L1A1 rear sight

[WheelMan]

I just picked up an L1A1, this thing is a beast and great fun to shoot.

I fired it at 25 yards today and found the sights very quick but I'm wondering about precision at longer ranges. On my rifle at least the rear peep is HUGE It's almost like looking through the ghost ring on my 590 (it's not quite as big as that but it's close). This is great for visibility and quick acquisition ( like a ghost ring), but I think I'm going to have a hard time of it at longer ranges. I'm sure with practice and a rock solid cheek weld I could do okay, but I think a little smaller peep would help out. So two questions:

1. For you fellas with this sort of peep on your FAL what techniques do you use at long range and how much success do you have producing tight groups

2. Where do I get a smaller peep for this thing? For this kind of rifle and the purposes I have in mind, I actually really like the big peep for close work, but would like to have the option of a more precise sight. Some thing like the dual mode flip on an AR15 would be perfect, anybody make something like this?

 

[nemesis]

The Canadian C1A1 rotary disc sight provides a decreasing range of aperture sizes which are arranged at increasing distances from the pin axis to provide the correct heights for longer ranges. It is a drop in for an inch rifle, I don't know if it fits metrics but assume it will. It is a cheap improvement but well worth the effort.

 

[WheelMan]

neat

where do I get one?

 

[stellarpod]

Wheelman:

I experienced the same thing with my L1A1. I purchased a far superior sight from DSA and have been very pleased. It's not cheap, but it solved the problem for me.

Tactical Para Steel Rear Sight with positive click windage knob

Check it out.

stellarpod

 

[Wild Bill]

Second the Canadian C1A1 rotary disc sight.

Try these;
http://www.marstar.ca/fnc1s.htm
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/
http://www.tapco.com/

Good luck

 

[P95Carry]

stellarpod ... went to look at that link ...... but the device shown looks as tho it'd never fit on my L1A1 rear site assembly. Mine is a ''thrown-together'' Century Arms ... not bad but not perfect!

Here is a pic (excuse dimension stuff, that was for another purpose, plus, flash has made surfaces look diabolical!) .....

Then the one shown on the site ....

Can you comment?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oops .. Oh I see now ... hadn't looked properly but .... my question now changes to ......

How do you sort out elevation then cos the ramp is gone is it not? Very possibly I am being thick again ... it's still morning, just!

 

[Mk VII]

there is a double aperture rearsight that was originally part of the 'Hythe' night sights with the luminous insert at the front. Big for night and small for day (those with long memories will recall something similar for the M16). The shooting team used to reserve these for competition use (the front bit was long gone by my time).

 

[keederdag]

Personally I thought over $100 was a bit steep for the Canadian diopter. I cut and rewelded a threaded post on my L1A1; it now sports a merit diopter/spincter? disk. I also have a pretty large selection of lyman disc's that work well. It cost me about $35. I also have a Aussie rear sight that has a threaded app. and uses what appear to be Carburator jets. Brass and threaded in. Works great and they are cheap too.

 

[stellarpod]

Wheelman:

Mine is a dreaded CAI as well. But, it's got an Imbel receiver and, other than the sight problem, it has performed flawlessly. Besides, I got it for a song.

The DSA Para Steel sight fit right into my dovetail groove perfectly. Notice the notch in the dovetail of your sight to allow clearance for the windage adjusting screw? There is an identical one on the DSA sight. Here is a picture of mine installed, albeit taken from the front rather than the back.



(sorry for the bad focus)
I was pleased with the fit and function.

stellarpod

 

[P95Carry]

But .. I am still unsure if that is there and no ramp any more .. what is your elevation adjustment??

 

[WheelMan]

You've still got the "fine" adjustment from screwing the front post up/down

 

[stellarpod]

Exactly. Elevation adjustment by front post. Works for mine.

stellarpod

 

[P95Carry]

Ok thx .... had more or less come to that but .... not quite so versatile maybe out to longer ranges.

No probs I guess ..... I'm OK as long as on target 100 thru 200.

 

[WheelMan]

I was thinking about that too P95, but I figure I'd rather kentucy windage at 400 yards than try a 400 yard shot with a ladder adjustable sight with a huge peep.

 

[cabinetman]

Hi all. Rather than touch the rear site, maybe you might consider this different front site post. DSA and Numrich both sell them. I've got one on my FAL and with the rear original peep, the rifle is untouchable...almost as good as a scope. Here's what my front site looks like:

As you can see, your site pictue is completely different with this front site post and placing that reticle on the target guarantees a hit. I just shot my L1A1 in a bowling pin competition and came in 3rd out of 14 and while all the other guys were using scoped AR 15s., I won all my matches with these iron sites.

Just a thought.

Rome

 

[WheelMan]

hey that's slick, what do they call that? DSA and numrich are both sort on product pictures

 

[P95Carry]

Looks good . VERY good ... imagine adding that to the improved rear sight! Hmmm ... thinks .......

 

[cabinetman]

Here ya go for Numrich.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=702870&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

The item number is 702860

I've seen the identical piece in Shotgun News in the DSA ad for basically the same money.

Regarding that and an "improved" rear site, I don't think you'll find much advantage to reducing the rear peep. I've experimented with a few diameter reducing leafs and didn't really find it added much accuracy. I think it has something to do with the distance between the two points. Interestingly enough the sites on a L1A1 are extremely close to the ones on the Garand except the Garand is about 11" longer.

What I found with the cross-hair circle site is that I'm able to simply put the crosshairs on the target and pull the trigger. Sighting the rifle on target becomes extremely easy out to about 100 yards. Beyound that, the reticle in the circle become too "thick". Think about that when ordereing yours. You may want to go with the thinner hairs if you have a choice.

Rome

 

[P95Carry]

cabinetman . thx for the link . saves a lotta time!

However . the number you mention .... 702860
... looks like it is the FAL item . and so metric yeah? I have L1A1, not FAL.

Lower down they refer to L1A1 specifically. A std and a duplex ... can you advise .. would seem one of these better as they'd be ''inch'' - would hate to get something that didn't fit! What do ya reckon is diff' between the two?

 

[cabinetman]

Try here:

http://www.kagerind.com/Kager_Static_Home/S-gun_sights/s-gun_sights2.htm


And DSA sells them here:

http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=KNSISS&storeid=1&image=knsheader.gif


As you'll see, they do offer them in metric.

Hope that helps.

Rome

 

[P95Carry]

Thx again for your trouble cabinetman . just what I wanted .... much appreciated