Huge Peeps!!!

Mikey66

Mikey66

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
105   0   0
Location
Vancouver
I recently took my new Mossberg MVP 308 Scout to the range.

The reason I chose the Scout instead of the cheaper Patrol was because it features a peep site at the receiver end of its rail, while the Patrol has a conventional rear site, mounted part way up on the barrel. I prefer to shoot irons, and my reasoning was that the longer sighting plane of the Scout would be more accurate.

I was so frustrated by its lack of accuracy I wanted to chuck it in a puddle.
I am not a bad shooter, but I could barely get on paper at 50m!!, with groups the size of shotgun patterns!!! Not what I expected at all.

Reason? The size of the rear peep. It is HUGE, well 5mm, when most of my other rifles have 2mm peeps. 5mm is perfect if you are trying to hit a barn door at 20m, but useless for anything else. What was Mossberg thinking?

I am currently working on a press fit insert, that I will drill out to under 2mm. Will report back when I test it out.
Any thoughts or advice?
 
Even with my open expres sights c get god group at 100 and 200 yards, and with the inserts out of the rear sight on my other rifles I can till hit clays at 200
Cat
 
Hitzy said:
Peep size should not affect groups very much....
Click to expand...

Yes, Sir. He is probably trying to focus and sight through the receiver aperture, instead of just looking through it.

That's the beauty of receiver sights: you do not use the aperture to aim at the target. You just look through the hole, and your eye automatically centers in the aperture. When used properly, one is barely conscious of the rear sight at all.

Give it a try Mikey66. Just look through the "peep", and watch those groups shrink.

Ted
 
Hey thanks for all the replies.

I have been using peeps for a while on my other rifles, and never really thought about the technique very much. I guess I have been just loking through them and aiming with the front. I will deliberately make sure to do that the next time I'm out there.

I managed to make a plastic insert that reduced the reticle to just over 2mm, can't wait to try it out. Though I'm kind of worried now, maybe I just got a bad gun.
Sheesh, my Norinco M14 shot way better than this with a peep site before I sold it. No problems to 200m.
 
If you look at the rear sight, it looks like this . . .


If you've acquired your target, look through the rear sight, and shifted your focus to the front sight, your sight picture should look like this . . .


Once you'red on target, the front sight should be in absolute sharp focus. Both the target and rear sight blurr. You don't line up the front sight in the aperture, looking through the aperture provides the index for the front sight to be in the correct relationship ith the target. A repeatable cheek weld is essential to tight groups.
 
I also always set my peep type sights up for a 6'oclock hold. You are not obscuring your target then, and it will help shrink groups. With enough practice you can start using the corner of the front sight and get tighter groups still.
 
Awesome advice, and the pics are spot on!

As mentioned earlier, I have been shooting with peep sights for quite a while with good results, so no major gaps in my technique. I never really thought about it, just did it. Peeps are a very intuitive way of shooting. But most of my rifles have reticle size of 2mm, which is perfect for the field, and good enough at the range. Lots of target peeps are 1mm or less depending on light conditions.

My new Mossy has a reticle size of 5mm, which is huge for a peep, and kind of threw me off at the range. I was frustrated and exagerated a bit in my first post. I sleeved it down to 2mm and will report back when I have a chance to shoot it.
 
Last edited:
Can't use both eyes.
I had laser surgery on my right eye 20 years ago, so now my right is far sighted, and left is short sided. Don't need glasses, but only one good eye for each job. Maybe if I shot left handed?
 
Mikey66 said:
Can't use both eyes.
I had laser surgery on my right eye 20 years ago, so now my right is far sighted, and left is short sided. Don't need glasses, but only one good eye for each job. Maybe if I shot left handed?
Click to expand...

Well, that was a stupid idea. Regardless, so long as you can make the front sight sharp and in focus then you're good to go...so long as you can still tell what you are shooting at.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Well, that was a stupid idea. Regardless, so long as you can make the front sight sharp and in focus then you're good to go...so long as you can still tell what you are shooting at.
Click to expand...

I had the same stupid idea and am also short sighted in one eye and far in the other. I also dont need glasses. i had my non shooting eye fixed and not my shooting eye. However i do use prescription for shooting with a lense not quite strong enough for sharp far sight but great to see the front sight . I suppose i could use different glasses for my scoped rifles but with the reticle focused for my midrange glasses it works fine. I find a very big peep makes you have to consciously centre your head and i dont like it, the hunting peep size of .125 i think it is is pretty good. I have 2 merit adjustable peeps that work great
 
Not a stupid idea at all. I don't need glasses, and can shoot just fine with one eye closed.

BTW just got back from the range and as expected the 2mm reticle works way better than the original 5mm. I think I will try sleeving it further down. It was easy to do, and now I am curious what would be the best size for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom