Sight radius and accuracy
“A pistol is what you use to get back to your rifle”–Clint Smith
I have a winchester 94, and I love it big time. But I used to be unable to shoot it, and i was ashamed of this. And then I figured out why.
here’s a standard 94 carbine. See the sight radius?
The distance between the rear sight and the front is teeny, less than half the overall length of the rifle. Like a handgun, the barrel will do an acceptable job of getting the bullet going downrange, but it will only go where we point it.
Firearm designers try to make the visible sight picture make sense. IN other words, the front sight is sized to make it easily visible in the rear sight- if the front blade doesn’t fit the rear notch when you sight, you have to try to get the front blade centered in the rear, and that can be a HUGE deal. If your front blade is .050″ thick(apparent thickness), and your back notch is .100 wide, the front blade can be in the middle, on the left, or on the right. The .025 “slop” can translate into several inches at 25 yards. At 300 yards it is a distance of several feet.
Here is what I put on my WInchester:
The Williams peep sight fits easily on the Winchester, moves the sight radius back a great deal further, and narrows that gap. Additionally, there is no interference with the slide or ejection.
At the long end of this is the tang sight. You may hsve looked at these and said to yourself “why the hell would someone put that on a rifle?” Accuracy is the answer. The further back that back sight is, the more sight radius, the more accurate you can be. 
This has long been true of military rifles as well; when the Springfield Armory began making the 1903, it had the rear sight mounted on the back of the barrel. Here’s the evolution of these fine rifles:
At the top, the O3 and O3A1, you can see the shorter sight radius. At the bottom, the much loved and sought after 03A3. These rifles were much easier to shoot accurately, and it showed. Springfield couldn’t produce these fast enough, so they turned to the brits- Several manufacturers, under license form Enfield, made the Enfield 1917.
This looong rifle, with the very accurately cut two-groove barrel, and rearward mounted sight, was what they gave Alvin York. He knew what to do with it, too.
My own personal favorite rifle, the K31, has a pretty substantial sight radius, and I can shoot it just fine with iron sights. While I prefer to use a scope, I am happy that I have a rifle I can shoot at long distances and still hit the target, even with my ancient eyes.
15 comments Og | Uncategorized
The man who invented peep sights in various gauges should be honored for his contribution to keeping ol’ farts shooting open sights.
I hate optics on classic rifles with a vengeance, but a nicely engineered peep sight is a work of art.
Og, know where I can get my hands on a K31?
I don’t know why it is, but the very first time I threw a lever-action up to my eye, I was able to drill things with it; still the same. I’m one of the lucky ones, I guess–it’s just instinctive.
When Dad brought his Mauser carbine home from Germany after the war, he had it restocked and the sight in this picture installed.
I’ve never really shot this gun much (definitely not since I was a kid). The muzzle velocity is supposed to be too high for most of the ranges here in town. Maybe one of these days I’ll bring it up north, Og, and we can burn off Dad’s old ammo.
Maybe that’s why I haven’t hit a squirrel with my granddaddy’s 1940 Winchester 74 in years. I was actually thinking a scope was the way to go.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Og. Twas appreciated.
N5: They’re not uncommon – or weren’t in the recent past. Any gun show should have ’em. Last I was in (a while ago), Big 5 still had them.
I *heart* the peep sight on my Savage 99, myself.
Thanks, Sigivald.
n5, look at Aim Surplus, where I got mine.
Nathan, I can’t get to that photo, but I’d love to see it- it has hotlink protection
I’ve always preferred blade sights over peep sights even though I can shoot equally with either. But what do I know, I’m just a novice.
You also have better eyes. Dick.
My long range rifle (for comp only) has a 31 inch barrel with a globe way out at the front and an adjustable peep at the rear of the action. Actually the front is adjustable as well. You can’t beat the longer sight radius. I have also shot our famous(or not) service rifle in EIC matches, and the short sight radius was not good to me. The young and folks gifted with great eyesight can get away with it, but not guys with a little age or some other sight problems. Glad you are enjoying your Winchester again.
Just got a 94 off of Collectors.com and the first shots where in a 3″ circle at 80yds so I agree with the blade wiggle, but the gun did come to point well, so I think I’ll practice a little for I do anything.
Hope you find a job soon, Og.
Uggh
Shoot. Sorry Og. Try this link instead.
Ouch. Nathan, that’s so pretty it hurts. When we gonna meet at the range?
I should be so lucky to be spared long enough. Probably not till summer at the earliest. Hell, I can’t even find time to go downtown to get a handgun permit.
Now I know why Dad wasn’t a “joiner”. He liked spending time at home. *sigh*
Glad you liked the pic though :)