GLS
Classic Southern Gentleman
Over the years as one ages and shoots shotguns at turkeys, some eventually develop farsightedness. Farsightedness is the ability to see distances better than up close because of the lens in the eyeball not focusing precisely. The inability to line up beads or rifle sights on a turkey gun becomes difficult, the dimmer the light, the worse it becomes as the iris of the eyeball opens up exposing more eyeball deficits. My farsightedness developed over 25 years ago and I felt the need to move from rifle sights to a red dot system for modern tight shooting loads and guns. When I’d put the post over the rear leaf, the rear leaf would fuzz up and make it difficult to aim correctly. I mistakenly thought the red dot was the only solution. Over the past 10 years, I’ve noted the success of another hunter using peep sight sights and correspondence between us urged me to try a peep sight on a shotgun. I was intrigued for three reasons: No electronics; unaffected by rain, and easy to detect misalignment at a glance. While I’ve never had a battery run out or rain interfere with the dot’s shape or size, people I know have. The only way to detect loss of zero was to fire the gun at paper. As another friend has put it: “Aperture (peep) sights are a tool of the rifleman, and a windfall to the older rifleman.” Here’s the beauty of an aperture sight: when one focuses on the front sight the eye automatically centers it in the "ring" with both eyes open. Doesn't matter what size that rear aperture is up to a point. Well, what about the ring “fuzzing up” like rifle sights’ leaf and notch? This is to be expected and why aperture sights are often called “ghost” sights or rings. While the ring may be fuzzy, there will be a perfectly round clear disk in the aperture for the eyeball and brain’s automatic centering of the post with the ring. Compared with red dots, the cost of an aperture sight system is usually far lower.
Photos are of the gun I rigged with a “peep” sight two years ago. I carried it in the woods for the first time this season. The gun is a single shot Yildiz TK 12 12 gauge, a lightweight (4.25 lbs) shotgun from Academy Sports ($140) that I found to be an excellent platform for turkey mods including barrel shortening with Sumtoy choke, a Marble post and Skinner Sight. The solid rib is perfect for drilling, tapping and mounting ramp and sight. I used Ramp #72313 and Marble fiber optic dove tail post #603126 (green) and the Skinner sight for the Henry Rifle with octagon barrel. It has a flat base. All but the sight came from MidwayUSA and the above are the Midway parts numbers. Skinner sells direct. The Skinner sight, made in the USA, is adjustable in both windage and elevation. The owner of Skinner is a pleasure to deal with and most helpful.
For those whose vision sees the need for something other than beads or leaf and blade rifle sights, consider the peep sight. It is accurate, economical, needs no batteries, and is all weather in use and operation.
Photos are of the gun I rigged with a “peep” sight two years ago. I carried it in the woods for the first time this season. The gun is a single shot Yildiz TK 12 12 gauge, a lightweight (4.25 lbs) shotgun from Academy Sports ($140) that I found to be an excellent platform for turkey mods including barrel shortening with Sumtoy choke, a Marble post and Skinner Sight. The solid rib is perfect for drilling, tapping and mounting ramp and sight. I used Ramp #72313 and Marble fiber optic dove tail post #603126 (green) and the Skinner sight for the Henry Rifle with octagon barrel. It has a flat base. All but the sight came from MidwayUSA and the above are the Midway parts numbers. Skinner sells direct. The Skinner sight, made in the USA, is adjustable in both windage and elevation. The owner of Skinner is a pleasure to deal with and most helpful.
For those whose vision sees the need for something other than beads or leaf and blade rifle sights, consider the peep sight. It is accurate, economical, needs no batteries, and is all weather in use and operation.
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