What is the Optimal Ratio Between Rear Sight Opening and Front Sight Width????

Hi

I've been playing with various rear sight inserts on my Ruger MKIII.

The Ruger MKIII rounded rear opening is .175 and the front sight is about .125= .050 greater rear sight opening than front sight I REALLY see the front sight better now.

I recently bought a small file set from habor freight. My air gun had a rear opening of .095 and a front width of .105. I filed the rear opening until it is now .125 = .020 greater rear opening than front sight. Should I open it up more? I shoot better with it now.

My question is there an optimal ratio between rear opening to front width????

Seems to me that is going to change with each person. Someone 6' 4" has longer arms so the gun is further from their eye than someone 5' 6" - that's going to change the way they see the sights. Sounds like you've found a good ratio for the way you see the sights, I'm just not sure the same ratio is going to work for everyone.

I'm still learning so I'm no expert on these things...it'll be interesting to see what some of the more experienced folks have to say.

Clay

Sight radius comes into play as well.

I like the rear sight opening to show a line of white on each side of the front sight that is a minimum 1/2 the width of the front sight and a full width is even better for me.  When it is a full width and 3 equal "slots" my minds eye just aligns everything. 

- Dave

Don Nygord talked about ratios of 1:2:1 and 1:1:1. Those translate into 1 part open 2 parts front sight and 1 part open and 1 part open 1 part front sight and 1 part open. Here is a link to the note that it is in. 

http://www.cincinnatirevolverclub.net/nygordsnotes/sights.htm

A big problem that I have with the Benelli 22's is a minimum 4mm front sight and a maximum 4 mm wide rear sight. It is usable for my eyes, but the standard A rear blade has a 3.3mm notch and the B is 3.7mm. With 50 year old eyes and indoor lighting that make things tough for me.

Everyones preference is different as well as their physical make up.  I have long arms and almost all rear sight gaps are too small for me.  When there isn't enough rear gap my eyes cant get past the rear sight to focus on the front.  With those sights I find myself only getting the rear sight clear or only being able to get the front sight clear for a short bit.  Neither one is good for accurate shooting.  Try as many as you can and see which you like the best.

Scott

I thought a lot of the Euro guns these days had rear sight blades adjustable for notch width... A stellar idea if you ask me.

Oh, no one's asking....

dronning wrote:I like the rear sight opening to show a line of white on each side of the front sight that is a minimum 1/2 the width of the front sight and a full width is even better for me.  When it is a full width and 3 equal "slots" my minds eye just aligns everything. 

- Dave

This is how I like it. In this case more is more.

GrumpyOldMan wrote:I thought a lot of the Euro guns these days had rear sight blades adjustable for notch width... A stellar idea if you ask me.

Oh, no one's asking....

Many have them available. But as I discovered, that doesn't mean they will work with your grip. I bought the Benelli adjustable. It took a little file work to fit it front to back into the sight slot of the grip. But I was thrilled with the sight picture. It was perfect when dryfiring even indoors. I went to the range to zero the gun and discovered that because the sight was taller, it is at least 1/3 taller, it would require removal of a significant amount of wood to zero the pistol (even with a wide sub 6). When I examined my grips (Rink XL 7), I realized that because of the angle built into the grip there does not seem to be enough material on one side to be able to fit the sight without structurally weakening the grip. 

So even though they are out there, that doesn't mean that they can work on YOUR gun. This may just be a benelli problem and I feel certain that if I bought new grips I can make it work. Some Horton Grips may be in my future for the Benelli and I know they are in the future for a pardini that I have bought.

Well, I went bat **** crazy with a chainsaw file last night.

My two Ruger MKIIIs and my Gamo air pistol all sport "U" notch rear sight opening measuring .210".

I shot the Gamo at my exclusive basement air gun range (members Only).  Target next to my coal stove.  Good PA coal!!!!

I can finally see the front sights better by opening up the rear sight openings!

The ratio is close to the 1:2:1 as suggested in the Don Nygord article.

Thanks for all the suggestions gentlemen.

I'll chewing on this bone for some time.

Paul

Let us know how it works. What did you use to reblacken the sight. I have used flat black paint in the past and it works for a while.

jmdavis wrote:Let us know how it works. What did you use to reblacken the sight. I have used flat black paint in the past and it works for a while.

paint is just about the worst thing youcan use as it can gum up the adjustment mechcamisms. Try a lentgh of maksing tape, twriled with the glued sideout ,light it up and it work as a great sight blackener. Worksjust as well a a carbide sight tool.

Sight black is great for darkening sights,but I'm not so sure it is the ticket for bare metal. To paint, I remove the blade from the mechanism and don't really see how the paint could gum up the pistol sight blades that I have (HS Victor, Benelli, Pardini).

Wouldn't you cold blue the cuts?

That would work for steel. But I've never done it. I might try with a blade that I haven't mounted

There is a cold blue for aluminium