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This is an old CSP (Culiver's Shooting Page) post by the originator/creator of this site. Eventhough Dick has passed, this info is no less cogent.
How do you shoot so far with open sights?
Posted By: Dick Culver <culver@jouster.com>
Date: Sunday, 22 August 1999, at 4:26 p.m.
In Response To: How do you shoot so far with open sights? (schirippa)
OK Folks...
I have been reading the "how in the world can I shoot shoot such long distances" postings with a smile... It simply isn't as hard as it seems, assuming that you have an accurate rifle.
What everyone seems to be forgetting is the FRONT SIGHT! If you can see the front sight clearly, you can shoot as far you can identify the target within the parameters of your rifle's ability. The trick is always, front sight, front sight, front sight!
The size of the bullseye is not necessarily relevant, if you can see the target frame. Many old timers in years past, simply held the center of the target frame, did all the other things right (position, breathing, trigger control, etc.) and squeezed carefully. The old joke use to be to tell a youngster how to become a National Champion in one sentence. "Line up your sights perfectly and squeeze the trigger in such a manner as to not disturb the sight alignment." If you do that each and every time (using an accurate rifle), you will be the next rifle champion!
As far as excellent eyesight, as I said before, the trick is to get perfect sight alignment! If you can see the target frame, the "center-hold" is often the answer to aging eyes... the center of the target is ALWAYS in the center! Other tricks that used to work well were a "frame hold" (align your sights perfectly, and hold the front sight on the top of the frame, after adjusting your sights to compensate for the difference in bullet strike). In a similar fashion, if you can't see the top of the frame distinctly (as at Perry), simply use a "butt hold" (hold the bottom of the target frame - used to work well with a little light fog curling in).
My biggest problem with 1000 yds. and iron sights was making sure I was shooting on the correct target! Laugh if you will, but in the old days when they were running a full range, you couldn't simply count over 25 target frames from the end and pray! Twenty targets at 1000 yards was a very small amount indeed - and to add insult to injury, the old 36" bulls-eye used to have "duce wings" on it so that the targets virtually brushed up against each other in the butts with no clearly defined distance between each firing point (or so it looked from the line at any rate!). Now that could be a challenge!
Nope, the shooting itself isn't as hard as it looks! Never forget, it's sight alignment, sight alignment, sight alignment! If you use the same aiming point each time, it doesn't matter if you are using a center hold, frame hold or butt hold, the bullets don't know the difference... and the center of the target is always in the center, be it on the old 36" black or the 10X version... Center is center, is center!
You can practice the same techniques even at 200 to prove the technique to yourself... try it sometime! Many of the really great shooters used to use a center hold from 200 on out to 1000 - remember the center is always the center! Tip on what front sight to use.
Posted By: Gus Fisher
Date: Thursday, 16 September 1999, at 3:30 p.m.
Had a customer come up this last weekend at the Gun Show in Hampton, VA with a problem that may not be unusual for others, so thought I'd pass this tip along.
He had one of the early Springfield front sights where the ears are almost straight up. To make a long story short, he sometimes confused either the right or left "ear" or "wing" of the front sight with the front sight blade. Now, that's not just a problem for over 40 eyesight. They changed the original sight to one with wider "ears" or "wings" because young soldiers also did the same thing in the 1940's.
I put a later style Springfield front sight, but it didn't seem to improve it much for the customer. Then we put one of the wider and later HRA/IHC or WRA "Dumbo Ears" front sight and it completely cleared up his problem with distinguishing the front sight blade from the ears or wings of the front sight. He also had an easier time "centering" the front sight wings in the aperture, BUT that's only for his confidence. You almost never really notice the ears or wings of the front sight, because you want to concentrate on that front sight "post" when shooting.
Oh yes, IF you can get the front sight that has been refinished with black oxide or the really dark charcoal parkerization, so much the better. That dark front sight REALLY comes in handy in strong sunlight. Especially if you can't darken your front sight from a smudge pot, carbide lantern, or spray can of "sight black." (Personally, I always try to keep some dark front sights in stock, for this very reason.)
I realize a collector may not want to change the front sight to a later one made by another contractor, BUT for a "Shootin' Raffle", this might be just the ticket for some folks.
Now there seem's to be some confusion on who made the widest front sight ears or wings. I've seen conflicting info in reference books. Not sure if the Winchester or HRA/IHC sights were the widest, but any of them will do. Also, the HRA/IHC front sights MAY be cheaper to buy as they don't have the "magic" WRA label attached.
Anyhow, this might be something you'd want to try if you are having difficulties with "finding" your front sight.
KROIL and Kano Labs
From: Jwinn
EMail:
Date: 29 Jun 1999
Time: 14:59:58
Comments
Kroil is some super stuff for bores. Hugely popular among the Bench Rest crowd. Ultimate rust killer also. WD40 is mud in comparison. Used by just about all Fortune 500 Indutries (GM, Cat, U.S. Steel, etc). I have no connection myself just like this VERY INEXPENSIVE product. I also have used their MOLY LUBE spray (just like Ms. Moly for 1/5th the price). Website is WWW.KANOLABS.com or use search engine. Lost of stuff. Kano is 21 bucks a GALLON. This will last two normal lifetimes. #is 615-833-4101 (nice folks). Check it out you'll like it.
