Width of rear sight notch?

[JerryToth]

Hi all;

I thought that I had a good width for the rear sight notch until this month's woodswalk at the local buckskinner's shoot.

Back in the dark woods, with the shadows and all, I couldn't see the front sight through the rear notch. Now I'm wondering if the rear sight notch needs to be wider?

I have the rear sight 13" from the breech end of the barrel to help out the 53 year old eyes.

What is a normal width for a rear sight?

Any and all tips appreciated!

Jerry

 

[Griz]

I have 2 custom rifles and both of them I used a hacksaw to put the notch in the rear sight. It lets just enough room that I can see my front sight and some of the target on both sides of the front blade, But I am certainly no expert on the subject. This is just what I done on mine.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Depends entirely on the width of the front sight. I prefer a gap of equal apparant width as of the front sight in a deep "U" for hunting. It doesn't allow as fine a 'bead' as a target set-up, but it is a lot easier to make out in dim light and helps in 'holding over' for long range shots. The brain naturally tries to balance the width of the gap on either side of the front blade, just as it aligns a target into the center of a peep sight. You will notice incredably small imbalances.

Make some cereal box cardboard mock-ups and tape them to the rifle to see what width appeals to you. I'm thinking 3/32" is plenty wide.

 

Not only does it depend on the front sight width, it depends on the light and your eyes. I used to have cataracts and had surgery to fix them so my vision is much brighter but I can't focus anymore. I make all my rear notches into a "V" so the front sight disappears if I don't hold properly but that's only right for my eyes.

 

[Falsears]

I hope this helps. I have worn trifocal glasses for twenty years and each year my sight picture will change, sometimes drastically. I found if I file the face of the front sight and polish it with oooo steel wool, and widen the back sight notch slightly I can see the sights even in low light. I also will file a fine 45 degree angle on the rear sight on the edge on each side of the gap. I then have two fine shinny lines to show me where the gap is in low light.Just a thought.

 

I use a hacksaw blade with the teeth ground off on one side to cut the rear site notch. And a fat silver front,I think .80 Ted Cash ,copper base. Me too as you get older rear site moves forward for better site picture.