Peep sight choices

Milt Dale

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Impatiently waiting for a Mauser 96 in the mail, and I want to install a peep, this one is drilled and tapped on the rear only. I have looked at NECG, Williams and XS, I am leaning towards the XS for a Weaver base because it seems to have the lowest sight plane but I also like the look of the NECG for this rifle. I have also seen a few simple home made options when searching threads, I am not interested in the Lyman side mount styles. Lots of Google searches for other brands mentioned have come up empty. If anyone has any experience with these or others that I may have missed please comment. I know Skinner has an option for CZ with the correct spacing but for a flat receiver, maybe someone has touched up the bottom for a rounded receiver [or tried and failed]. I have the XS weaver base option on a BLR and the Williams WGRS on a Husqvarna 1900. I have had a Skinner and an XS with wings on a 45/70. The rifle has a tall front ramp and I have the press for changing the front sight and a small assortment of sights in different heights. Thanks for suggestions.
 
Skinner lo pro is always an option but it sounds like you might want something you can easily remove from a base?

Skinner has grown a lot and they have a great customer service department, rain man types who can tell you hole spacing and various options for all their sights. They have also started using cnc for a lot of stuff and have no issue with modifying hole spacing.
 
Skinner lo pro is always an option but it sounds like you might want something you can easily remove from a base?

Skinner has grown a lot and they have a great customer service department, rain man types who can tell you hole spacing and various options for all their sights. They have also started using cnc for a lot of stuff and have no issue with modifying hole spacing.

Thanks Conor, I forgot about the Lo Pro, actually not looking for removable, this rifle will not have a scope. I have looked at Skinners Site but maybe I will send an email.
 
Milt Dale - from painful experience - I learned there were several - like at least four - aperture sights approved by FSR in Sweden for the Swede M96, for their competitions - and none of the brands interchanged hole patterns - and none even close to North American brands of hole spacing or positioning. So I would caution you to hold off until you have the rifle in hand - to get some good measurements - before you commit more money on anything.

Some of the brand names that I went through included Pramm, Soderin, Elite, Hellqvist and more - not like we normally hear of today - and most all had a different lay out for their mounting screws, although all mounted on the rear receiver bridge of a Swede Mauser M96.
 
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Milt Dale - from painful experience - I learned there were several - like at least four - aperture sights approved by FSR in Sweden for the Swede M96, for their competitions - and none of the brands interchanged hole patterns - and none even close to North American brands of hole spacing or positioning. So I would caution you to hold off until you have the rifle in hand - to get some good measurements - before you commit more money on anything.

Some of the brand names that I went through included Pramm, Soderin, Elite, Hellqvist and more - not like we normally hear of today - and most all had a different lay out for their mounting screws, although all mounted on the rear receiver bridge of a Swede Mauser M96.

Thanks, I was planning on waiting until I have the rifle, I searched for a few of those names you mention, are any still available?
 
I do not think so?? I bought a Pramm rear sight and front sight pair from CGN a few years ago - at least half a hole out on the spacing on the M96 that I had also bought. I bought a rifle with the Hellqvist rear hunting sight from Tradex - apparently the patent holder for that sight also, or subsequently, worked for Norma, and the sight was marketed under that name as well - not a hope that a receiver drilled and tapped for a Pramm aperture sight would accept a Hellqvist - totally different dimensions and placement. I have never owned a Soderin or Elite sight to know, but I read they used different arrangement of spacing for holes as well.

Perhaps to explain - the approved aperture sights - made in Sweden, Switzerland and elsewhere, used a layout that was like a rectangle - two holes drilled and tapped - one was front right corner of the rectangle, the other was the rear left corner - so two holes, on opposite sides of centreline of receiver, one ahead of the other. That rectangle was defined in mm front to back and mm side to side - at least four different sized rectangle were used for different brands. Most North American aperture sights want to use scope base holes that are drilled and tapped on the centreline of the bore or receiver - not at all like the Swede FSR rifles were done.
 
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Milt Dale - from painful experience - I learned there were several - like at least four - aperture sights approved by FSR in Sweden for the Swede M96, for their competitions - and none of the brands interchanged hole patterns - and none even close to North American brands of hole spacing or positioning. So I would caution you to hold off until you have the rifle in hand - to get some good measurements - before you commit more money on anything.

Some of the brand names that I went through included Pramm, Soderin, Elite, Hellqvist and more - not like we normally hear of today - and most all had a different lay out for their mounting screws, although all mounted on the rear receiver bridge of a Swede Mauser M96.

My description of the expected rifle was also not complete, it is described as a Husqvarna small ring and the pictures were not the best, not a military barrel but a sporter contour, so have to check serial numbers etc., the action does have the thumb cut out and the action is a #### on closing 96. It is in a very different stock as well more of a modern Monte Carlo.[not cracked] So taking a bit of a gamble on this one. The drilled and tapped Huskys that I have seen have all been 1/2" spacing on the screws.
 
Original Swede M94 and M96 were made at Carl Gustaf Armoury for Swede military - (except for the earliest ones made by Mauser in Germany). I believe that most approved FSR rifles were also done up at CG armoury. Husqvarna made sporting rifles - was a private enterprise - not a gov't facility. They made hunting rifles - often nearly "dead ringers" and interchangeable parts with the Swede military actions of the time. In WWII, Husqvarna was contracted to make M38 rifles for Swede military - although also made some M96, I think - an acquaintance has borrowed my "Crown Jewels" book where this stuff is detailed. Sounds like your Husqvarna is coming with holes drilled and tapped on the centreline - as if for scope bases - would be total bonus for you if that was the case - likely will find modern stuff that will fit and work. Those brands I mentioned in Post #4 likely fairly old - not sure when they were approved, but some likely in the 1920's or 1930's.

