RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

The rule is, "move the rear sight in the same direction you want to move the point of impact, and move the front sight in the OPPOSITE direction...

So, looking down the barrel from the rear, if you move the front sight to yourleft. then when you aim, you are pulling the muzzle to the right to realign the sights. Consequently, the bullet will hit to the RIGHT of the spot where it landed before you moved the sight. And vice-versa. The only real problem you encounter when zeroing openiron sights is knowing how MUCH to move the sight to make the change in point of impact you need.

Here's a formula for calculating the amount of sight movement needed. Note that it is based on the DISTANCE between the front & rear sight, as well as the range at which you are doing the zeroing.....

For open iron or aperture sights,you need to either physically move thesights for deflection (windage changes)or alter the height of either the front or rear sight for elevation changes.

The formula to determine the amount of adjustment is:M = S * D / (R * 12)
Where:
M = amount of lateral movement or change in sight height needed (in inches)
D = distance needed to move the bullet's strike to hit point of aim
R = range to target in FEET
S = distance between the front edge of the rear sight and the rear edge of the front sight blade (in inches) (Sight radius)..

Note that to move a bullets strike horizontally move the rear sight in the direction you need the bullet strike to go. To raise bullet strike,either lower the front sight or raise the rear sight. Raise the front sight or lower the rear sight to lower the bullet's POI.

As an example, if your sight radius is 5" and you need to move the bullet's strike 3" higher at 25 yd (75 feet):

M = 5 * 3 / (75 *12) = .016 . Thus you need to lower the front sight (or raise the rear sight) by .016 inches.

Substitute your rifle' sight radius, the amount the bullet strike must be moved, and your zero distance (100 yds = 300 feet??) in this formula. Then you'll knowhow much you need to move your sight...
Good luck!

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

Bought a laser bore sighterseveral years ago. Saved a lot of ammunitionwith it. i sightthe gun inwith the laser bore sighterat 25 feet.It is always on targetat 25 or 50 yards on the range:It takesjust a few rounds to zero the gun at the range. The laser bore sighter is also handy when sighting in a crossbow.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

I have a bore sighter, but it is only for a scope. I never really figured that I would need a laser one until recently when trying to zero in my new rifle that I really have no desire to put a scope on. Thanks Eldequello for you formula.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

TUK, a laser bore sighter that goes in the muzzle is great for adjusting open sights. Do it for friends all the time.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

Just don't forget to remove the darn thing before you take that first shot after adjustment.

After seeing the pictures on this site about a guy who did this very thing a couple of months ago, I now have a string tied to my bore sighter. The other end of the string gets wrapped around my bolt handle. I have to unwrap the string to rack the bolt, hence giving me a reminder to remove the bore sighter.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

Thanks for the tip. I wont be buying a laster boresighter anytime soon since I just did buy the other one that I have. I am wishing now that I would have just saved a few more $$$ to get the laser boresighter though. Oh well, the other one works great for scopes.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

If you have the collimator type of boresighter, it can be used to boresight with iron sights as well as scopes, provided you can see the center of the sighting grid in the boresighter with your naked eye. I can just make out the center cross in mine, an old Bushnell from ages ago.




Just align the front and rear sights, and move the sights as necessary to have them pointing at the center of the grid while they are aligned with each other.....

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

Move the rear sight in the direction that you want the bullet to go. If shooting left, move the rear sight right and think of it as "shifting the rear of the stock to the left," and vice versa.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

Front sight move opposite where you want to impact and rear sight move in direction you want to impact.

You will find on some old military rifles that you bottom out onelevation adjustment at 100 yards. You will then need to buy a taller front blade. I have had to do this on both 03's and swedes.

RE: Speaking of asking stupid questions... Siting in open sights?
 

I had to file the rear sight down on my sons 30-30. It was shooting about 8 inches high at 50 yards.