Fire Sights on rifles carried in scabbards

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:00 pm

Does anyone have experience with them. Ive only seen them in photos, how would they stand up to carry in a scabbard in rough country and cold weather. I carry my rifle under my leg from the rear with sights up. danny

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:19 am

I've hunted with a fiber optic sight on my muzzleloader for many years and have never had a problem. We always put the rifles in a sock when packing in or going long distances, otherwise it goes in the scabbard as usual. I made a buckskin wrap reinforced with plactic (a film canister) for my receiver sight, which I am always more worried about than my front.

We are butt to the rear and sights up also (see pic). Muzzy season is usually pretty temperate, so I don't know about really cold temps.

I have recently seen sight hoods with a hole cut in the top to let in the light. This seems like a very good idea and I may put the system on one of my 71s and try it out. So far I've only seen them for Marlins, though.

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:46 am

Use a scope.

Just kidding, my early morning humor.

I have firesights on my Super Redhawk and Mk 2. I found that a drop of superglue adds some reinforcement to the plastic rod set in place. This may help aleviate any fears you have.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:33 am

AT LAST ! ! An actual use, for the heretofor (IMO) useless front sight hood !

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:50 am

Pete44ru wrote:AT LAST ! ! An actual use, for the heretofor (IMO) useless front sight hood !

Agreed - perhaps a couple side-grooves cut with a Dremel would allow a Marlin one to fit right on!

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:51 am

I was in the gunshop in one of our small towns up here during BP season and a guy came in looking for a replacement front firesite for his front stuffer with no luck. The shop had a good selection of stuff for a remote hole in the wall, but those sights were not one of them. I felt bad for the guy because it meant driving to Denver, a 1 1/2 hour trip one way. So pretty much a wasted day for him, and he was from out of state so he was already spending a bundle on his elk trip. I would say protect it if you can, and carry a spare.

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:59 am

Several of the pics on the Wild West page show "perforated" hoods:
http://www.wildwestguns.com/CoPilot_And ... ifles.html
Adn I found this in Midway but you need to buy the ramp to make it work:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=372740
Ramp:
http://www.midwayusa.com/esearch.exe/se ... l_products

Texican · Post by **Texican** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:18 am

BigSky56 wrote:Does anyone have experience with them. Ive only seen them in photos, how would they stand up to carry in a scabbard in rough country and cold weather. I carry my rifle under my leg from the rear with sights up. danny

My only experience with Firesights was with a Ruger 22/45 and my opinion is that they were somewhat fragile. I stripped the elevation screw on the rear without much effort at all. I don't believe it was steel; more like a zinc/aluminum casting. This was when they first came out several years ago. Customer service was excellent in replacing it, though. I have HiViz on that gun now and am happy. What ever you get make sure the base is steel. Even if the filament breaks the post will still work.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:16 pm

This sight is what's on my TC Patriot ML Pistol...I've got a few rifles I wouldn't mind having this sight configuration on ...Very nifty & TC hasn't had them around for years..I know cuz I checked w/ them

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:24 pm

Thanks for the info, sounds like the fire sight might be a problem child, I'll stay with a sourdough sight, I dont want to baby my tools and when I need them I want them to work. Where I live and hunt I run into predators all the time and some of them are big. danny

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:28 pm

I was teasing earlier, but I've had several rifles equipped with fiber-optic front sights, ever since the technology was made generally available - and can say I've never had one damaged in any way, on all those guns in all those years.

I don't take any special care to protect the sights, either while hunting, shooting or transporting my guns - but there's also an entire laundry list of things I do take care to avoid.
Like: leaning a gun against a vehicle for "just a second", leaning one against a tree w/o taking care to put the barrel end in a bark hole, parting brush with the barrel as I stalk, use it as a wading stick

, etc., etc.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:46 pm

Pete, I was concerned that if I was working cows all day or hunting that the sight couldnt take the jarring and beating it is going to get, my rifles are in a scabbard every day I ride and when Iam not riding the scabbard is in the truck bouncing around. danny

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:31 pm

I'm not sure who makes a steel bodied rear sight but I do know the Marbles Glow front has a steel body.

I sell these to folks that have the 454 Pumas because the front sites that come on that are uasually too low and are made from aluminum

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:29 pm

I can see your concern, BigSky - That stuff wasn't on my list because it's been over 50 years since I've straddled a horse.

And 60 years, since my first ride

:

**

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:45 pm

Have you tried a fine ivory or red bead yet? The ivory certainly helps in low light. If you lose the bead, you still have a perfectly adequate post.

I've never used a red bead. I have a few but I haven't figured out which rifle to mount one on yet. I don't know if they'll be too good in low light.

Ned Roberts wrote of putting a red ivroy bead front on every levergun he hunted with, so there must be something there. He was on horseback quite a bit, no doubt, and took multi-month hunting trips into the north country in the late 1800s. If it worked for him....

Food for thought.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:02 pm

Thanks Guy's I will look into this a little further I like the idea of a red bead it would show up good with all the green background and then when hunting when snow is everywhere. danny

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:02 pm

The green one picture here is the Marble Glo- sight snd is also available in red.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:34 pm

Steve, thanks for the info I'll send a PM in a day or two as Iam getting up to ship bulls at 0dark30. danny

Fire Sights on rifles carried in scabbards

Fire Sights on rifles carried in scabbards

Re: Fire Sights on rifles carried in scabbards