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THE WORLD OF SIGHTS PT. 1 - IRON SIGHTS
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Before we really start picking up in the world of firearms I thought I would take a moment to cover some basic accessories.
We will slowly but surely get through many of them but for now...
Good Ol Iron.
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Before we really start picking up in the world of firearms I thought I would take a moment to cover some basic accessories.
We will slowly but surely get through many of them but for now...
Good Ol Iron.
A sight/scope is essentially a refracting telescope that is used for a wide variety of things that involve aiming.
In the past (and still today) aiming was typically conducted with an IRON SIGHT.
IRON SIGHT: Metal alignment markers that assist with aiming.
In the past (and still today) aiming was typically conducted with an IRON SIGHT.
IRON SIGHT: Metal alignment markers that assist with aiming.
Two types: Open sights & Aperture Sights
Aperture sights feature a circle like the photo on the right and are typically on battle rifles (FAL's, M14's, etc)
Open sights are the photo on the right, they are often integrated right onto the firearm and used as a back up.
Aperture sights feature a circle like the photo on the right and are typically on battle rifles (FAL's, M14's, etc)
Open sights are the photo on the right, they are often integrated right onto the firearm and used as a back up.
How to aim w/ iron
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You want the two rear sights to look blurred and the front sight in focus.
The tops of the front & rear sights should line up perfectly, and the front sight should have the same amount of space within the rear sights...
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You want the two rear sights to look blurred and the front sight in focus.
The tops of the front & rear sights should line up perfectly, and the front sight should have the same amount of space within the rear sights...
to the left and right. (As shown above)
If it's too high or too low, you will miss your shot.
If you find yourself looking at the target rather than through the sight, you will also probably miss.
If it's too high or too low, you will miss your shot.
If you find yourself looking at the target rather than through the sight, you will also probably miss.
Some background terminology:
Eye Relief: The distance between the rear sight aperture and the aiming eye is known as eye relief.
the head should be as erect as possible as eyes function best when looking in their natural forward position.
Eye Relief: The distance between the rear sight aperture and the aiming eye is known as eye relief.
the head should be as erect as possible as eyes function best when looking in their natural forward position.
It is important to maintain the same eye relief while firing from a particular stance. Changing eye relief changes the point of aim thus disrupts consistency.
Sight Alignment: The front & rear sights are aligned in order to take a clear shot.
Sight Alignment: The front & rear sights are aligned in order to take a clear shot.
Sight picture: This is the placement of properly aligned sights on the target as well as the point of focus.
You want the front sight in focus rather than the target or rear sight.
This is known as a "clear front side tip" - this is ideal.
You want the front sight in focus rather than the target or rear sight.
This is known as a "clear front side tip" - this is ideal.
If you are focused on the target then there is a large margin of error.
I could go on but I don't want to make this thread too long. The image below is an example of the different types of sights you may encounter.
I could go on but I don't want to make this thread too long. The image below is an example of the different types of sights you may encounter.
There are a few different holds for sight pictures:
- Frame (Image 3)
- 6 O Clock (Image 1)
- Center (Image 2)
- Line of White (labeled image )
These can change from Gun to Gun or Distance to Distance. It just depends on the situation.
- Frame (Image 3)
- 6 O Clock (Image 1)
- Center (Image 2)
- Line of White (labeled image )
These can change from Gun to Gun or Distance to Distance. It just depends on the situation.
Problem with iron sights:
- The Glare: Usually due to a matte finish on the sights, shooters have developed many ways to reduce this such as changing the finish or "smoking the sight" which develops a layer of soot to reduce glare.
- The Glare: Usually due to a matte finish on the sights, shooters have developed many ways to reduce this such as changing the finish or "smoking the sight" which develops a layer of soot to reduce glare.
There's also the problem of distance.
Compared to a telescopic sight, your aim past a certain point w/ iron sights is greatly diminished.
Things to remember:
Compared to a telescopic sight, your aim past a certain point w/ iron sights is greatly diminished.
Things to remember:
It is more important to have the sights correctly aligned when the shot is fired than it is to have a perfect sight picture. This is true because error introduced by an incorrect sight picture is parallel. If your sight picture is an inch off, for example, the hit on target will
be an inch off of the desired point of impact regardless of the distance to the target.
On the other hand, alignment error is angular: The greater the distance to the target, the more the shot will be off from its desired location.
On the other hand, alignment error is angular: The greater the distance to the target, the more the shot will be off from its desired location.
Takeways:
- Iron sight's will likely be your back up, know how to aim with them.
- Practice if you can (w/ proper permits & supervision)
- Basic terminology that goes into aiming
Good luck and I hope to expand on this in PT. 2+ in the future w/ Telescopic, Laser, & Reflex.
- Iron sight's will likely be your back up, know how to aim with them.
- Practice if you can (w/ proper permits & supervision)
- Basic terminology that goes into aiming
Good luck and I hope to expand on this in PT. 2+ in the future w/ Telescopic, Laser, & Reflex.
I just realized I forgot to switch the top photograph with an iron sight - that's my bad.
