Iron sights, poor eyesight, and inconsistencies

As I have aged, I have noticed a decline in eyesight. No surprises there.

However, some forms of iron sight are not as difficult to use as others for me.

Ferinstance, the Mosin Nagant and the SKS are fairly clear for me. The Mini 14 and the M14 and AR15 I can see pretty good.

My new coyote getter, Mannlicher Schoenaur, I cannot see the sight picture at all.

The only differences I can see (pun intended! ) is that the M-S has a bronze ball and post front sight that must have to nestle down low in the rear sight, and I cannot see either the notch in the rear with certainty, and cannot see the bronze ball at all. So now I am putting a scope on this rifle, which is OK for its intended use, but really wrecks the lines of the rifle, IMO.

Anybody know why some of these sights are visible, but others aren't? The rear sight leaf on the M-S is about the same distance from the eye as is the Mosin Nagant rear sight. The front sight is in the next zip code. The SKS sights are closer in overall dimension, and I can see them, maybe not clearly, but well enough to pop clays on the 100 yard berm.

Sigh.:banghead:

Welding Rod said:

You might try shooting both sights with Birchwood Casey Sight Black, or equivalent.

I use this stuff on my match rifles. It is a huge help in achieving a consistant POI when there is alternating sun shine and overcast conditions.

Then you could determine if the problem is the color and surface finish of the sights, or the sights themselves.

You may find that they work just fine with a nice coat of flat black on them.

Click to expand...

Good idea. I have some carbide rocks somewhere and a lamp. Sight black may be just the ticket! Thanks.

I found that using the bottoms of my bifocals worked just fine. I learned this by turning the glasses upside down and looking at the sights. So off to the local drugstore for reading glasses, and voila! I can see the sights.

That said, I still had a scope installed, as it is so much easier to reach out and touch something when you can see the target and the aiming reference at the same time.

The scope is something new to me, the Nikon 4.5-14 Coyote reticle scope. Even after I bought it I wasn't so sure I wanted to use it, but I tried it anyways.





Neat little rifle, had it borescoped, the gunsmith said it looked pristine, which is a good thing given the reputation of 243 as a throat burner. I *may* do the AI reamer to this chamber, as I have read elsewhere that the steeper shoulder of that round is supposed to be easier on the throat of the rifle.

These are the mounts from EAW, New England Custom Gunsmithing.





They are quick release in nature, the scope just sort of pivots on the front mount. Unless one were trying to swap out another scope, I can see no reason to do this, as the front scope base is tall enough that the iron sights are no longer useable.