finding peep sights a negative.

[Caliper_Mi]

The front sight is clear but nearly everything else including the target is a bit blurry.

Exactly as it should be. Your eye can only focus on one distance at once, and the front sight is the most important thing to focus on since it is the part of the picture that will move the most. Focusing on it helps you hold it still. A 6:00 hold often helps with iron sights as you can balance the fuzzy target on top of the clear front sight. That is often easier than a center hold and trying to center the front sight in a fuzzy target that is 1/2 blocked by the front sight anyways.

You do want the peep close to your eye. At first it will feel like the peep is huge and there is no way you can center the front sight, but your mind will do that naturally. Just keep your focus on that front sight! The beauty of a peep sight is the huge field of view you have, similar to a scope instead of traditional post and notch sights.

It sounds like you are getting there! Good luck! Also, think about heading out to an Appleseed event in your area. I'm an Appleseed instructor in Michigan, and I can tell you that the shooting we teach at Appleseed is the perfect complement to a M4 style rifle. (Project Appleseed is also one of the sponsors of this site)

 

[bhk]

I find peep sights MUCH easier to shoot accurately and quickly than open sights, regardless of the lighting conditions. I scope all my bolt action rifles, but none of my levers. It is so nice to be able to wrap my hand totally around the receiver of a lever action when moving through the woods. Can't do this with a scoped lever.

 

[bigfatdave]

Can't do this with a scoped lever

just use the scope as a carry handle

 

[mortablunt]

Everyone has different eyes. I've got a preference for open sights because I find them faster and easier to use. However, I admit that aperture sights give me a much better picture. It's probably an issue with your eyes.

 

[Trung Si]

Aperture Rear Sights, are like the M1 Garand, the Greatest Thing ever devised by Man,like the Member in a Post before me stated, just FOCUS on The Front Sight and the Rear Sight will center Itself naturally and as for the member that stated that they are no good at Night and in Low Light, Don't fool Yourself, I have been There and Done that!

 

[benEzra]

I think looking thru the top edge of my glasses is coming into play.

This is probably the big issue. I have the same problem; I am rather nearsighted and there is serious aberration right at the edge of the lens, to the extent that if I shot with my head down, the 2-MOA dot that I was using at the time would be smeared into a 6+ MOA vertical line, and I have similar troubles with irons.

One solution is contact lenses, of course (since you're always looking through the center of the lens); another is to get some glasses with larger lenses (I shoot with a pair of prescription Oakley wraparounds now, and they have much less edge distortion). You can also try shooting with an optic that lets you put your head up a little higher and straighter.

 

[dagger dog]

A tang sight mounted on the 39 would be the ticket,if you want the period look. You can remove the aperture alltogether to get the ghost ring effect, or add a target disc to get the precision you need.

You can have a set of glasses made with the bifocal at the top. I have a set used for working under cars and looking up at close distances ,under dash boards etc. They work great with your cheek weld and the sights are perfectly clear.

Don't need them anymore had lens transplants for cataract correction , I couldn't wait to get away from scopes on some of my rifles, peeps, full buck horns, tangs all work great now !

Don't be quick about dumping the peep, like most have posted it just takes a little time to get used to it.

 

[SGW42]

I too had a Skinner on my 39A and decided I didn't like it and took it off. I am also very nearsighted, and I have someone thin glasses with heavy frames...maybe this is coming into play.

Either way, I actually like the semi-buckhorn Marlin sights...>_>

Another thing was I really didn't want to swap out the front sight, which meant using a bead instead of a post. I couldn't figure out if I wanted a dead-on or 6 o'clock hold, and which one I was more accurate with. Now, my Mini-14 has apperture sights, and I do okay with that one, since it just has a plain post which I find much nicer to look at through the peep.

 

[CraigC]

Another thing was I really didn't want to swap out the front sight, which meant using a bead instead of a post.

You could've gotten a post front sight from Skinner in any height desired.

 

[SGW42]

I know, but I'm so mechanically challenged I wouldn't trust myself to fit it on there without damaging something. Trust me, I've tried replacing the front sight on a rifle before. And there are no smiths I trust in my area.