NECG peep sights and Ruger 77/44's

[dmazur]

I removed the factory rear sight on my Ruger 77/44 and got a NECG peep sight, for use as a backup if I had scope trouble.

I'm aware of the fact that scope construction is so good now that iron sights as a backup plan is kind of an obsolete concept...

Nevertheless, I bought the thing, so I thought I'd carry it when hunting with the 77/44.

Which introduces the problem of where to put it. It is kind of small, and it's blued steel so it doesn't want to be buried in a wet pack pocket.

Guess what? The 77/44 has a hollow stock, with a stiffener that spans the opening about halfway down. A small Ziploc bag holds the peep sight, and a nickel to deal with the tight thumbscrews on the scope rings and it fits nicely in the upper compartment when rolled up. No rattles. Something else might fit in the lower compartment, but I haven't figured out what yet.

Now all I have to remember to carry is a medium Phillips screwdriver, for the recoil pad screws. Of course, one of those is already in the truck toolbox. And screwdrivers seem to survive getting wet a little better than an $80 sight.

I just thought I would share this with some of the other 77/44 owners on this forum.

(And, since Ruger likes consistency, I'll bet it works for the 77/357 as well... )

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

thinking bout getting one of these, aint sure if the .357 mag or .44 mag is the way to go. I hunt in Texas where I don't have many short range shots but sometimes situations call for a bullet with ballistics that call for short range.

 

[dmazur]

I haven't got a deer with mine yet, but I set up the rifle for western Washington, where many of the shots are 50 - 100 yds. Lots of brush.

When I hunt the eastern half of the state, I don't even think of iron sights...and I take a different rifle.

The .44 Rem Mag is a proven deer killer. Muzzle velocities are around 1800 fps with 240gr bullets, in a carbine.

It just isn't a .30-30, however. I believe most consider 100 yds the maximum practical range for a .44 Mag carbine. Beyond that the trajectory starts to curve seriously.

So, if you want bullets which are designed to expand at lower velocities, and still be able to consider shots out to 150 - 200 yds, I'd choose a .30-30 over the .44 Mag.

All my opinion, of course. And until I get a deer, just a lot of theory...

 

[sappyg]

The NECG peep sight that I have for my #1 Ruger mounts in the dovetail for the scope. As a result the scope must be removed.
Only placing the sight on the rifle as a back up after removing the scope would require you to re- sight the peep due to the way the mount is designed. Essentially, you move the windage by loosening and tightening the base of the mount in the dovetail. You should be ok on elevation.
For me this is an all or nothing sight.

 

[dmazur]

Essentially, you move the windage by loosening and tightening the base of the mount in the dovetail.

You are correct. The two mounting screws act as windage adj screws. However, one side has a setscrew so zero can be maintained after removing/reinstalling the sight. The spring-loaded side doesn't have a setscrew.

If you don't tighten the setscrew, this feature is lost.

 

[sappyg]

Agh... I see.

I'll have to try that. Thanks