QUESTION ABOUT REAR IRON SIGHTS

S

saltair

Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
128
Reaction score
45
Location
Delaware
I've had my Sport for a couple years and when I first sighted in the iron sights I had to adjust the rear sight almost max to the left to be on target. No problem because soon after I placed a scope. When I decided on the Primary Arms 30mm red dot it co-witnessed with the front sight BUT when I placed the rear iron sight on the Sport I could not adjust the rear sight far enough to the left to co-witness with the red dot and front fixed sight.
I hope I made myself clear on this.

Could the problem be with the rear Iron sight? Should I try another rear sight? The rear sight came with the Sport.
 
Register to hide this ad
Does the front sight look centered in the optic? I'm wondering if there might be something wrong with the front sight. If it is, then I would say there is something up the rear one.
 
Possibly the front sight tower/a2 block slightly twisted to the right? I would drop a level on the receiver rail and the front tower ears, and make sure they are the same.
 
Could it just be you and how you place your head? I mean if youre looking at it from an extreme angle, changing to more centered would help. Also placing your head further back would gove you more room to play. Without knowing squat, id say its your head placement.
 
The front sight looks centered without the rear sight while looking through the red dot but I'm going to try using 2 levels to check front sight. I don't use rear sight but I want it correct just in case
 
Separate the uppere from the lower, remove the BCG to make it 100% safe.

From the muzzle end, look down the bore. Does the front sight post look canted in relation to the top rail of the upper receiver?
 
And that's why I said separate the upper from the lower, remove the BCG. At that point the upper is a fancy metal tube, nothing else.
 
Yes, I agree. The same could be said for any gun. I just like to take safety to the extreme.

I used to rest the muzzle of my break open Trap gun on my toe. With the gun broken open there is no way the gun could go off. Then I started teaching, "Never cover anything with the muzzle you're not willing to destroy." Therefore, I figured it was a bad example to put the muzzle on my toe. Do I now believe the break open gun is unsafe? No, but it's a mindset thing. You know, that whole "more people get killed with unloaded guns" thing. Obviously no one ever got killed with an unloaded gun. It's the mindset we're trying to teach.

You're absolutely right John, the barrel is just a tube when separated from the lower and the BCG removed. I just like to keep things away from the muzzle. Call me anal.
 
Rastoff said:
You know, that whole "more people get killed with unloaded guns" thing. Obviously no one ever got killed with an unloaded gun. It's the mindset we're trying to teach.
Click to expand...

True. I can't argue against your position.

As I see it the OP needs to diagnose the issue.

1. Determine if it's the rear sight. Borrow another rear sight and mount it. See whether or not sight #2 needs the same adjustment. If sight #2 doesn't need any adjustment, then you know it's the rear sight.

2. Check if the front sight post is canted. If it is, then call S&W customer service and let them deal with it.

If it's neither 1 or 2, then it might be you. Have an experienced fellow firearms enthusiast shoot your rifle. If you see them trying to crank the rear sight adjustment back to center, then it may be a matter of your body mechanics that will always force you to shoot the rifle with the sight cranked all the way left.
 
After buying two "lesser " ARs I had to have a Colt. It had the same problem. Front sight was canted. It drove me nuts. Traded that one.
 
This is what I did...
I removed the upper and BCG to be sure the rifle is SAFE to work on.
From the breech looking into the barrel I sighted on an object approx' 25 yds. away. I made sure the barrel was level using a level on the Picatinny rail and at this point I did not have to touch or handle the upper as it was on a level secured surface. Then I looked through the rear sight (which the windage was adjusted almost all the way to the left) to the front fixed sight still not on target with the object. Same problem I initially discussed.
The picatinny rail is level with the top of the front sight.
With the front sight level and the rail level I placed the level on the top of the rear sight and the bubble was 1/2 (bubble) off center. The left side of the rear sight was higher than the right side. (there are 2 locations where you can check the levels on the rear sight). Every location I placed the rear sight on the pic. rail was 1/2 bubble off and the Pic. rail was level.
I think the problem is the rear sight. I would think the rear sight would be close to centered (windage) and not exceeding to the left or.... maybe my eyes.
 
Last edited:
Uh, yeah- that's a rear sight problem. Glad you found it, sounds like a much easier fix than a f'd up front block/sight.
 
Any suggestions on a good flip up sight that will not get in the way of a red dot? Heard and read pros & cons of the Magpul.
 
My plastic MBUS has been fine so far but I would eventually like to get the Pro model. In my mind a metal sight would be more robust than plastic ones.
 
I added a China Sport metal Rear sight to mine. I made sure the sight was centered and I shot the gun. Dead on at 50 yards. I adjusted it for a battle sight zero (I could hit a can of Ham and Lima Beans C-Rat) at fifty yards. Good enough for me. Figure it's good out to 300 yards.

Mine is a house gun as I live in a rural area and for thing that are social, it won't be over a hundred yards or so.

I bought the Sport several years ago on a fluke because it was so low in price, $400.00 new. Couldn't pass it up. I really like it, swell gun for the low dollar spread and it shoots as good as my Colts.

Rule 303

Rule 303
 
Magpul- especially since you are running a red dot. I don't remember where I saw it, but a guy did a test of the MBUS, Troy and another rear flip- dropped the rifle on the concrete on the sight. The metal ones bent and were way off. The magpul was good to go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
LPA sight Question...
Replies
9
Views
349
loony888
L
B
FPC 9mm back-up iron sight question
Replies
2
Views
181
JRD
J
B
Iron sights and LVPO
Replies
11
Views
1K
w.r.gun
W
J
WTB 629-1 rear sight
Replies
0
Views
53
jerffey
J
A
1921 Second model target
2
Replies
21
Views
768
AudieMurphy
A

Latest posts

Back
Top