Just put a peep on my T/C Hawken.
Are there any aiming strategies that any of you have when using a peep?
How about general technique for it?
Thanks!

Just remember to look through the peep and let your eye find the center of light;every one I know of that has trouble using a peep trys to look at the peep that puts the focus of your eye in the wrong place. Lee

I put more focus on the front sight and 99% of the time your eye will automatically center the rear sight. Then the rest is up to you, where you want the front sight as a true six o'clock, modified, or full cover. I used to use a modified but have gotten away with that and went to a true open six o'clock hold. This way I never cover any part of where the bullet will actually hit.

When using your peep you will have to get use to dead center aiming and forget about post shooting. Treat the sight like it is a scope and put the front sight ball exactly where you want to hit. Then adjust the rear sight using the same left to right up and down rules as a scope.

As Cayugad posted it will come almost automatic having the bead centered in the apature.

I guess that I don't understand where exactly you focus. I always focus on the target, which makes the front sight slighly fuzzy and therear sight very fuzzy,however I have heard it multiple times to focus on the front sight. Howdo you know exactly where on the target you are aiming ifthe targetis "fuzzy".

I would guess that you have to do what works for you,it does change with the type and location of the sights all I can tell you is that I won two state over all championshipsand placed 3 in national using the front sight as a focus point.
Lee

The unfortunate situation with open sights is that one must compromise on the focus point. Even so, I would agree that the best "compromise" is the front sight. Targets are going to be out of focus, but this is more of a problem for the range that it is for game. With game you won't have any trouble getting the bead where you need it on the animal.

Like cayugad, I prefer an aim point top and center of the bead, however, I have found this gives me trouble when centering a bead in an aperture. Itjust feels more natural to center "everything". Again, this won't be much of a problem on game but one may find that the bead begins obscures targets at the range at the farther distances. Using targets like crosses or x's that extend well beyond the bead at those ranges (when sighting) will give a reference to center in, not unlike the centering the bead in the aperture.

Happy Hunting, Phil

"Are there any aiming strategies that any of you have when using a peep? How about general technique for it? Thanks"

The peep or aperture sight is the simplest of all iron sights to use. Use the biggest opening the sight has, such as unscrewing the insert and aim through the big hole. You merely LOOK THROUGH THE HOLE, and place the tip of the front sight on the spot where you want the bullet to land. Then squeeze the trigger. You actually IGNORE the rear sight, as your eye will naturally center on the point of strongest light, (the center of the aperture!!).

There really is no "strategy" involved-it's very simple. The only decision you have to make is when zeroing it in, do you want set the sights so the bulletstrikes (dead-on hold) at the very tip of the front sight, or in the center of the bullseye when the tip of the front sight is tangent to the bottom edge of the bull? ("Punkin on the post" sight picture.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/eldeguello/Punkinonpost.jpg

And a center hold:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/eldeguello/Centerhold.jpg

You may have noticed that on the cetner hold picture, I have left out the image of the rear aperture. This is because you should NOT be conscious of it while aiming! Ignore the peep, place the front post tip where you want to hit, and squeeze!

The fastest of all possible iron sights.........

I would recommend to redrill the peep if use for hunting,I find that the peep hole is about .450 a little to small for early and late evening shots.I like to redrill with a 1/64 that will bring the hole larger to .085 ,still excellent for target shooting .I also installed a front fiber optic sight, I know it not traditional but helps when hunting.

With the ones I use, I just zero on the range with the target disc insert in place, then unscrew it and leave it at home when hunting. You just look through the big hole that's left.......