Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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Front sight coloration can be important for contrast. Colors include gold (copper alloy), white, ivory, and black, along with every imaginable hue from orange to red, blue, yellow, and pink. Bead size is also important. Prevalent dimensions are 1/16-, 3/32-, and 1/8-inch, the latter fast at very close range, but too coarse for distance because it covers too much target.

An example of front sight color importance is the White Stripe from SX Sight Systems, which is visible against all backgrounds: from plains, tundra, thickets, black timber, mountain canyons, swamps to the treeless tops of sheep country. Lighted from behind, the white stripe stands out. Lighted from the front, the whole sight appears solid black. The sight picture of this peep/ post combination prints point of impact two to three inches above the top of the post at 100 yards for .30-30-class muzzle velocities. Place the top of the post mid-chest on deer-sized game at 100 yards and the bullet strikes a little high, but well within the vitals. At 200 yards, given modern .30-30 ballistics, the flying missile falls a hand-width below the top of the post, but again within the chest region. While today’s marksmen consistently hit targets at 1,000 yards and beyond with iron-sighted rifles, as witnessed at any blackpowder cartridge match, my personal outside limit is about 200 yards with irons on big game, rangefinder verified when practical.