How do you shoot so far with open sights?
Posted By: Dick Culver <culver@jouster.com>
Date: Sunday, 22 August 1999, at 4:26 p.m.
In Response To: How do you shoot so far with open sights? (schirippa)
OK Folks...
I have been reading the "how in the world can I shoot shoot such long distances" postings with a smile... It simply isn't as hard as it seems, assuming that you have an accurate rifle.
What everyone seems to be forgetting is the FRONT SIGHT! If you can see the front sight clearly, you can shoot as far you can identify the target within the parameters of your rifle's ability. The trick is always, front sight, front sight, front sight!
The size of the bullseye is not necessarily relevant, if you can see the target frame. Many old timers in years past, simply held the center of the target frame, did all the other things right (position, breathing, trigger control, etc.) and squeezed carefully. The old joke use to be to tell a youngster how to become a National Champion in one sentence. "Line up your sights perfectly and squeeze the trigger in such a manner as to not disturb the sight alignment." If you do that each and every time (using an accurate rifle), you will be the next rifle champion!
As far as excellent eyesight, as I said before, the trick is to get perfect sight alignment! If you can see the target frame, the "center-hold" is often the answer to aging eyes... the center of the target is ALWAYS in the center! Other tricks that used to work well were a "frame hold" (align your sights perfectly, and hold the front sight on the top of the frame, after adjusting your sights to compensate for the difference in bullet strike). In a similar fashion, if you can't see the top of the frame distinctly (as at Perry), simply use a "butt hold" (hold the bottom of the target frame - used to work well with a little light fog curling in).
My biggest problem with 1000 yds. and iron sights was making sure I was shooting on the correct target! Laugh if you will, but in the old days when they were running a full range, you couldn't simply count over 25 target frames from the end and pray! Twenty targets at 1000 yards was a very small amount indeed - and to add insult to injury, the old 36" bulls-eye used to have "duce wings" on it so that the targets virtually brushed up against each other in the butts with no clearly defined distance between each firing point (or so it looked from the line at any rate!). Now that could be a challenge!
Nope, the shooting itself isn't as hard as it looks! Never forget, it's sight alignment, sight alignment, sight alignment! If you use the same aiming point each time, it doesn't matter if you are using a center hold, frame hold or butt hold, the bullets don't know the difference... and the center of the target is always in the center, be it on the old 36" black or the 10X version... Center is center, is center!
You can practice the same techniques even at 200 to prove the technique to yourself... try it sometime! Many of the really great shooters used to use a center hold from 200 on out to 1000 - remember the center is always the center! Tip on what front sight to use.
Posted By: Gus Fisher
Date: Thursday, 16 September 1999, at 3:30 p.m.
Had a customer come up this last weekend at the Gun Show in Hampton, VA with a problem that may not be unusual for others, so thought I'd pass this tip along.
He had one of the early Springfield front sights where the ears are almost straight up. To make a long story short, he sometimes confused either the right or left "ear" or "wing" of the front sight with the front sight blade. Now, that's not just a problem for over 40 eyesight. They changed the original sight to one with wider "ears" or "wings" because young soldiers also did the same thing in the 1940's.
I put a later style Springfield front sight, but it didn't seem to improve it much for the customer. Then we put one of the wider and later HRA/IHC or WRA "Dumbo Ears" front sight and it completely cleared up his problem with distinguishing the front sight blade from the ears or wings of the front sight. He also had an easier time "centering" the front sight wings in the aperture, BUT that's only for his confidence. You almost never really notice the ears or wings of the front sight, because you want to concentrate on that front sight "post" when shooting.
Oh yes, IF you can get the front sight that has been refinished with black oxide or the really dark charcoal parkerization, so much the better. That dark front sight REALLY comes in handy in strong sunlight. Especially if you can't darken your front sight from a smudge pot, carbide lantern, or spray can of "sight black." (Personally, I always try to keep some dark front sights in stock, for this very reason.)
I realize a collector may not want to change the front sight to a later one made by another contractor, BUT for a "Shootin' Raffle", this might be just the ticket for some folks.
Now there seem's to be some confusion on who made the widest front sight ears or wings. I've seen conflicting info in reference books. Not sure if the Winchester or HRA/IHC sights were the widest, but any of them will do. Also, the HRA/IHC front sights MAY be cheaper to buy as they don't have the "magic" WRA label attached.
Anyhow, this might be something you'd want to try if you are having difficulties with "finding" your front sight.
KROIL and Kano Labs
From: Jwinn
EMail:
Date: 29 Jun 1999
Time: 14:59:58
Comments
Kroil is some super stuff for bores. Hugely popular among the Bench Rest crowd. Ultimate rust killer also. WD40 is mud in comparison. Used by just about all Fortune 500 Indutries (GM, Cat, U.S. Steel, etc). I have no connection myself just like this VERY INEXPENSIVE product. I also have used their MOLY LUBE spray (just like Ms. Moly for 1/5th the price). Website is WWW.KANOLABS.com or use search engine. Lost of stuff. Kano is 21 bucks a GALLON. This will last two normal lifetimes. #is 615-833-4101 (nice folks). Check it out you'll like it.
Comment