I do own perhaps a bit "odd ball" CG63 pattern rifle, but is made by Norma, not CG - so Norma was an "approved" entity to build CG63 rifles out of a customer's rifle for FSR competitions - however, it was only ever drilled and tapped for convention scope bases - front receiver ring and rear receiver ring - came to me as a rifle set up for scope use - I do not know if there was ever an aperture sight on it, when it was in Sweden. It does have a more or less standard military front sight base, on the heavy Norma target barrel, but there was no front sight insert in it.

FYI - once the barrel is removed, I know of no way to tell the difference between a Swede M94, M96 and M38 action. All were #### on close. M94 and M96 were made at the same time, in the same CG arsenal, until at least the 1930's. CG made M94 had a turned down bolt - an expert might be able to tell the difference from that turned down bolt on M94 with one from the Husqvarna M38 - apparently I can not. For decades (?), CG Arsenal was converting existing M96 long rifles into M38 pattern rifles - kept the straight handle bolt from the M96, but barrel and stock were shortened. Some refer to these conversions as M96/38, but Swede military did not differentiate Husqvarna made M38 and CG conversions - all were M38 as far as they were concerned. And getting pretty much impossible to differentiate between CG and Mauser actions and Husqvarna made actions - except for stampings and markings - sometimes the serial number and inspector's initials can deduce what that action was originally - M94, M96 or whatever ...

What some will find confusing is most of this was done before the 1968 USA law requiring a serial number on the receiver, apparently to be visible and readable when rifle is assembled. So some Husqvarna sporter rifles have serial number on the barrel. Unscrew that barrel and nothing on receiver - now screw on readily available new old stock replacement barrel and no number on barrel either. So is nothing visible on the barrel or the receiver when the rifle is assembled. Think of the children!!!
 
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Most North American aperture sights want to use scope base holes that are drilled and tapped on the centreline of the bore or receiver - not at all like the Swede FSR rifles were done.

This could be a problem with the lo-pro for sure. You might end up with a wonky front sight position if you even have enough adjustment at all. As a bit of a peep sight afficianado I’ve encountered similar but less dramatic issues with off centre holes etc. A few mm can be a lot of distance covered on target

So is nothing on barrel or receiver. Think of the children!!!

Laugh2

Don’t let the government catch on; such rifles are surely being used in all sorts of inner city crimes!!
 
Original Swede M94 and 96 were made at Carl Gustaf Armoury for Swede military - (except for the earliest ones made by Mauser in Germany). I believe that most approved FSR rifles were also done up at CG armoury. Husqvarna made sporting rifles - was a private enterprise - not a gov't facility. They made hunting rifles - often nearly "dead ringers" and interchangeable parts with the Swede military actions of the time. In WWII, Husqvarna was contracted to make M38 rifles for Swede military - although also made some M96, I think - a friend has borrowed my "Crown Jewels" book where this stuff is detailed. Sounds like your Husqvarna is coming with holes drilled and tapped on the centreline - as if for scope bases - would be total bonus for you if that was the case - likely will find modern stuff that will fit and work. Those brands I mentioned in Post #4 likely fairly old - not sure when they were approved, but some likely in the 1920's or 1930's.

I do own perhaps a bit "odd ball" CG63 pattern rifle, but is made by Norma - so Norma was an "approved" entity to build CG63 rifles out of a customer's rifle for FSR competitions - however, it was only ever drilled and tapped for convention scope bases - front receiver ring and rear receiver ring - came to me as a rifle set up for scope use - I do not know if there was ever an aperture sight on it, when it was in Sweden. It does have a more or less standard military front sight base, on the heavy Norma target barrel, but there was no front sight insert in it.

FYI - once the barrel is removed, I know of no way to tell the difference between a Swede M94, M96 and M38. All were #### on close. M94 and M96 were made at the same time, in the same CG arsenal, until at least the 1930's. CG made M94 had a turned down bolt - an expert might be able to tell the difference from that turned down bolt on M94 with one from the Husqvarna M38 - apparently I can not. For decades (?), CG Arsenal was converting existing M96 long rifles into M38 pattern rifles - kept the straight handle bolt from the M96, but barrel and stock were shortened. Some refer to this conversions a M96/38, but Swede military did not differentiate Husqvarna made M38 and CG conversions - all were M38 as far as they were concerned. And getting pretty much impossible to differentiate between CG and Mauser actions and Husqvarna made actions - except for stampings and markings - sometimes the serial number and inspector's initials can deduce what that action was originally - M94, M96 or whatever ...

What some will find confusing is most of this was done before the 1968 USA law requiring a serial number on the receiver. So some Husqvarna sporter rifles have serial number on the barrel. Unscrew that barrel and nothing on receiver - now screw on readily available new old stock replacement barrel and no number on barrel either. So is nothing on barrel or receiver. Think of the children!!!

Thanks, I recently finished reading my way through the Husqvarna sporting rifle thread started by Baribal that you also have contributed to start to finish, took a while, so I learned just enough to think this one was worth the gamble, I am looking forward to removing the action and having a look, knowing that even doing this might not give me a definitive answer on the rifles origins. If it appears to be a Husqvarna sporter with serial number stamps etc. I will post a pic with info on that thread.
 
This could be a problem with the lo-pro for sure. You might end up with a wonky front sight position if you even have enough adjustment at all. As a bit of a peep sight afficianado I’ve encountered similar but less dramatic issues with off centre holes etc. A few mm can be a lot of distance covered on target
...

Not a "few mm" - what I am talking about is holes like 12 or 14 mm to left and to right of centre line to attach those old school "diopters". Maybe some were like 11.5 mm - were pretty "radical" ...
 
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