Scope vs Diopter/Irons

[jkingrph]

Also, the earlier Anschutz 6700 sight has longer rails and so can be placed further back on the dovetail, and bring the iris closer to the eye.

I wanted to move the rails forward, no idea which model Anschutz sights I have. 3 of one where windeage is push pull adjustment , two of the others differs a little bu both elevation and windage ar micrometer. Moving the rail forward cleared access to my safety and using a extension tube about 1 q/4 inch allowed the iris to still be closer to my eye, best of both worlds.

 

[MDriskill]

For reference - Anschutz sights, left to right: 6705 (alloy), 6700 (steel), early and late 6702 (steel):

Note...the iris on the 6705 and glare shade on the late 6702 are add-ons, not part of the sight.

 

[maxtrouble]

These look like a great option. What range are you shooting at with these optics?

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

These look like a great option. What range are you shooting at with these optics?

I shoot diopters out to 50 yards.

 

[Michigander]

Here is my solution shown on a Marlin 39a. It is a 0.050 aperture drilled out to 0.063 and pressed into a plastic knob adapter for a 1/4” cap screw. The adapter has obviously had a hole bored through it prior to pressing in the 3/8” OD aperture. It gives the right size aperture for a receiver mounted sight, and shades the peep hole as well. Doesn’t look bad either! For hunting in low light I use the standard 0.093 aperture.

 

[jkingrph]

I wanted to move the rails forward, no idea which model Anschutz sights I have. 3 of one where windeage is push pull adjustment , two of the others differs a little bu both elevation and windage ar micrometer. Moving the rail forward cleared access to my safety and using a extension tube about 1 q/4 inch allowed the iris to still be closer to my eye, best of both worlds.

Looking at the next post I have 3 of the 6700 along with both an early and late 6702

 

[jkingrph]

Here is my solution shown on a Marlin 39a. It is a 0.050 aperture drilled out to 0.063 and pressed into a plastic knob adapter for a 1/4” cap screw. The adapter has obviously had a hole bored through it prior to pressing in the 3/8” OD aperture. It gives the right size aperture for a receiver mounted sight, and shades the peep hole as well. Doesn’t look bad either! For hunting in low light I use the standard 0.093 aperture.

View attachment 291848

All of my Marlin lever actions have peep sights. the 3 39a models (two Mounties) have steel Lyman and a Redfield sight. One has a tang sight, an 1894 cowboy has a tang sight, several of the 336 models have steel Lymans and one 1894CL a late mode not factory drilled and tapped for the Lyman/Williams has a Skinner in the top scope holes. I started playing with peep sights back in jr high school or high school with an old daisy target lever action BB gun. Dad worked for an office supply and brought home some paint color samples for metal desks/filing cabinets, small colored steel pieces about 4x6 inches. I cut and bent to fit the daisy sight, and drilled holes , often several at different heights and shot at long ranges with it, Longer ranges with BB's did require larger targets, but I could remember lobbing BB's into the target usually a fairly large box.at a couple of hundred feet. I really learned how to use a diopter a few years later in college on a ROTC rifle team.

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

Here is my solution shown on a Marlin 39a. It is a 0.050 aperture drilled out to 0.063 and pressed into a plastic knob adapter for a 1/4” cap screw. The adapter has obviously had a hole bored through it prior to pressing in the 3/8” OD aperture. It gives the right size aperture for a receiver mounted sight, and shades the peep hole as well. Doesn’t look bad either! For hunting in low light I use the standard 0.093 aperture.

View attachment 291848

That's an outstanding idea sir and I will blatantly copy it myself.

Well done!

 

[cjtamu]

I agree that the rear leaf sight of the FWB Sport is soooo darn nice it commands o be used. It's the best of the best, IMO. I do prefer peep sights on my other rifles. When hunting I prefer no globe for front sight. It prevents quick target/prey acquisition sometimes because the globe gets in the way. For hunting I just use the factory front post on a Diana 52. This front post can be adjusted so easily because it's mounted on a angled ramp. The Model 52 can easily handle 10.5 grain in .177 for some decent ft/lbs on the prey. I have never tried the 13 grain pellets because I don'r want to overstress the action.

