Ghost ring option on scoped Mauser express rifle?

[Nevada Mike]

As I am having a British style .404 built on a Mauser action I am interested in exploring the idea of a ghost ring (aperture) rear sight that would be usable when the Leupold 1.5 - 5X scope on QD mounts is removed.

Can't find a whole lot, but Taylor mentions this option as very functional in his 'African Rifles and Cartridges' book. He does not offer an illustration, unfortunately.

I learned to shoot rifles using a peep sight and I think my old eyes would appreciate such a simple rear sight.

Any ideas, photos or links?

Thanks for any help,

Mike

 

[Scrumbag]

If you look here: http://www.scoutrifle.org/index.php?topic=5711.0 and keep scrolling there a few ideas.

Also, NEGC have a Weaver / Pic peep sight that I'm going to experiment with - You could have a weaver / pic set of bases on top of each bridge and swap out scopes and the peep sight quite easily?

Which Leupold scope is it? If it is the VXR 1.5-5x33 the eye relief is about 6" so you will need to mount the scope over the port. (I had one for scout mount on an 1892 clone and the eye relied was too short to mount in front of the ejection port).

Hope that helped rather than hindered.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

Other option would be a cocking piece peep sight. Have one on my 9.3x62 and quite like it

 

[ZG47]

As Scrumbag says: look at the NECG peep sight made for a Weaver base.

A bolt-mounted peep sight is a more complicated option and Lyman would have ceased production of their version, decades back. You would be looking to either buy an old sight for serious cash OR find someone who is making small batches of new bolt-mounted peep sights.

The new option would require serious research into repro sights as people tend to make the easier, i.e. cruder versions of old sights, e.g. you can buy a replica of the Lyman Model 21 side-mount receiver sight (1893 patent) designed to cope with the longer breech-block ‘throw’ of the Winchester Model 1886 (given that tang sights were impractical) BUT not the Lyman Model 38 which is basically a Model 21 with windgauge adjustment (the sight that most people really want).

 

[perttime]

Rigby still offers the cocking piece option - but that is not exactly cheap. I'm pretty sure somebody here has mentioned making rigby style peeps for a little less.

 

[nztimb]

With the Talley scope base the Talley aperture sight is a good option and is what I have on one of my rifles. I made a cartridge holder that has a pocket at one end to carry the aperture.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Von Gruff... that is very cool.

 

[crs]

Von Gruff beat me to it, but the Talley peep works well on the Talley base I have that on my Simson .405 WCF double rifle.
Here is the scope on the rifle:


And the peep on the rifle: locked into grooves in rib. Same view as express sight.

 

[Nevada Mike]

ALL -- Thanks for the info. I have found a Rigby style cocking piece peep made by John McLaughlin of McLaughlin Firearms in Montana. COst is $300. I am also going to explore a 'folding' peep that could integrate into the rear square bridge / mounting block on the double square bridge on the Mauser I have chosen.

Any additional info appreciated.

Mike

 

[WAB]

With the Talley scope base the Talley aperture sight is a good option and is what I have on one of my rifles. I made a cartridge holder that has a pocket at one end to carry the aperture.
View attachment 263937 View attachment 263943

Great idea, I’ve been struggling with where to carry mine!

 

[5shot]

That's some nice work Von Gruff.

 

[mdwest]

Williams makes a fiber optic rear ghost ring that is called the fire sight. I have one on my scoped 416 that was built on a 98 Mauser action and really like it a lot...

 

[Scrumbag]

With the Talley scope base the Talley aperture sight is a good option and is what I have on one of my rifles. I made a cartridge holder that has a pocket at one end to carry the aperture.
View attachment 263937 View attachment 263943

Ah I like the sling option! I was wondering about a butt cuff with a few cartridge loops and a pocket for the NEGC if I can't make the peep work on the scout rail of my Chiappa Alaskan

 

[Dewald]

The Rigby style or cocking piece mounted is first prise. One also gets a peep, that attaches via the top screw on the M98 bolt release. Windage and Elevation adjustable, and quite neat and compact

 

[perttime]

The Rigby style or cocking piece mounted is first prise. ...

I've been wondering what makes that a good position.
I've only seen them in photos. My eye tells me that it could be a fragile position - which is apparently a false impression.

 

[nztimb]

I had a slleve sweated on my cocking piece (shortened the FP to suit) with a lowered portion to it so I could sit the sight lower and then shortened the stighting stem a little to miss catching the comb and this way I could sit the scope lower than otherwise I would have been able to

 

[Nevada Mike]

Thanks, Von Gruff. Exactly what I was looking for.

 

[nztimb]

Thanks, Von Gruff. Exactly what I was looking for.

I forgot to mention that I also had the colar under the aperture stem shortened so it sat fully behind the wheel guard and that helped it to sit lower when wound down. It still raised enough to shoot easily ti 200 yds (This was on a 7x57) I only regulated it for the one distance (150yds so just like a scope it was a within the PBR for the cartridge. For the 404 I would simple set it for 55yds and it would be good to go. On my 404 I had a bridge mounted aperture and as it was the sole sight I had it set for a bit high at 55 yds so it was good for 150 if necessary .

 

[Nevada Mike]

Van Gruff - nice idea. Thanks.

Something I just learned a day ago is that McLauglin Firearms is developing a Rigby style rear peep that will be detachable and remount at zero. This will be mounted in a slot in the cocking piece and feature a detent with spring loaded button for mounting and removal. The idea is that it will maintain zero after re-mounting. According to John McLaughlin, this should be available in a couple months. The cost for the regular Rigby style peep is $300. I would guess that the new removeable model would be somewhere in the $300 to $400 zone.

I spoke with Reto (rifle builder making my .404) and he thinks this just about right for our project. So I am in to try the new bolt mounted detachable peep sight.

 

[nztimb]

They are a fantastic sight so you may even find you like it so much that your scope is rarely on the rifle except for early morning or evening where the light gathering ability of the scope is a very real advantage. Within the shooting range of the 404 you will be well served with the Rigby style sight and have a much more balanced rifle that is a delight in hand easier to carry.