Jedidiah
Old, Grumpy & still kickin !
I have a #66 on one of my carbines and a Williams 5D on another, and Full blown orig target sights on my original small bore Mossbergs. They all work fairly well.
Open iron sights or peep.
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Low light for this seasoned hunter usually means early morning, especially in the thick hardwoods during overcast conditions. Although I am a hard core big game hunter, during the offseason I go after gray squirrels. As small of a target as they are, when they are up in the tops of trees, especially during low light conditions, a hunting size peep has proven to be superior to open fixed sights. There is no denying this whatsoever. If anyone doubts that, then they simply have not tried it with the proper size peep/front bead combination.
To expound on this even further, the benefits of a proper size peep has also proven to be superior even on the ML I hunted elk with regardless of light conditions. And I had much better vision back then.
A proper size peep and front bead combination is key.
But I digress.
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A peep has helped me under those conditions tremendously. I will go as far as to say a peep and proper size front bead is the next thing under a scope for such.
I'm outta this one boys.
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I have the best of all possible worlds. A folding peep with interchange apertures and a 24k gold faced blade.
I've hunted with a peep on my T/C Renegade for 25 years and taken many Deer and elk with it at ranges from 25 to 110 yards. But it is also a preference and how your eyes work thing. Try both and see which one you like. With whichever you choose, practice bring the rifle up to your eye so the sight alignment is second nature when your hunting.
If you can find a rear appature (Peep) with an ajustable iris such as a Parker-Hale,thats the best of both worlds. O.D.
At my muzzleloading hunting distances and woodland settings, particularly at dawn and dusk, I prefer open sights. However, much like peep sights, the style of the sight can make a big difference. My muzzleloaders have a shallow V-notch rear and a highly visible bright brass blade front sight (3/32” thickness) that is cut vertically at the rear. This set-up has worked very well for me throughout legal shooting light.
Agreed. The peep acts as a sort of lens, until it gets really large like a "ghost ring". I've been in situations where I could see the deer in low light, but when I went to look through the peep, the deer was invisible. It was a nice buck, too. I also like a thin, silver, front blade for low light, in the woods or in a meadow.
LD
lgrimes
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I also shoot BPCR [black powder cart. rifle] I have a hadley cup sight that you can change the peep size for the light conditions. I've found this very useful at a lot different ranges and light conditions such as a cloudy day or a bright sunny day. Some sights have threaded peep sights.
I have a Hadley on my Sharps cartridge gun. Works great.
And the aperture on my folding peep is threaded and can be changed to suit conditions.
Jedidiah
Old, Grumpy & still kickin !
Nice simple peep, Where did you find/buy it?
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Though not strictly about bp, the subject of open sights as opposed to 'peep' sights was broached, Waaaay back in 1967, I was a young soldier in Viet-Nam, I found myself on protection duty for a fencing crew building a new ammo dump in 'Indian country.' Sorry you PC types, that's what we called unsecured areas. Anyway, got into a duel with a VC sniper using an M-14. At about 600 yards, managed to take out the sniper. Don't know as if I could have done it with open sights. Couldn't do it now for sure. Can't even see 600 yards now. This was early morning (Charley would attack you at any time, even mid-night.) with the sun in front of me.
They are adjustable for both windage and elevation and available here in the classified section.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/folding-peep-sight.145105/
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I have a Meritt. Excellent but expensive.
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Aperture sights are more accurate and faster to use in the right configuration but open sights are required for most muzzle loader competitions.
I also make and shoot black powder cartridge rifles as well as muzzle loaders most of which have vernier soul sights on them with adjustable rear apertures. Many have front apertures as well that are nearly as accurate as scopes.
I also like and use post sight disks in front sight aperture body's and a rear apertures (peep) which works good for gong matches that allow this sight configuration.
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I can't think of a single light condition that can't be more precisely handled with the right aperture (peep) combination than what an open sight can provide. The reason is because of a longer sight radius and one less focal plane the eye has to adjust to. A large ghost ring rear is amazingly accurate and will work in as low light condition as an open rear usually much farther away from your eye.
Stock fit also has a lot to do with how fast either sight type works.
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My Woods Runner in 54 cal wears a PEEP made by Tom A Hawk on the muzzle loader site. It adjusts for elevation and folds down when not used , it with a front blade ( ivory )i fabricated myself . Progressive lens were killing my scores and with the peep I now compare my scores with a 4 power Leupold (NO JOKE) ,you have to try it to see what your missing ! 200 yds is a target rich environment with progressive lenses and this peep/Ed
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Don't care! /Ed
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I appreciate you trying to convert this old fart for something that works so well for you! Even if I were to like them, I don't hunt anything but competitive paper or novelties. All guns must be traditional. Last I heard it was "Open Sights" only.
Larry
