Open Sight options for new custom rifle

[inthebeech]

I am having a custom rifle built that will, at times, wear a Redfield receiver sight.  Can anyone suggest what style / manufacturer of front sight would be approriate given the position of the rear disc to the center of the bore?  it is an all-around hunting rifle so the commonly used Lyman 17c and Redfield front globe sights just aren't as useful as if I were building a match rifle and match rifle sight systems is all I have experience with (from earlier chapters when I shot NM).  So it should look good and preferrably but not necessarily be removable.  The ideal solution would be a sight that can be installed in the field with hand tools, should my scope or mount system fail, as well as get swapped in at home if I intend to hunt thick brush and prefer to go out with open sights.  I don't necessarily object to having part or all of the front remain when I am using the scope; to remove it when not using it is simply a preference. 

I have some runway before needing an answer as I am in about a four month queue before the gunsmith is going to get to my order.
Thanks,
ed

[Rangr44]

I'm afraid you're most likely going to have to first mount the receiver peep sight on the rifle, and measure the distance above the bore C/L (most easily seen/measured at the rear of the bolt) the aperture falls when the sight's in the middle of it's elevation adjustments, allowing for clearing any vacated scope mount base(s), of course.

The same would apply with any other style peep sight, too - like the NECG & XS clip-on's, or scope base with a small folding pop-up peep.

The total height of the front sight, w/ramp, should equal that measurement, less half the muzzle OD.

The front height can be divdided up between ramp & sight blade any way you want.

.

[gunnut69]

Considering your wish to have the receiver sight as a backup I would suggest on of the NECG or other make sight that mounts to the rear ring clamp screws on a Redfield/leupold type scope mount system.  They are adjustable and the return to adjustment is pretty good all things considered.. The front will likely be a ramp mounted dovetailed blade.. The type is up to you but I prefer a bead for use with a receiver sight, although sourdough and flat topped are also available.  Marbles, Lyman and othrs make blades and ramps in several styles though the ramps boil down to a long and a short.. The long provides a more tapered appearance with the short being simply abreiveated. Mounting is done with screws or my sweating (soldering) on the ramp. The blade is then pressed in from the sife. There are also ramps that use blades docetailed in from the front. These use a spring loaded button in the path of the blade to rtain the blade so are more easily removed.. All may or may not be topped with and covered by a hood. These usually clamp on with the hood providing the spring tension. They protect the bead from damage and control light hitting the bead to help with the problem of shooting into the light.. with a strong side light situation.. Of course in a low light situation they can be remove for better access to the sight and there are even hoods that pivot down to allow more light to the front blade. Best bet is a Brownells catalog to preruse their selection.  There is even a formula in the catalog to help you pick the correct height front and rear sights..  although the smith will take care of those details.. Be certain he knows you plan to use iron sights some of the time so that he can proportion the stock to allow you to see both the sights and the scope.  Of course doing this will likely create a preference for one over the other..and I reccommend the preference be the scope. As all of us age(nasty thought, but best outcome I suppose) sight becomes much less acqute(sp.) so telescopes become ever more useful... Brownells has an E-commerce website but I don't like it.. I reccomend someone as yourself to order a catalog to better understand what is available and what they look like.,.. Remember if you have any questions Brownells has an 800 number with access to a 'tech line' and those guys seem to know all the details..and love to help. Just give them a call even for availability of a specific model.. for your application. They even helped me identify the side mount base used on a M74 win sporter buy the hole spacing on the receiver!! Good luck and hope we helped some..

[mcwoodduck]

A little strange but what about having a 1913 rail as your scope mount.
Any of the AR 15 rear sights can just slide on and off.  Are adjustable and some even fold so they can stay there.
The 1913 rail system optics are designed to be returned with very little loss in accuracy.
the front sight too can either be removable with the rail or a standard fixed. 
But with any sight that is going to be popped onto the rifle it will need a tall front sight.
How ever high the rear sight is from the center axis of the bore the front sight too will have to be that tall.
You may want to look into a claw type removeable scope mount and just have two scopes.
One bing what you are thinking of and the other either a red dot or one of the 1-4 X 20 somethings or the 1-5 X 20.
And have the ability to change based on your hunting senario or if you danage a scope in either the field or transport.
The 1X is the same as sights - no magnification.  A red dot or the German #? are designed for fast shooting like open sights.