Peep Sights in heavy woods???

[uckayak2_mn]

How well do peep sights work in heavy brushy woods? I live in MN and we have heavy poplar type forests here. Just curious how hard it is to pick up a target with the peep sight. I have used them out at the range and really liked them. I have always shot open sight while hunting but have seen posts about them on their accuracy. I was just hoping to find some input on them before I make any changes.

Thanks,
Mike

[quickdtoo]

They work great as long as the aperture is large enough. I use the Williams WGRS without an insert in areas where a quick shot might offer itself, it works just like a ghost ring sight. The Williams Twilight aperture also works well in low light. Firesights up front.

Tim

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=138356

[quickdtoo]

Williams makes the WGRS sight for many firearms, whatcha got? Welcome to GBO, btw!!

Tim

[quickdtoo]

Fiber optic rear barrel sights don't work for my old eyes, but the peep sure does!! The FP sight is a great target sight, is a lot easier to make fine adjustments, I've had several of the Lyman 57SMLs which are similar to the FP, but for hunting, the WGRS is a great sight, very durable and not too bulky. I have 2 Black Diamonds and a CVA, all wear WGRSs and firesights.

Tim

[MI.sabot]

I ordered one from H&R a couple weeks ago.
It installed very easily on my Sidekick.
My problem I think had nothing to do with the sight but rather my vision.
I had one heck of a time seeing the front sight clearly and wound up sending it back.
I failed to inquire if the aperature came in any larger diameters than what was shipped from H&R.
Does anyone know if different sizes are available?
If so, where could I order them if not from H&R.
Thanks.


 

[quickdtoo]

The apertures from Williams or Lyman will work in the WGRS, they have several sizes of disks and holes in them, you can order them direct from Williams, Midway also carries them. They also sell a ghost ring aperture, but I never felt the need for it, the aperture carrier works the same way.

Tim

http://www.williamsgunsight.com/

Receiver sights and apertures

[AndyHass]

I love the Williams peep setup, bought an Omega X7 with that setup.  THe only possible problem is the front sight height...The X7 came from the factory with a front sight far too short to zero the gun.  If you put a rear peep on after-market, you might end up having to replace your front post.

[MI.sabot]

I had no problem with the height of the front sight on the Sidekick.
Just couldn't clearly see it or anything around it.
I'm unfamiliar with peeps in general so I'm wondering if my vision is that bad or
is it a combination of the front sight being too big and aperature too small.

I believe the .093 apperature is standard on the peep I received on WGRS-HR.
Maybe the next size up, the .125 would work.
Any thoughts?
How big is too big and starts diminishing from the effectiveness of the peep?

Thanks

[Two Bears]

I had no problem with the height of the front sight on the Sidekick.
Just couldn't clearly see it or anything around it.
I'm unfamiliar with peeps in general so I'm wondering if my vision is that bad or
is it a combination of the front sight being too big and aperature too small.

I believe the .093 apperature is standard on the peep I received on WGRS-HR.
Maybe the next size up, the .125 would work.
Any thoughts?
How big is too big and starts diminishing from the effectiveness of the peep?

Thanks

I have a williams rear peep on my encore and I think that the stock size is TOO BIG but it works great.
I prefer a small to very small hole as it makes target work much easier (tighter groups) But I have gotten used to taking more time to make sure that the front sight is centered exactly in the peep, Here is the deal if you have a deer standing broadside at 40 yards you will see the whole deer and then some in the peep (very large field of view) and you must take your time to be sure of your sights being on.
This is why a smaller hole will be better. IMHO

[AndyHass]

If it's for heavy woods, ie 50 yds and less, you can get away with a big hole in the sight.  I'm unsure what size I had in mine for hunting, I think .125".  I have a smaller peep for target shooting.

[WingMaster]

I live in MN also and hunt in the West Central area.  It's a mixed hardwoods plot surrounded by Ag land - those deer are TASTY!

When I bought my Encore, I put a Williams peep on it the day after I bought it.  I flat-out love the peep for hunting.  It is hands down a better sight than standard irons for shooting, at least for me.  Yes - play with the aperature that worls best for you but you will not regret putting a peep on your ML.

I took two delicious whitetail bucks this fall with my new setup.  I don't plan to change a thing on the rig itself - maybe my load etc - but I love my ML the way it is.  Encore 209X50, Williams peep and the aftermarket tip-over extracter so I don't have to take it all the way apart to clean.

Do you hunt in Northern MN?

[WingMaster]

Good deal.  I hunt a little North of Willmar where my folks still live.