Wish I had a ramp. My 34 has a tunnel sight and that’s probably what I’ll end up with to get replaceable inserts. I believe for hunting the stock post with the Williams will be great. Shot the snot out of the metal squirrel with it yesterday at least. Let you know next time an unwanted critter appears in my yard ha ha. Have you tried the H&N Barracuda Match in your 52? Mine likes those over everything else I’ve tried.

 

[maxtrouble]

I did some research and found this diopter. Any opinions / thoughts on this model? Has any one used this?

AirForce Airguns - TS1 Adaptive Airgun Sight - Optics / Mounts - AirForceAirguns.com

The TS1 is a unversal diopter taget sight designed for the EDGE 10 meter 2-Position sporter class target rifle. The TS1 is adaptable to most airguns with its standard 11mm dovetail-mounting base

www.airforceairguns.com

 

[MDriskill]

I have a TS1 sight, and can recommend it without reservation.

Fits 11mm grooves securely, and uses the standard European eyepiece thread, so can take any accessories made for that. It has a HUGE range of vertical adjustment, so might adapt well to some pretty long-range airgun work? And if you don't have 11mm rails, no problem...an interesting feature is that the body can be removed from the base, and its built-in front glare tunnel fitted into a 1-inch scope ring!

I suspect the base is made by BKL, and the body might be inspired by a very pricey sight made by Gehmann in Germany (check it out: https://www.gehmann.com/en/590-Compact-rearsight/GEH100562 ).

The adjustment knobs work in reverse of most sights (turning the knobs clockwise moves elevation up and windage right...odd, but no biggie). Also it's a bit on the big and heavy side. But overall, an innovatively designed, well-made, and very versatile unit.

 

[maxtrouble]

The TS1 seems to be the only good option for a diopter that I can find. Is there a better diopter for sale available?

 

[jkingrph]

I have bought several used Anschutz diopters on ebay. There is a seller in Bulgaria who usually has several for sale at a time. Mine look like the ones shown in post 22 above. All have been in perfect condition, showing only minor signs of use. They have a more traditional use than that new Gehmann. Knowing Gehmann's products I am sure it is top notch as are the old Anschutz and if you could find one a Weirhauch diopter.

 

[MDriskill]

Just to be clear, the TS1 sight is not made by Gehmann (a German company that makes high-end sights and accessories) - I was just speculating it may have been inspired by one of their models. It's made in the US.

 

[Keene]

Just to be clear, the TS1 sight is not made by Gehmann - I was just speculating it may have been inspired by one of their models. It's made in the US.

Love your posts, although most of the time I have no idea what you're talking about. I can just sense the depth of knowledge behind your remarks, and that seems to make it all worthwhile.

Those Anschutz sights are just pure mechanical p o r n!

But, to my inquiry....Of the available options, Williams FP-AG, TS1 and Gehman, which would be your recommended best option for the new FWB Sport? Years ago I used to have an inexpensive Mendoza air rifle with a knock off Williams peep sight mounted. I think I might have been shooting more accurately with that gun and sight than I do now with far more expensive rifle and scope options....... and younger eyes. I'm just not sure that my eyesight is good enough to get on with a peep sight these days.

Cheers!

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Decades ago when I had a couple 124‘s I had issues with the scope/peep sliding rearward. I used a brass fine bolt the same diameter as the width of rounded groove on the receiver and rounded/polished the bottom of the bolt to fit exactly into the groove. Then tap the ring or peep. Holds perfectly and doesn’t mare the receiver.

 

[MDriskill]

Love your posts, although most of the time I have no idea what you're talking about. I can just sense the depth of knowledge behind your remarks, and that seems to make it all worthwhile.

Those Anschutz sights are just pure mechanical p o r n!

But, to my inquiry....Of the available options, Williams FP-AG, TS1 and Gehman, which would be your recommended best option for the new FWB Sport? Years ago I used to have an inexpensive Mendoza air rifle with a knock off Williams peep sight mounted. I think I might have been shooting more accurately with that gun and sight than I do now with far more expensive rifle and scope options....... and younger eyes. I'm just not sure that my eyesight is good enough to get on with a peep sight these days.

