Garand National Match Sights?

mmattockx

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I have seen reference to national match sights for the M1 and it sounds like they are a hooded aperture rear with a smaller aperture size along with a narrower front sight blade. Is this correct? Does anybody have any sources for a set and a guesstimate for cost?

Thanks,
Mark
 
This question came up the other day over in the battle rifle forum so here it is.
The NM front sight blade size is .062, the rear hood is .595 or .520 ( I like the .595 the best).

X2 on the M1 Garand rear sight (same as M14 except elevation knob, M1 graduated in yards M14 in meters). Affordable and top notch ($50-100).

If you are a serious iron sight shooter and want an even smaller aperture (.595) you can get a NM USGI or krieger one and install it into your M1 sight base (add $50).

If you are a really serious irons guy and must have 1/2 moa clicks (standard sight is 1moa per click) it starts to get expensive ($250).
You can try to find a complete USGI NM rear sight or get the Smith Ent NM rear sight through Brownells that is already match prepped.

Here is the link to both the Smith front and rear sight. You can try to find original ones but it might take a while.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=25091/Product/M1_M14_M1A_FRONT___REAR_SIGHTS
 
Well, Brownell's lists the rear sight for $270USD, which means they can keep it. I saw that Hungry had a replacement aperture for the M1 listed on the EE and I missed it. It was simply a different aperture that fitted into the standard M1 rear sight base. That is what I am looking for, not a complete new assembly. The front sights seem like a reasonable price but will get worse with shipping. I like the front aperture they show, that would be excellent with a decent rear aperture.

Anybody with a Canadian source?

Thanks,
Mark
 
The Garand sights are probably the best military sights ever designed and you can do some very accurate shooting with them just as they are. If you have a stock of components you can swap out bases and apertures to get a tighter fit. Grease on the parts also helps. A proper fitting rear sight cover which imparts tension to the base/aperture assembly is important.

Once you are satisfied that your rifle is sufficiently accurate and that you are going to get into serious shooting where finer adjustments and repeatability are important,you could consider the additional investment in NM sights.

Another tip. A lot of the screws in the center of the elevation pinion are loose and need to be tightened up. Put the rifle in a rifle vice/cleaning stand and grasp the elevation knob in a set of pliers(use a couple of cleaning patches or a strip of leather to avoid marring the finish),then tighten down the center screw with a proper fitting screwdriver.
 
I hear ya on the ripoff price on the NM assembly, especially when Smith lists it at $200 on his site!! I called Smith earlier this year and it has to be ordered from Brownells for export:mad: $70 markup!! SOB"S!!
I shoot irons only over long range with these rifles so I like the fine adjustments of the NM2A sights. Still nowhere near as steep as a good used Mark4 though.
I agree they are the finest military irons and that 26" sight radius is very nice also.

If you just want the smaller aperture the krieger unit is your best bet.
 
If you just want the smaller aperture the krieger unit is your best bet.

I PM'd Hungry and he is going to see if he can source another replacement aperture for me. That should be good for my uses, the standard adjustments are fine enough for me right now. I will keep looking for a NM front sight locally to help that end out. My eyes are not as good as they used to be, so all the help I can get is appreciated.

Thanks for the info gentlemen,
Mark
 
National Match sights are 1/2 minute sights. All the threads are finer. The aperture has finer teeth as does the mating elevating knob.
No point putting them on a rifle with a standard barrel though.
 
Creedmore sports carries the NM rear aperture and finer front sight. The rear apeture is finer and has a 1/2 moa adjustment by rotating the aperture. It costs under $100 and fits the standard gears in a Garand or Norinco M14s having the same tooth pitch.
 
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