Peep Sights & kids

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NorthCoastBigBore

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I gave my oldest daughter a Savage Rascal for her last birthday (pink of course) and it really is a great little rifle. Perfect LOP and light, so she can hold it steady.

We've been using it on popcans and full size plate racks, poppers, gongs etc and she was pretty good so I didn't think much of it.

Rifle has peep rear sight on it, I figured "great idea for a kid's rifle, simple to shoot". She's used plenty of different sight types before, from semi-buckhorn to scopes. Other than a scope, she seemed pretty darn good with the peep (on the bigger targets).

Last weekend I brought her out to a rimfire shoot. When it came to dialing in on the smaller targets, she was missing them and I noticed her shot placements weren't very consistent. I know how a peep sight is supposed to work, but from her description, sounds like she's missing having a "landmark" like you have with standard rear sights, at least for "finer" work. Her hold and other fundamentals could be better of course, but she's having the problem even from a rest. With a scope (even with the irons on my old Lakefield) she seems to do a lot better (more hits, more consistency).

Any tips for instructing her on making better use of the peep sights? I've drawn her the diagrams, she's drawn them back. I'd prefer not to put a leaf on it, if only just because I like the set up as it is. I'm wondering if a globe around the front sight wouldn't help??

Thanks for any suggestions!

pYIHQjx.jpg
 
If the rifle fits her which it should, she just needs to put the front sight on the target and hold it there while she pulls the trigger to the rear.
Basically ignore the rear sight.
Is the front sight fibre optic?
 
Can-down said:
If the rifle fits her which it should, she just needs to put the front sight on the target and hold it there while she pulls the trigger to the rear.
Basically ignore the rear sight.
Is the front sight fibre optic?
Click to expand...

Maybe that's the trick, she might be worrying about the circle. Front sight is just a standard blade.

c.t.smith said:
Possibly play with apature size? my eyes do better with a big hole.
cool gun BTW do they come with the peep.
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They do come with the peep - and I am looking into the aperature size, even if just for fun. Yes very cool little rifle! She likes it
 
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I bought a Rascal (in blue!) for my seven-year-old son's birthday, and he's been having the same issue. I've drawn diagrams, and he's drawn them back, just like your daughter. He just doesn't seem to get the peep sight yet. He started getting so frustrated that I decided to put a little scope on it just to see how he would do. He now LOVES the scope, and his shooting is much better. I think he was just too young to really understand how the sight works and not concentrate on the rear aperture. I figure I'll let him shoot with the scope for a while to keep his fun level up, and then remove the scope when he has a bit more experience. And don't worry; I won't let him cheat by never learning to use irons. That scope won't stay there for long. I wish that more rifles were as simple to use, clean, and shoot. And the peep sight is terrific; Savage really knwe what they were doing when they put that on there.
 
ErikT said:
I bought a Rascal (in blue!) for my seven-year-old son's birthday, and he's been having the same issue. I've drawn diagrams, and he's drawn them back, just like your daughter. He just doesn't seem to get the peep sight yet. He started getting so frustrated that I decided to put a little scope on it just to see how he would do. He now LOVES the scope, and his shooting is much better. I think he was just too young to really understand how the sight works and not concentrate on the rear aperture. I figure I'll let him shoot with the scope for a while to keep his fun level up, and then remove the scope when he has a bit more experience. And don't worry; I won't let him cheat by never learning to use irons. That scope won't stay there for long. I wish that more rifles were as simple to use, clean, and shoot. And the peep sight is terrific; Savage really knwe what they were doing when they put that on there.
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Very interesting, thanks for that!

My daughter (also 7) also does well with a scope, like you say though Savage really put some thought into the design and I also really like that peep sight. In theory, it's a great idea for young'uns.
 
I am certainly no expert on peep sights, but for me, if my eye is a long way from the site and the hole is relatively small, it is quite hard to use. I like to have my eye up close to the hole.
Going by the photo, if she ditches the ear muffs for ear plugs (better cheek weld), changes to a lighter jacket (less stuff in the way) and is therefore able to get closer to the sight, I expect she'll have an easier time.
The photo also shows her shoulders square to the stock, so I expect she is having trouble lining up with the sights with her eyes. Sitting more beside the table than behind it might help with that.

If I were you, I'd set her up at a similar table indoors, (unloaded gun of course) and see if changing her position, etc solves the problem.
Otherwise, go back to the scope. Or even a red dot.
 
Good catch on the eye relief guys!

OP have you tried threading the aperture out and sighting through the base?
 
Can-down said:
Good catch on the eye relief guys!

OP have you tried threading the aperture out and sighting through the base?
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No I haven't, but I will give it a try. I've been trying to get her to sit a little less square, one of the challenges -

good catch on the eye relief, I agree. Makes sense that could be a big part of this.

Thanks everyone for the useful input, we'll make some adjustments and try again.
 
I just had my daughter (7 as well) out today with her pink rascal and using some of the tips suggested here she was shooting quite well. It was her first time shooting it and after I did a quick site in I let her loose. When I was running through the operation of it at the house she was having a hard time seeing the front site so I did a trick I did to some of my handguns and painted the dot with fluorescent orange model paint. Out in the sun light it was very easy to see and I think it really helped.

 
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300inline6 said:
I just had my daughter (7 as well) out today with her pink rascal and using some of the tips suggested here she was shooting quite well. It was her first time shooting it and after I did a quick site in I let her loose. When I was running through the operation of it at the house she was having a hard time seeing the front site so I did a trick I did to some of my handguns and painted the dot with fluorescent orange model paint. Out in the sun light it was very easy to see and I think it really helped.
Click to expand...

Right on!

Painting the sight, is another good idea and one I also use on my pistols. Good call. I'll give it a whirl.

Thanks!
 
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