Cheers!

Thank you sir! Yes, I tend to be overly wordy in my posts - please don't ever hesitate to call me out, or ask questions!

NOTE: I've never laid hands on the new FWB Sport, so everything following could be WRONG!

BUT...looking at photos of it, I'd guess the scope rail spacing is the same as the old FWB 300 match rifles - which is a bit WIDER than 11 mm. In my experience, Anschutz sights WILL NOT FIT, without some damage to either the sight or gun. So your options are:

1. The Williams FP-AG.
2. A Mendoza sight, if you can find one. These have a much sturdier mount than the Williams, but are no longer made, and you are stuck with their own eye disks which use a unique thread.
3. The TS1, but the base won't fit the wider FWB rails. You'd need to move the main body to a scope ring. Which might cause issues with a low front sight, I don't know.
4. Best of all would be...Feinwerkbau's own diopter, as made for their old match rifles. The shallow transverse grooves between the Sport's scope rails are actually for the retaining bolt on these sights (which also acts like a scope stop - as Bear-of-Grayling noted - to keep the sight from moving).

There were two variations of these sights. Either will work. (NOTE the earlier "interference" type bolt must be screwed ALL THE WAY OUT when taking the sight on or off, and you must be careful to line it up with one of the transverse grooves. Otherwise it can ding up the finish.)

 

[Michigander]

The only rail that seems to be absolutely standardized is Anschutz. I have rifles from the early 70s to 2022 and they all measure 10.93 - 11.00mm in width. Makes it so much easier to fit a sight. The Sport rail is more narrow than the FWB 300s, but just slightly wider than the Anschutz. An FWB diopter, I have two, fits very loosely. It is possible it could be overtightened and made to work, but I wouldn't recommend it. My Anschutz sight, the one with the plastic scales, is a very tight fit and actually cannot be fitted beyond the slotted portion of the base.

The Sport also has a very low sight line, around 0.700" from the rail, which presents another problem. The Anschutz sight cannot be adjusted that low. The FWB diopter looks like it might be able to adjust low enough, but then it doesn't fit the rail properly.

The Williams FP should work, but you may need the GR version to be able to adjust low enough. Another option is the WGRS 54 which does appear to be able to be adjusted to the correct 0.700" height above the rail, but that should be verified. I know it has been used successfully on some HW guns. It is also a nice trim design that would be a good match for the aesthetics of the Sport.

Williams WGRS-54 Guide Receiver Peep Sight Savage-Anschutz 54, 141,

These compact low profile Williams Guide Receiver Peep Sights are lightweight, strong and rustproof with positive windage and elevation adjustment...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[jkingrph]

I tried the Anschutx 6700 on my Sport and had no problem zeroing at 15 yards. I shot it a while then took it off. The way the factory sight is attached does not seem to lend itself to being removed so I prefer not to remove it. It shoots so well with that notch and looks so good I will leave as factory stock, besides I need(want) a rifle set up to shoot like the ones I learned to shoot with. I also tried it with a smaller scope and decided against that, as it upsets the balance and handling in my opinion. My feeling is that this is an open sight sporting rifle.

 

[cjtamu]

Love your posts, although most of the time I have no idea what you're talking about. I can just sense the depth of knowledge behind your remarks, and that seems to make it all worthwhile.

Those Anschutz sights are just pure mechanical p o r n!

But, to my inquiry....Of the available options, Williams FP-AG, TS1 and Gehman, which would be your recommended best option for the new FWB Sport? Years ago I used to have an inexpensive Mendoza air rifle with a knock off Williams peep sight mounted. I think I might have been shooting more accurately with that gun and sight than I do now with far more expensive rifle and scope options....... and younger eyes. I'm just not sure that my eyesight is good enough to get on with a peep sight these days.

Cheers!

Most people, myself included, find that our old eyes get on better with a rear peep than a stock v-notch. Depends on your particular vision of course, but if you have problems seeing both the rear sights AND your target clearly it’s probably the way to go. My wife’s issue is a little different and leaving the stock rear on her HW30S and switching front insert to a circle/ghost sight has worked great for her.