Rear Sight Preference

[SciAggie]

I prefer a blade front sight with a square rear notch and a fair bit of light on both sides. If a gun has a v notch rear sight I want a bead front sight. My younger eyes could handle the bead/v-notch combo better than they can now.

 

[rkg1]

Square notch with space around the 3/32 square front sight. This is not a target set up but works well for me for hunting.

 

[kyron4]

Square notch with a round bottom for the rear. I read once that the rounded bottom has something to do with how your eye focuses better than with a square bottom. However at my age it's all a blur anyways.

 

[SOLANCO]

Your eye's depth of focus is limited. Your rifle's rear sight will be blurred and serve only to center the front sight. Hence the mantra: Front sight. Press.
The smallest rear sight notch which allows you to see daylight on either side of the front sight blade should be your most accurate. I do not understand why a square vs U notch would make a difference.

I do not like bead front sights on rifles. I think they belong on weapons which are pointed rather than aimed. IE: Shotguns.

 

[kyron4]

Your eye's depth of focus is limited. Your rifle's rear sight will be blurred and serve only to center the front sight. Hence the mantra: Front sight. Press.
The smallest rear sight notch which allows you to see daylight on either side of the front sight blade should be your most accurate. I do not understand why a square vs U notch would make a difference.

I do not like bead front sights on rifles. I think they belong on weapons which are pointed rather than aimed. IE: Shotguns.

I agree with everything you said, but here's the "science" behind the U-notch vs. Square notch rear sight taken from an article about iron sights.

"In theory, a U notch is superior to a square notch because your eyes naturally pick up sharp edges and corners before smooth, rounded, ones. So, a U notch rear sight should naturally direct your eyes to the top of the sight, where they ought to be."

 

[RMH]

Long time unmentionable pistol shooter here. Give me a square partridge style sighting system any day. (Unless a receiver/peep sight is available for rifle use.)

 

[Art Caputo]

V rear with a brass blade.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

for muzzleloaders I like a wide silver front and a flat top rear with a wide square notch.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I have used all sorts of sight configurations from a ball front with U rear, blade front and square rear, etc. and excluding peep sights I will say the iron sights on the model 98 Mauser are the most precise I have ever used. It has a ^ front and a V rear.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Peep is preferred, all my 45/70s have them.
I use a squared notch on the flinter.
If not for PC, it would have a peep on it also.

 

[HSmithTX]

Peep by far is my choice but since it's not on the list I would take a square over V a million times in a row. If it has a V I am changing it. I've shot both and a V is not as precise as a square, I need to see light on both sides of the blade through the rear sight and the more vertical space I can see through the better chance I have of getting a well centered blade. For this reason I prefer sights on the tall side to almost ridiculously tall. This is even more important in field conditions and in poor lighting conditions, the more vertical real estate you have on the sides of the blade the better chance you have of seeing at least contrast to get it centered, first light or last light it is crucial for me to be able to shoot to my best ability. Flat top is also required for me, you will register the top of the blade level with the top of the rear far easier using a flat rear and a flat blade than any other combination.