[Two Bears]

Nice to meet you Wingmaster.  I sure know this about the deer around the Central MN area, they sure are better eating than the Northern woods raised deer.  Plenty of the Central MN corn to keep them nice N' plump, kind of like our chickens   That is one of the reasons I decided to quit using a regular deer rifle after this season.  I will be using ML in deer camp regular season next year & then Muzzleloader season, as long as they kep that new license. Also since MN does not really enjoy Winter anymore, I think the late season ML start will probably beat the balmy Fall temps of lately.  I had quit hunting for sometime in the early 80's, I can't remember being dressed to warm back then.  Might need to think of heading South for Winter activities.  Muzzleloading sure opens up new options for hunting different zones in the State.  My buddy has been shooting ML for quite a few years & finally convinced me to get into it.  Although he has a Encore he still mostly hunts with his traditional .54.  He swears that as soon as I start hunting next year witrh him that I will also want to get one of the more traditional style, verdict is out on that one yet.

Take care,
Mike Roda

Oh yeah you will like the muzzleloaders and as you go you will likely get into the traditional rifles, It seems that the longer that you are into  muzzleloaders the more likely that you will end up buying a flintlock or caplock and you will be surprised how good they shoot as well as they are JUST AS EASY TO LOAD as an inline. I can load my flintlock about as fast as I can load my Encore 209x50 and the flinter will shoot a raged hole at 50 yards , The Encore shoots cloverleaf groups.

BTW, I too am from  southern Minnesota (Geneva) and hunt the slug seasons with my muzzleloaders ..It extends my Muzzleloader season.

[fffffg]

  another ipinion..  peeps are for better  accuracy..  i have shot one inch groups with 45 70 with standard open sights..  hard to do with bp loads.. peeps will rob you of light in those dark woods. the dark woods will get darker sooner than regular open areas..  as you are in a close shooting circumstance you will have more shoot ing light with open sights..  all open sights are not the same.. a buckhorn will give more light in some circumstances..use a wide space in the rear groove for seeing in low light..  all of these factors reduce accuracy but give more light.. the best low light sight i have now is an old 54 flintlock that i bought at a gun show.. it has two ears or tits sticking strait up on the outsid edge sticking up sharply on  the rear sight. they are filed back so they gather light from above in low light. on end of day it was like turning  a light on if any light is above or behind..  the lower major part of the  rear sight tilts back and is black and ribbed so it will work in bright light from behind.. the tits stick up above that and tilt toward the muzzel slightly and pu light like a slanted or radius front sight..  the bigger the radiuson the front sight, the more light reflected and the less accurate..  if your shooting 75 yards and are after big bucks id stick to open sights..they will give you another 10 minutes of shooting in the evening during legal hunting hours becouse your in timber. . yes everyone has shot big bucks at high noon and is happy with thier peep sights including me.. but the wise ole buck finally giving you the shot of a lifetime,   wont be out prancing around in that scenario..   my ipinion only..dave...

[mspaci]

I drill my peep out a bit & can shoot right to legal time & beyond. Or you can screw out the insert like a ghost ring.  Mike

[wanderer]

I unscrew the aperture, like mspaci mentioned. It does cut down on accuracy, but I would personally feel comfortable shooting a deer at 50 yds with no aperture and in low light, I wouldn't take a shot much farther than that anyway. If it is too dark for the peep sight with aperture installed, then it is too dark for anything except close range work, for me anyway, YMMV depending on eyesight and terrain, ect. Some time at the range, take the aperture out and give it a try. It may or may not work for you, but it is definitely worth a try.

[WingMaster]

This is my first muzzle loader deer.  It shows my setup pretty well.  I would normally have let a little guy like this walk on by, but I'm a meat-hunter first and I really wanted to take something with my new Encore.

[rks1949]

They work fine! The White in the picture has a Lyman #57 Peep sight! The T/C Grey Hawk has open sights, either one will work in heavy brush.

[vonfatman]

Several years ago I was given my first ML...a CVA Staghorn...your basic $79.00 Spanish in-line ML.

It had the fiber optic sights which were WAY to close together for my tired eyes.
I witched to a Williams peep...

I also had to switch out the front sight...the factory sight was way too short.  I ended up buying
a replacement CVA front & rear sight package to get the correct height on the front of the
gun.

I hunt in the hardwoods a lot and love peep sights (I also have them on my 336 Marlin and Winchester Model 94).  I only have one problem with peep sights...hunting
in low light.  When the light is low, I take the rear aperture out and it helps for a while, but peeps or open sights
will never get you that last few minutes of legal hunting (in MO anyway) because they do not
amplify light like a scope.

For this reason I also have an Omega with a scope.   But that Staghorn is not for sale!

By the way, that cheap ol' Spanish Staghorn will give me 2 1/2 to 3" groups ALL day long from 100
yards!  It's a nice shooter!

Good luck!!!

Bob