Any ideas on improving the T97 iron sights?

D

dratt

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I would like to use the factory sights on my T97, but as it stands they are pretty useless. Does anyone have any good ideas on improving the T97 factory iron sights. Does anyone know, if you change out the front post, with a fibre optic SKS front post? If I open up the aperture of the rear sight, is it going to render them useless?........much like they are now =).

Thanks for your Time, Dratt

P.S. I would like to keep this as close to the original as possible, so no flat top upper on this one.
 
I didn't find them that bad. I've only run a couple mags through one but I was hitting a 6 inch gong at 100yds with them.
If you can swap out the front post with something a little finer or even just take a file to it I would try that. As for the rear I'm not sure what options you have besides drilling them out yourself. I think the only real aftermarket parts for those is the flat-top upper which to me is too much money for a rifle I consider to be disposable (good luck getting any parts or warranty service).

Good luck
 
Thanks for the reply, I do find them useable. I was also, able to make hits at 100yds. The problem I am having is, it feels like I have to strain and focus way to hard to see through the rear aperture. I am considering just drilling them out. Though I am a little nervous to try it, because as you said good luck with spare parts. Any idea what that post on the rear sight is for? CQB maybe?
 
dratt said:
Thanks for the reply, I do find them useable. I was also, able to make hits at 100yds. The problem I am having is, it feels like I have to strain and focus way to hard to see through the rear aperture. I am considering just drilling them out. Though I am a little nervous to try it, because as you said good luck with spare parts. Any idea what that post on the rear sight is for? CQB maybe?
Click to expand...

Not sure, I've only used the one aperture and then passed it back to it's owner.
 
MadMarty said:
To be honest, go to t97.ca then buy the FTU and a set of real irons :)

Beats the alternative
Click to expand...

dratt already stated he wants to keep it pretty much stock and does not want a flat top.
And how much does that flat top cost?
You really want to spend a few hundred more on a rifle with no warranty and no parts support. The one I played with was fine the way it was, sights are a little crude but they do the job. A little fine tuning and they will be fine for most things this rifle will be used for.
Don't forget that a lot of people prefer simple and robust iron sights over a red dot which is either cheap and easily broken or expensive and more durable.
 
Yes, no FTU. I get it, it's sweet and it does improve the platform. But I quite simply can not justify the extra cash, so I would like to experiment and tweak what I have. That being said if anyone has installed a FTU, and was about to throw out their front and rear sight, feel free to PM me.

Thanks, Dratt
 
1. Your face has to be right up on the rear of that handle.
2. I used the 300 yard setting, even at short distance because it was more open than the 100.
3. If you're going to drill out the aperture, just go the T97.ca route and do the FTU. Then, you can get a red dot or other optic that'll be easier to see.


dratt said:
Thanks for the reply, I do find them useable. I was also, able to make hits at 100yds. The problem I am having is, it feels like I have to strain and focus way to hard to see through the rear aperture. I am considering just drilling them out. Though I am a little nervous to try it, because as you said good luck with spare parts. Any idea what that post on the rear sight is for? CQB maybe?
Click to expand...
 
I had the opposite problem with a Mini-14 I owned decades ago.
Aperture was too big and I wanted something smaller.

Drilled and tapped (or press fit? - too long ago to correctly remember what) original sight and used a lathe to create a new insert.
I played around with the aperture size until I found one I liked. Stayed with the gun until I traded it years later.

L
 
Put a WTB add on the EE.
Buy a second set of original sights form one of the people who converted to an FTU.
Then you can safely screw around on those.
 
I don't mind the iron sights... I still ended up putting on the pseudo factory optic with the quick release base. Shot it yesterday with the sight for the first time and it's quite nice. And for disassembling or reverting to irons, I throw the lever and off comes the glass...granted it cost a little more than modifying the factory irons, and for that, i'd echo what others have said, and put up a wtb on the ee forum for an extra set that someone has already removed.
 
MadMarty said:
Sorry Dratt I didn't notice the no FTU in your original post - my bad!
Click to expand...

No problem! Thanks everyone, for all the advise, I am going to post an add. If I figure out a way to improve them I will post the results with pics.

Thanks, for all your time
 
lmar said:
I had the opposite problem with a Mini-14 I owned decades ago.
Aperture was too big and I wanted something smaller.

Drilled and tapped (or press fit? - too long ago to correctly remember what) original sight and used a lathe to create a new insert.
I played around with the aperture size until I found one I liked. Stayed with the gun until I traded it years later.

L
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea if there is enough room. I think Williams makes a rear peep sight with thread in aperture's. If you could find one and thread it in you'd have a sweet sight. Wouldn't be able to flip to any of the others but they probably wouldn't be needed any more.
 
I found that the aperture tended to disappear with mine (& my old eyes)... the sides are rather thin. I made a simple dam out of some rubber sheeting to fill in the gap to either side of the aperture... it worked well for me. I've since added a picatinny adapter for a scope/red dot.
 
Yes, this is what I am finding. I was considering JB welding the sides, do you have any pics of your rubber Dam?


JetRanger said:
I found that the aperture tended to disappear with mine (& my old eyes)... the sides are rather thin. I made a simple dam out of some rubber sheeting to fill in the gap to either side of the aperture... it worked well for me. I've since added a picatinny adapter for a scope/red dot.
Click to expand...
 
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