anyone have a good target for iron sights?

[bluebayou]

I am old.  Okay.  I said it.  I can't see the target. 

I took my new Ishapore Enfield and my new Mosin 91/30 to the range and did well at 25 yards, yes...........25 yards.  But I can't see squat with my targets that I use with scopes. 

I have been using a Midway or Remington target that is 1 inch grid squares with 3 inch black square in middle.  Can't see it with irons.

Does anyone have a good one that I can download or that they can email to me?

[Kurt L]

There is some links on the top of the  reloading forum.open the links
there is some free targets you can print may be one of them will do you right.

[Kurt L]

If you don't find any thing I could whip one up for ya.
I assume you would like something like a 2" or 3" circle on plain white background?

[quickdtoo]

I make my own cuz no one makes a good target for bad eyes and iron sights!! The attached target is similar, a 6" black with a 4" white center which works at 50yds. For 100yds, it's an 8" black with a 6" white center. You can either center the front sight in the white or hold 6 O'clock on the black, either way, you can see exactly where your front sight is on the target. I make a pattern with black poster board, then photocopy it. 

Tim

[Double 30]

 I make mine by using 3/4 inch electrical tape on white paper.Make an upside down " T".You can vary the thickness of the bars for range or vision. Works fantastic for all non-optical sights.

[Castaway]

For best iron sight shooting, you want a bull that subtends the front sight post at the range you are shooting.  By placing the sight at the bottom of the bull you get your elevation and the width of the sight will be even with the bull.

[bluebayou]

Castaway, so you are saying that I want a bull that is the width of the rear blade?

Double 30, I like the idea of using electrical tape. If nothing else, then I can experiment at the range with different shaped till I get one that is easy to see.  I will try the inverted T.  I was thinking a solid black diamond maybe 8 inches square.

My thinking while driving to work (66 miles to work in Texas right now........you can get some thinking done) was to figure out what the front blade subtends at 100 yards and to work from there.  When I was trying to hold on the small square yesterday I gave up and held level with the bottom left corner of the target page with the brown cardboard backer for contrast.  This gave me two dimensions to steady the shot...........but there wasn't any contrast.

Thanks to all.

[Castaway]

Not the rear, but the front sight post.

[Mikey]

bluebayou:  I would go with either Quickdtoo's recommendation or use a 6" black circle for 50 yds and a 12" black circle for 100 yds.  If you find them too large then start working your way down. 

You may also like a target large enough that gives you 25% of your target on each side of your front blade at sighting distance when you hold at 6:00 - you can adjust your elevation when you find your preferred point of aim to point of impact.  You just have to have fun and experiment with your target designs.  Circles are good, sometimes squares are better and you can make these up yourself.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[blackpowderbill]

I use paper plates at 100 yards, then take black dict tape and place a big "x" across them.  Cheap and so far it works for my eyes. I am dreading the day when all my rifles must go optical. Scopes have their place for sure, but they sure do screw up the handling characteristics of my Savage 99F.

[bluebayou]

an "X" or a "+"?

[wsjones]

For me, with my tired old eyes, a 55 gallon drum would do nicely as long as it wasn't too far away, dammit.  -WSJ

[blackpowderbill]

I like an "X"

[Guy Pike]

My ex wife would make a great target for open sights. Want her address?

[bluebayou]

WOW

LOL

[woodchukhntr]

A 6" or 8" round bull is probably the best.  Place the bull on top of the front sight so the sight picture looks like a "lollipop, leaving a slight gap between the top of the sight and the bull.  The gap allows you to judge when the sight picture is correct.  If you let the sight touch the bull, you might lose the visual distinction between the 2 objects.

[rp85]

http://www.targetz.com/

[JBMauser]

When I can find them I grab the Outers Orange targets.  They are easily seen by my 60 year old eyes and I can hold them pumpkin on Post at 100m.  With crumby millitary battle sights.  k MART used to have them or still does from time to time.  I cut up shot up targets and paste them up for 2nd , 3rd and more go's.  If I am shooting cast bullets and getting tight groups I can cut them up like pizza pies and paste over the old groups.  I can also see my hits with my fair quality ruskie spotting scope.  With a black target I can only see the hits when the light is just right which is nearly never.  Orange is for me.  JB

[bluebayou]

Dang, another good idea.  Orange would solve the problem of contrast between the front post sight and the target.  Thanks.

I have a can of marking paint and some paper plates...............