Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

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[/align]

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

I really think you would be better off with 1x by 4 or something its much easier for me to put crosshairs on my traget then line up peep sights...but that just me, I have shot deer in thick cover with my 3x9-40 and had no probs even with a 3 power..

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

Thanks TCuser,
I would just stick with the open sites over the scope idea. That is just a personal preference of mine though. The woods where we hunt is very thick and I have tried picking up targets with a Scope and it was just not for me. Although off of a stand, it would be okay. I also like to move around during the day and trying to pick one up on the move would be tough where we are. I was mostly wondering about the peep style. Some of the posts that I have read in the archives mention how well some users thought they worked but they did not really mention type of cover.

Thanks again

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

Hey I am from MN as well! I can relate with the thick cover stuff. A peep sight can be very accurate, as you know at the range, but not as easy to pick things up as standard open sights. A scope is obviously more accurate, but is not better picking up targest, quickly, over a peep sight. If you practice acquiring targets with the peep, you can pick them up relatively fast, at least as fast as a scope.
If you are hunting real thick stuff and need very quick shots, I would suggest going back to the traditional open sights and just practice more, as they can still be very accurate, to 100 yards inspite of what you might have read. A 1.5x4.5 power scope would be a good power for a scope, if you go that route. Good luck!

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

I live in wisconsin but i sometimes hunt the thick mountain tops of Pa. I have a NEF heritage with a lymans peep on it and a rem model 7600 in .270 with a williams peep in it.I love them. I think they are the best thing to use in thick cover. You have a great field of view and with a little practice you can aquire your target very easily. Also they work great if you like to still hunt and track deer like I do. Running shots are no problem with them. The only downside to them is they sit a little higher than open sights and they can get caught on the brush a little easier.

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

If you prefer irons then check out a " Ghost Ring " that is what works the best in thickets or a 1 X4 X32 scope.

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

Just get a different aperture for your sight. I like the peep sight better-just like you. In low light situations just screw off your target aperture, and screw on a larger hunting aperture. It will also let more light through.

Also it will not change your POI-you are still centered. I like it alot more than the regular open sight in low light. Tom.

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

Thanks again everyone for the ideas,
The only style of deer hunting in the woods that I have ever done was with open sights. I do not mind continuing using them if the peeps are not a good choice for a sight. We were using my Son in laws AR-15 this past weekend and it uses the peep style sight. I noticed that they were quite easy to pick up the target very quickly on the range. I figured that if the military were putting them on their guns that it might be worth looking into for my use. Red Lion & WImuzzleman thanks for the replies, you are very familiar with the exact type of cover that I am describing, thanks again. The only time that I have personally used the peep was on my .22 for squirrel and rabbit hunting, it was a very accurate style sight.

Thanks again for the information!

Mike

I will check out this ghost ring style sight and see what it looks like. Head0001, I now remember a Williams peep on my .22 having a few different style aperatures that could be changed out. Thanks for mentioning this. I guess that does answer my question right there. I could use the peep style while stand hunting and switch over in seconds for stalking. Thank you! What style peep are you using and are you happy with it?

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

Williams target style, and Lyman 66's. Tom.

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

I have the Williams peep and ordered a "twilight" peep directly fromWilliams (about $10) It has a brass ring on the back of the peep that helps you pick it up in low light. they also have different sized appetures and I get the biggest they have.

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

I'm not sure a peep sight would be much better than a low powered scope in heavy cover. The BP gun I ordered will have a scope, but I use open sights on my shotgun when I know I'm going to be in the heavy stuff and I the open sights underneath the scope on my .270 for quick heavy cover shots.

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

I use peeps on my Hawkens and for the most part I enjoy them. In thick bush in low light I had to quite hunting approx 45 min before the end of the shooting day due to it being too dark for the aperature. I will go back to Irons for this reason alone. A majority of my hunting in thick stuff and though a larger peep would work better, it is far from the iron sights.

I still love peeps for accuracy though.
Eric

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

gelarson, I guess thats a matter of eyes and opinion; I am 70 and my eyes are not what they used to be but I can shoot a ghost ring awhile after the light stops me with irons. You are right as far as regular peeps are concerned. Lee

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

Thanks again everyone,
This forum sure is very helpful! I am going with the Williams sight Breech mount model FP. I really like the idea of switchable appertures for different lighting conditions. This will be great for stand hunting and stalking, very quick changes.

Mike

RE: Peep Sights in heavy woods???
 

I have used a peep sight in4 to 5 year oldsecond growth clear cuts. It was a Lyman fold downtang mounted with the big ampture. Learned to use it with both eyes open and worked great. I now have one on my Hawkins and once again I can shoot and hit withit and my old eyes
You might also want to install a fiber optic front sight to help during low light.
Once you install the peep pratice useing it on moving birds and such to get used to it.

:)Al