How good are stock M14 sights?

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blueflash

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Heh fellas, I have one of the M305b Norincos on order from Marstar. I have plans to use this gun in October for the Moose season here in Ontario. In the past I have used a Mod700bolt gun scoped out for Moose. I am not sure if I am going to have the time, nor the money in time for my Moose vacation to spend the extra $$ just before Moose season to get the M14 Scoped.

Just wanted to know what you guys thought of the stock M305 sights. I am a pretty good shot, and I in my mid 30's with 20/20 vision. I have no problem hitting the vitals on a Deer with my shotgun, lookin down a ribbed barrel @100 yards.

Do you guys think that taking a shot on a Moose @150 yards would be possible. If I saw a Bull Moose at that distance in a clearing I don't think I would be able to pass up a shot from that distance. The kill zone is a bit larger than a basketball.

So to make a long story short, Are the M305 stock sights good??
 
The M-14 sights are excellent. The only real limitation is with your ability to see your target while you are looking at your sights.

The M-305/M-14S sights are not as slick or as repeatable as the (USGI) M-14, particularly if you would plan to adjust the setting while in the field. Something that you might consider is their replacement with the genuine USGI M-14 sights (or genuine USGI M1 Garand sights).

Regardless of that consideration, even with a Chinese sight, a moose at 150 yards is easy with an iron-sighted M-14.
 
With practice, you could hit the vitals of a moose at 200+ yards no problem using those sights. The limitation for me wouldn't be the sights, but how steady I could hold the rifle. Peep sights are great for accuracy and fast shots. The M14 has a nice square front post and a rear peep. Hard to improve on that. The limitation of the stock sights tends to be the variable quality of the adjustment mechanism. I would just set it and forget it, for hunting.
 
Perhaps the biggest possible difficulty with iron sights is that if you can't see them when it is time to shoot, you can't use them. This is much more likely to be a problem out moose hunting than plinking away on a range at a target that is a dark blob in the middle of a light frame.

Provided that you can see the front sight, the iron sights are *more* than adequate for a 150y shot at a moose.

(at least to me, a 150y shot at a moose looks like it's at least twice as far/difficult as a 300y shot on a fullbore target)
 
I'm glad to hear that 150 shot on a Moose should be no problem. With my scoped mod700, I can punch paper @200 yards in 5 in circles all day, and I know I will never see that accuracy with open sights. I will be happy though if I can consistantly hit 12 inch groups @150 with open sights. But to be perfectly honest with you, If I saw a Moose @200 yards away, and I knew it was now or never, I would probably light it up also with the iron sights. Even a hit on the Lungs will take it down.

I held a M305 in a store last week to make sure I liked it before I ordered one through Marstar, and I remember thinking that the sights were the best iron sights I have scene. I just could'nt remember if it had a Peep sight. Does it?
 
"...@200 yards in 5 in circles..." If you're not reloading, you have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best.
M305 sights are copies of the M14 sight that is an M1 Rifle sight graduated in meters. Best iron sights ever put on any rifle.
"...hit 12 inch groups @150 with open sights..." Find the ammo it shoots best(think 165 grain hunting bullets), sight in, on, at 100, then practice, off hand, at a 9" pie plate, at 100 yards, until you can hit it every time. When you can do that, you're ready to hunt. Then re-sight in 4" high at 100. Should put you on target out to about 300.
Or put the 9' pie plate up at 150 and repeat.
 
the m14 design is excellent for a bush rifle. Problem is, the quality control is, well, bad.

I suggest you confirm your rear site does not move under fire/transport, and write the # of clicks from bottomed out to 100m. Other then that(well, and practice), it is a fine rifle. Mine went hunting on the foggy/snowy days this year, and was shot in a couple service rifle matches.
 
I plan on spending some time at the range sighting it in once I get it, so thats not a problem. I just did'nt know if I should start scraping my piggy bank for pennies, and have a mount all ready to go, for when these rifles come in, in June or not. I was really hoping to get away without a scope mounted on it until next season.

Its sounds like I will be fine though, with a little practise. Oh ya, once we get up there, the day before season starts, we always go to a gravel pit, just to fire off a few rounds to make sure nothing has moved.
 
I like to centre the rear sight, then move the front at initial sight in. That way the rear mechanism is as close to centre as I can get it. Convenient to not have to remember where to set it for zero. I've had no problem with sights moving, just with finicky or improperly set tension on the adjustment knobs. The nut on the right that sets tension has a detent. You have to move it half a turn at a time to alter the tension, and when you do, it clicks into a detent.
 
Thanks griz, I will centre the rear sight to zero, then adjust the front to get zero, for the first sight in I do. Good advice, makes sense.
 
"Mechanical zero" is the way to go imo as well. Also agree with those who suggested switching out to USGI front and rear sights. They are more solid and cut cleaner (better sight picture) than the norc's.

2 things that have helped are:

1. paint the reference line on the rear sight base white as well as the 250m line on the rear sight elevation pinion. After setting up 250m battle zero its fast to pull up your bottomed out setting up to your "battle zero"

2. every once in awhile blacken your sights to make them stand out better. You can do it with a lighter or a dab of ultra flat black paint. Try it on the "grey" norc sights to see what I mean.

600 Mohawk
 
Has anyone tried to Blacken out the Peep, and use a White steel marker on the front, or would it be better to just blacken out front and rear.

Also, were do I find a set of origional USGI sights, and whats the price on them?
 
Lots of good advice here. Make sure your rear sight it solid. Think about putting some white tape or something on the front sight post. Something that you can take off easily if you hate it. Maybe white pinstriping from Canadian Tire. An autobody shop might have a piece of waste they'd give you for free.

Also look at the "how to kick ass with iron sights" post and get good and familiar with your sights before moose season.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431002

Lastly make sure you have a nice padded sling, the 14 can get a little heavy when you're humping through Mooseland. :D
 
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