique work? You bet it does! Last Friday evening I shot a pesky porcupine out of a maple tree after legal light had passed. (Didn't want to take the shot during legal light and chance spooking a deer!). Also, if you check on the "Traditional Muzzleloader Hunting" section here under the title "At Last-Pic of the Big Buck" you'll see a picture of the buck I harvested last Saturday morning in a thick, dark cedar bush. The sights on my Traditions Hawken rifle used to take the buck were painted in the manner described above, and I had no trouble whatsoever seeing them. Fibreoptic sights, when done correctly, are very good - I've been using them on my bow for at least a dozen years. But they way they're packaged for use on muzzleloaders renders them nigh-on useless. As a dyed-in-the-wool scope lover I can honestly say that glow-in-the-dark paint on iron sights is the next best thing to a scope.
I CAN suggest something to you that will work, is cheap, and almost looks "period correct". It's an idea I first read about here (again, look for an old post with "Bright Sight" in the title). You can take a drill and use it very gingerly on your front sight and rear sight to create three small divots (one on the front sight, one on either side of the rear sight notch). Using a toothpic, fill the divots with white gloss enamel paint (Testors model paint works a charm for this). You might be happy with the results of doing just this one step.
If you're still not happy with the results, go to Walmart and pick up a container of glow-in-the-dark paint. Be sure it's not the water-soluable craft paint. Again, using a toothpick, apply the glow-in-the-dark paint over the small white dots you've already painted on your sights. You'll be amazed at how well this will work. But remember that g-i-t-d paint requires a light source to "charge" it. This means that for the morning hunt you'll need to shine your flashlight on your sights for maybe 10 seconds as you walk to your stand.
Does this technique work? You bet it does! Last Friday evening I shot a pesky porcupine out of a maple tree after legal light had passed. (Didn't want to take the shot during legal light and chance spooking a deer!). Also, if you check on the "Traditional Muzzleloader Hunting" section here under the title "At Last-Pic of the Big Buck" you'll see a picture of the buck I harvested last Saturday morning in a thick, dark cedar bush. The sights on my Traditions Hawken rifle used to take the buck were painted in the manner described above, and I had no trouble whatsoever seeing them. Fibreoptic sights, when done correctly, are very good - I've been using them on my bow for at least a dozen years. But they way they're packaged for use on muzzleloaders renders them nigh-on useless. As a dyed-in-the-wool scope lover I can honestly say that glow-in-the-dark paint on iron sights is the next best thing to a scope.
Yes, I have put fiber optic sights on a GPR. The ones from RMC work great and are a cinch to install.
I liked them so well that I custom fitted a set to my Isacc Haines flintlock for deer hunting.
True, the front red sight will fade before the rear green ones will and you won't get quite the time you would with a scope but the fiber optics will give you killing accuracy almost as long as you can see the antlers on a buck. In all kinds of lighting conditions.
When I was younger I didn't need them, but now that I'm 52 I find they are indispensable. I am planning my next rifle, a .40 Isacc Haines (stick with the stock design that works for you) flintlock with browned furniture. This rifle will be a turkey and small game gun. It WILL have a set of Fiber optics fitted to it before it goes to the woods.
The good thing about FO's that use a dovetail for installation is that they can be removed in a minute and the primitive sights tapped back in to the witness mark, you did put a witness mark at your correct sight setting didn't you?, and they will be shooting right to point of aim right off the bat.
I liked them so well that I custom fitted a set to my Isacc Haines flintlock for deer hunting.
True, the front red sight will fade before the rear green ones will and you won't get quite the time you would with a scope but the fiber optics will give you killing accuracy almost as long as you can see the antlers on a buck. In all kinds of lighting conditions.
When I was younger I didn't need them, but now that I'm 52 I find they are indispensable. I am planning my next rifle, a .40 Isacc Haines (stick with the stock design that works for you) flintlock with browned furniture. This rifle will be a turkey and small game gun. It WILL have a set of Fiber optics fitted to it before it goes to the woods.
The good thing about FO's that use a dovetail for installation is that they can be removed in a minute and the primitive sights tapped back in to the witness mark, you did put a witness mark at your correct sight setting didn't you?, and they will be shooting right to point of aim right off the bat.
lonewolf5347
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STAR DOT make a nice set of fiber optic sight that are easy to install,you can find them on e bay for around $12.00 bucks,look for the set that say for octagone barrels
Thanks all. As I too and lots older now and the old eyes have a lot of trouble seeing the front plain sight, I would like to use the fiber optic on this new GPR since it is going to be my primary hunting gun from now on.
And yes, there will be witness marks on the original sights before taking them off.
This is not an attempt to gain hunting time...just to be more accurate on the shots that I may take, thats all
And yes, there will be witness marks on the original sights before taking them off.
This is not an attempt to gain hunting time...just to be more accurate on the shots that I may take, thats all
Hi Bowjock,
I'm fond of the peep-rear; fiber optic-front sight combination. Admittedly the peep sight Lyman makes for installation on the tang of the GPR is kind of big, homely and pricey. But, like you, the eyes are going and if I want to keep shooting and shooting well, something must be done. Consequently I've got a set on order. Sam's point about dovetails is a good one. I believe the GPR dovetails are 9mm (about .356") while T/C and many others are .375".
I have a F-O rear/F-O front on a T/C Black Mtn. Magnum that works quite well. However, it takes more concentration to use and is more frustrating than the peep-rear/F-O front combination.
The peep/F-O combination I've used the most is on a T/C Hawken and uses T/C's tang mounted peep sight. Aiming is quite natural. Just look thru the aperture and put the front sight on the target. Centering of front in rear is automatic. It's the next best thing to a scope. T/C's peep is much smaller than Lyman's and doesn't look quite so clunky when installed. A good gunsmith could probably put a T/C peep on your GPR for you. The Lyman GPR peep is bolt-on.
Bob
I'm fond of the peep-rear; fiber optic-front sight combination. Admittedly the peep sight Lyman makes for installation on the tang of the GPR is kind of big, homely and pricey. But, like you, the eyes are going and if I want to keep shooting and shooting well, something must be done. Consequently I've got a set on order. Sam's point about dovetails is a good one. I believe the GPR dovetails are 9mm (about .356") while T/C and many others are .375".
I have a F-O rear/F-O front on a T/C Black Mtn. Magnum that works quite well. However, it takes more concentration to use and is more frustrating than the peep-rear/F-O front combination.
The peep/F-O combination I've used the most is on a T/C Hawken and uses T/C's tang mounted peep sight. Aiming is quite natural. Just look thru the aperture and put the front sight on the target. Centering of front in rear is automatic. It's the next best thing to a scope. T/C's peep is much smaller than Lyman's and doesn't look quite so clunky when installed. A good gunsmith could probably put a T/C peep on your GPR for you. The Lyman GPR peep is bolt-on.
Bob
lonewolf5347
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http://community.webshots.com/photo/207620338/207621495Pwvwmv
the t/c hunter peep and a front fiber optic sight is a great set up,easy install ,I found my set up work great,but had to drill and tap 2 holes on the tang
the t/c hunter peep and a front fiber optic sight is a great set up,easy install ,I found my set up work great,but had to drill and tap 2 holes on the tang
As someone already mentioned. The sight from[url] RMCsports.com[/url] works real well. I use their V-peep on both my GPRs and deerstalker. The particualr peep is even legal here in PA in the late ml season as its is technically an open sight.
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If you buy a set of FO sights from either Tru Glo or RMC specifically for your GPR, the dovetail inserts WILL fit. If you buy a set for a TC they may not.
RMC also sells a type of open top rear peep they claim is for older eyes. I decided to stick with the FO on the rear also.
They also sell FO repair kits and replacement inserts. A person could for about $5.00 or so, replace the red front sight insert with green if he so desired. I myself am considering it as the red does fade much sooner than the green.
RMC also sells a type of open top rear peep they claim is for older eyes. I decided to stick with the FO on the rear also.
They also sell FO repair kits and replacement inserts. A person could for about $5.00 or so, replace the red front sight insert with green if he so desired. I myself am considering it as the red does fade much sooner than the green.
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I agree with No Jacket Required on how the fiber optic sights are not that good. I had one on a rifle that I sold and near dark they were terrible in my opinion. I personally do not like them!
Jim in Idaho
Jim in Idaho
RussB
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............................................................
Well, FWIW, here's another one agrees with him.
I've had them on and off, and on and off, before deciding HECK with these things.
My eye sight is getting worse every year, but the fiber optic sights is certainly not the cure when it comes to shooting.
Good, well blackened, iron sights still work best for these old eyes.
Someone mentioned the marketing gurus doing such a good job on selling these things, ......I have to think they are absolutely right. :imo:
Every thing I have read has "suggested" something almost magic would happen when using these sights, so like everyone else I knew I just had to have them......I'm sure I bought at least five, maybe six different types. None of them worth a nickle when it came to accuracy.
As far as that late evening, or early morning shot...I don't think so.
I personally don't know any serious hunters who use them any more. Like myself, they tried 'em, then went back to their old sights.
The blacker the better when it comes sights, and accuracy. :m2c:
Would I put them on my GPR?..... No.
Should you put them on your GPR? Probably so, just to satisfy your own curosity....10,000 people can't be wrong, or can they?......it is not so much the shooters that's raving about these sights, it's the sales people.
Russ
Listen to Russ B, don't put those crappy sights on a good rifle. They're also very fragile. I have a lot of customers
bring their guns in with broken fiber optic sights. (I shouldn't complain, it's business for me) but stick to black
iron sights, front and rear. :imo:
bring their guns in with broken fiber optic sights. (I shouldn't complain, it's business for me) but stick to black
iron sights, front and rear. :imo:
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For about $15.00, the Lyman "Hunting Sight Combo" works great. Its an adjustable (For elevation) rear sight with a WHITE bead post-type front sight that shows up quite well. :imo:
May the Lord have mercy on all you non-traditional blasphemers...........from a diehard with 54 year old eyes that are not what they once were but have adjusted my hunting methods, ranges, and such to compensate so the old fixed iron ones still do the job...
tg, I sure do hope the lord has mercy on some of us. I too have adjusted while shooting my bp guns, but as you say, these old (55) year old eyes can use all the help they can get. It is just something to try and see if I can make myself a better hunter, but don't worry, the original sights will never be far away....I promise :thumbsup:
Joel Lehman
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I use green glow in the dark paint from Glow, Inc., on both the front and rear fixed sights. Their website has instructions for painting sights. I put a little paint on both sides notch in the rear sight and completely cover the front sight. It works great. Natual sunlight will keep the sights visible through legal shooting hours for deer. On overcast days I cover the sight with one hand and shine a penlight on each one for about 30 seconds. If I do that at 5:00 PM, I can easily see the sights until dark.
Joel Lehman, Austin, TX
Joel Lehman, Austin, TX
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