700 iron sights

[garrett1107]

Im looking to buy a set of iron sights for my model 700 (sps varmint). I know I want peep rear, but I am undecided on front sight style. I like a peep-peep set up for target, but I dont have field experience with this set up. I plan to shoot paper out to 500 yards, but mostly >200 yards hunting. I want something solid (steel preferred), relatively low profile, and quickly adjustable for elevation and windage. With a little shopping, I found the Lyman 57 which "appears" to fit my bill nicely.

In your opinion, what is best quality sight for this application? What is the best style front sight for target acq, but also long range potential? What height should I look for, both front and rear, for cheek weld and sight alignment similar to a scope'd 700 with low rings? What rear aperture dia. would you recommend?

Any input is appreciated fellas, this place is a wealth of info and I know someone has experience with a similar set up out there.

Cheers,

Garrett
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[Topstrap]

Re: 700 iron sights

We just put a set of Redfields on my sons Savage 260. He shot scoped last year but wanted to try something different this season for more challenge.

Here is a link to the sights on his gun, not sure how they would work for hunting. They are pretty bulky and not near as tough as other sight designs. http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3800309#Post3800309

His rear aperture is 2.5 inches above his bore line which worked out great for cheek weld and sight alignment and is pretty close to what his scope was. We could of went a tad lower but I made the front mount and didn't know how to calculate how tall to make it and it all worked out pretty good. Have yet to test it out to 1000 yards due to bad weather. He has an adjustable rear aperture and he's still experimenting with different size and styles in the front tube.

Good luck, for most purposes scopes are much better but with good eyes and the desire for a challenge peeps should be a lot of fun to work with.

Topstrap

 

[seanh]

Re: 700 iron sights

First you have to decide what do you really want to do. If it's simply shoot open sights, you'll go one direction if it's to shoot high power competition, it's another.

Maybe you just like to shoot accurately, with open sights and simply want quality...with the ability to shoot in a LR high power competition if you get a wild hare (or hair- which ever you prefer).


http://www.creedmoorsports.com/shop/Phoenix_Precision_Top_Mount_Sight.html

http://www.creedmoorsports.com/shop/Phoenix_Precision_Long_Range_Sight.html

the above for exceptional quality

Or (with these you'll have to have your receiver drilled and tapped or get the rear sight adapter and slightly modify the stock

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Redfield-Olympic...=item417032c131

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Redfield-Olympic...=item20cecb2ebb



get a 1913 base and use this on the rear and get a clamp on front.
http://www.milsimproducts.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=955&category_id=1064


as to a front sight, you'll want one with interchangeable inserts. There are posts, apertures, x or + available. The apertures are great for specific range standard ring targets while the post would be better for hunting or tactical applications...much faster target acquisition yardage estimation etc.

 

[garrett1107]

Re: 700 iron sights

I understand the challenge of open sights, thats why im looking to make the switch. I do not plan to shoot competition anytime soon, just recreation.

The creedmoor set up is too advanced for my position. I really like the Redfield Olympic rear, however i dont like the giant front set-up. Is there a front set up w/o a hood that has interchangeable apertures (peep and post)?

Also, can anyone give me advice on height? Or, how to correctly measure open sight height so i can compare with my other guns to find the proper fit.

*Note: I have peep sight experience, both small bore 50m and silhouette, so i know what im getting in to. However, I used club guns for competition, so I dont know shit about specs of the set up, just how to use them.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: 700 iron sights

The Lyman 17A front might be more along the lines what you're looking for with a smaller rear peep setup like what seanh mentioned above for field use. We used to use them long ago on our silhouette handguns and they were pretty tough and not too obtrusive.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/sights/target-front-sights.php

I'll try to take an accurate measurement of our sights and see what the difference is between them, but am guessing there is a website somewhere that helps calculate that for you.

Topstrap

 

[seanh]

Re: 700 iron sights


you'll need to decide if you want a clamp on front, dove tail or have a bade drilled and tapped...all require some modification to the barrel. Even the clamp on will require turning the end of the barrel parallel so the clamp won't slide off.

I'd opt for the low profile block such as on the m24,m40. Then you can decide what clamp on front sight you want.

you'll have to locate the adapter that goes from the rear scope base to side sight mount but you'll be able to use a standard setup...

Specifically what the height is...don't know, I've always used what ever came as a package deal

 

[19Scout77]

Re: 700 iron sights

Have you ever shot an iron sight equipped high power rifle? If not, see if you can find a friend with one to try before you drop the ample coin needed to do it right. One time shooting and you may get the "recreation" use of irons out of your system.