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Help Identify Comp Rear Sight (RPA Trakker?)

Wild Willy

Silver $$ Contributor
I purchased a rifle and was told that the rear sight is a RPA Trakker but it doesn't match what I see when I search the web. It doesn't say RPA on it but does say Paramount England, any ideas what I really have here?
Thanks in advance...Bill
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Paramount was the mid-life iteration of the British 1970 SWING single-shot 4-lug action 'Target' rifle design (Fullbore in the US) that became Paramount in the 90s, then RPA this century, both for product and company names, the current company being 'RPA International'.

Today's RPA single-shot rifle is a direct descendant of the 1970 SWING SN-71 design changed step by step over the years in detail, but still recognisably of the same family. The corporate side of the trio has been small specialist businesses throughout, dedicated to producing quality products with components machined in-house.

I can't comment on the Paramount sight, but it was likely made in-house to very high standards, and the later 'Trakker' is a copy or minor development from it. There are people on specialist Fullbore shooting type forums such as this:

http://www.usrifleteams.com/lrforum/

who will know. The one certain thing, is that it is a well designed and manufactured device made to very small tolerances. The only issue might be wear and tear since it has to date from the 1990s by bearing the 'Paramount' name. SWING/Paramount/RPA manufactured stuff is bomb-proof and rifles dating from the 70s are still in widespread use in the UK and British Commonwealth in 'Target Rifle' sling shooting, 'Match Rifle', and F-Class / F/TR. I have a scope-fitted Paramount rifle that I bought without its original iron sights and as I know its history, know it it has fired thousands upon thousands of 7.62/308 rounds through several barrels. The original components (stock, trigger, and action) are quite unworn and work perfectly. The Gehmann aperture sight-assembly on your sight is of course a more recent after-market addition, and another expensive bit of quality kit.
 
Paramount was the mid-life iteration of the British 1970 SWING single-shot 4-lug action 'Target' rifle design (Fullbore in the US) that became Paramount in the 90s, then RPA this century, both for product and company names, the current company being 'RPA International'.

Today's RPA single-shot rifle is a direct descendant of the 1970 SWING SN-71 design changed step by step over the years in detail, but still recognisably of the same family. The corporate side of the trio has been small specialist businesses throughout, dedicated to producing quality products with components machined in-house.

I can't comment on the Paramount sight, but it was likely made in-house to very high standards, and the later 'Trakker' is a copy or minor development from it. There are people on specialist Fullbore shooting type forums such as this:

http://www.usrifleteams.com/lrforum/

who will know. The one certain thing, is that it is a well designed and manufactured device made to very small tolerances. The only issue might be wear and tear since it has to date from the 1990s by bearing the 'Paramount' name. SWING/Paramount/RPA manufactured stuff is bomb-proof and rifles dating from the 70s are still in widespread use in the UK and British Commonwealth in 'Target Rifle' sling shooting, 'Match Rifle', and F-Class / F/TR. I have a scope-fitted Paramount rifle that I bought without its original iron sights and as I know its history, know it it has fired thousands upon thousands of 7.62/308 rounds through several barrels. The original components (stock, trigger, and action) are quite unworn and work perfectly. The Gehmann aperture sight-assembly on your sight is of course a more recent after-market addition, and another expensive bit of quality kit.
Thank you kindly for taking the time to share your knowledge...
 
Thanks for the reply John, so I can assume that it's a decent sight?
They are a quality sight- you need to check which way the clicks move it. Many European sights are counterclockwise for left and down, we would call that "service rifle" direction in the US. Most "Match rifle" sights in the US- think Redfield and Warner use "clockwise" for left and down.

Harder to sell "Service rifle" direction sights in the US. Trackers are a very repeatable sight, they are heavy and it also matters what they use for a base. Most RPA sights used a "superior" system to attach to the rifle- they had serations running longitutinally on the sight base. Where as a redfield didn't have the same system to return to zero when taking a rear sight on and off.

$200-300 would be what I would value it as. Warners can go for $800, depending on the model.
 
I purchased a rifle and was told that the rear sight is a RPA Trakker but it doesn't match what I see when I search the web. It doesn't say RPA on it but does say Paramount England, any ideas what I really have here?
Thanks in advance...Bill
View attachment 1506733
View attachment 1506734
I bet that adjustable iris is worth more than the rest of it, although it looks like a solid sight. I like the dovetail used in the vertical, although it’s not as substantial as the Redfield Palma. Also like the Palma, the peep hole is underslung. I’ve never seen one of those in person and can’t say how the value compares to the Redfield, but if it’s made with less backlash in the screws and slides it might be worth more, but if it’s the same or looser, the value would be less than a Redfield.

If it fits a Redfield base I can see you getting $200 for it. Not sure about the iris.
 
I bet that adjustable iris is worth more than the rest of it, although it looks like a solid sight. I like the dovetail used in the vertical, although it’s not as substantial as the Redfield Palma. Also like the Palma, the peep hole is underslung. I’ve never seen one of those in person and can’t say how the value compares to the Redfield, but if it’s made with less backlash in the screws and slides it might be worth more, but if it’s the same or looser, the value would be less than a Redfield.

If it fits a Redfield base I can see you getting $200 for it. Not sure about the iris.
Good day,
if you ever shot high power, you would have seen, first hand, how much better this Paramount was than the (of either version) Redfield Palma sight. The adj. iris looks to be a German 510.
John
 
I appreciate all of the input, wasn't really seeking the value because I plan on using it on the rifle it came on. I checked the sight when I got home, counterclockwise up/right.
 
I appreciate all of the input, wasn't really seeking the value because I plan on using it on the rifle it came on. I checked the sight when I got home, counterclockwise up/right.
One just popped up on eBay for $200. I see the iris listed for under $100 new.
 
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Good day,
if you ever shot high power, you would have seen, first hand, how much better this Paramount was than the (of either version) Redfield Palma sight. The adj. iris looks to be a German 510.
John
That’s good to know - they must be made really really tight, my Redfield International Match adjusts very consistently even when measured with a .0001” test indicator, and the Palma was an improvement.
 
That’s good to know - they must be made really really tight, my Redfield International Match adjusts very consistently even when measured with a .0001” test indicator, and the Palma was an improvement.
Check the backlash.
 
Looks like my two Swenson's.(sp?) Used them on a 308 40XC and 700 late 80's for about 8 years. Then one moved over to my AR spacegun. Later added an old Redfield to my backup spacegun. Still working about two years ago when I switched to scopes. Warner(top of the line) they are not but good enough to out shoot me. And yes they fit the REDFIELD side mount used on R700, 40x AND Win M70'S.

Frank
 

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