Ghost rings/large ring aperature - Skinner, NECG, XS Sights advice

blasted_saber

blasted_saber

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
17   0   0
Location
A blue part of Ontario
So ive decided im going to take the scope off my Ruger 77/44 and replace the factory irons with a ghost ring or aperature sight. It needs to be fast handling and have a quick target acquisition.

Ive looked into Skinner barrel mounts, NECG ghost ring, and XS ghost ring. Looking for some first hand advice on any of these. Im not trying to shoot a 1/4 MOA here, but adequate accuracy for a deer which may be moving, in relatively close quarters, say under 50m.

Thanks in advance
 
Skinner gets my vote, simple design, work very well, and Andy the owner is a great guy to deal with.
 
blasted_saber said:
So ive decided im going to take the scope off my Ruger 77/44 and replace the factory irons with a ghost ring or aperature sight. It needs to be fast handling and have a quick target acquisition.

Ive looked into Skinner barrel mounts, NECG ghost ring, and XS ghost ring. Looking for some first hand advice on any of these. Im not trying to shoot a 1/4 MOA here, but adequate accuracy for a deer which may be moving, in relatively close quarters, say under 50m.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I second the Skinner...but personally, for the situation you describe I'd use a good red-dot ...put the dot on and squeeze, with either eye
just my $0.02
 
The NECG is a better choice for the 77/44... mounted in the rear ring slot, it is ideally positioned for the quickest, clearest sight picture.
 
The Skinner is a good sight, and Andy is great to deal with. I own or have owned XS, Talley, NECG, Williams, Skinner and Lyman, aperture sights, but my favorite is the CZ version of the NECG sight, which I swap between my Brno 602 and my ZG-47. It seems to me that they've copied that style for the Ruger now. I didn't like the older Ruger version because its so blocky that it pulls your focus away from the front sight. Be sure to specify the large aperture peep, or both a large and small aperture, or you may have to drill your small aperture out. I'm going to have to order one for my CZ-527, now as the dovetail is narrower than the larger action CZs.
 
I use the XS Sights tall and low Weaver backup ghost ring sights.

When I remove my scope I pop the rear ghost ring sight on and I'm good to go when I want the scope back on I remove the ghost ring sight and install my scope takes seconds to swap them out.

Have a low for my T/C Contender carbines, another low for my Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 and a tall for my Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM.
 
Here is my $.02 worth.

I've had Skinners on a Marlin .336 - it now wear XS Sights instead. The skinner apertures (even the large one) is not large enough for fast shooting ala "ghost ring" in MY opinion (your mileage may vary). Both the XS apertures are larger diameter than the largest skinner aperture.

I also found the skinner un-necessarily large in all the gun styles I've either tried or looked at. For example, it spans the whole top strap of a Marlin 336. Why? It's the heaviest peep sight out there for this reason, and it's no more robust than any other brand. The XS sight is comparatively small and light. Both sights adjust the same way.

Between the XS and the Skinner, for my money, the XS stuff is better thought out, just as well made, lighter, and comes with the correct height front sight for the relevant gun for your order. Skinner gives a few "suggestions" for front sights, but their lack of good front sights married up to the gun models their rear sights fit is a serious commercial shortcoming in my view. It's almost ridiculous when you think about it. "Oh, sorry - we only make REAR sights. You're on your own trying to find something taller than the factor front sight to make our product function - sucks to be you".

NECG makes nice stuff, but their model selection is limited.

Another option you did't mention is to find an older steel Redfield Model 70 or steel Lyman model 66 receiver sight. With the aperture insert removed, these become ghost ring sights as large as an "open" skinner sight, are many times over more adjustable for a variety of loads and ranges, and are (probably) more robustly made of steel.
 
Although I've owned a Skinner rear sight....once, I would like to have a box of the front sights they're makin' now.These are .650" tall & perfect for swapping out shorter front sights with when doing rear peep installs, especially on short barreled rifles like Rossi Ranch Hands. Just file 'em down to get desired height of impact.:)

View attachment 17034
 
If they are making a front sight now, then WHY are they still not recommending specific heights to mate to their rear sights on specific guns? The "suggestions" on their site, as of today, are vague and require a lot of detective work to figure out - even then, no guarantees. The XS sets come s a pair - guaranteed to work for the rifle and calibre they are designed and sold for.
 
I have all of the above, plus a Williams and a Lyman gallows sight which I use with the threaded apertures removed, and a Talley ghost ring which needs their scope base to work. Of the lot, I like the NECG sight for the CZ 550 best and swap it between my Brno 602 and my ZG-47. I've ordered one for my little CZ 527 with it's narrower dovetail. IMHO, the other NECG styles don't qualify as ghost rings because they are so bulky that they pull your focus away from the front sight.

Looking down on my NECG CZ 550 sight mounted on the ZG-47


The Williams aperture sight for the CZ 452 Scout


The XS high Weaver on my wife's Husqvarna 1600 Carbine


Side and rear view of the Talley ghost ring


 
XS are best for fast acquisition, looks, price & durability for me. I don't use their front sights though as I find them too thick for use on small aiming points when using the .090" aperture. Good thing XS includes a .230" aperture with their sight sets which works better with the fat front sight on carbine length or shorter rifles.

XS are great for shooting "both eyes open" on moving targets.:)

XS on Rossi .357 mag. RH carbine.
View attachment 17124

XS on Winchester 94 NRA 30-30.
View attachment 17125

XS on Rossi .45 Colt RH carbine.
View attachment 17126
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom