Match Sights on the M14

[chkunz]

Most M14 match shooters used the National Match front sight which has a 0.062 inch wide post. Like most folks I have had to increase the magnification in my shooting glasses over the years to be able to get a sight picture with a clear front post. The more the magnification in the shooting glasses is increased the more indistinct the target becomes and this is just a trade off that I thought I had to make. I am considering going to the standard front sight which is ~0.084 inches wide to see if I can get a clear front post with less magnification and improve how I see the target. Many years ago I had a friend who used the wide front sight post on the M14 and shot scores in the high 190s at 600 yards with that configuration; he has now gone to the big range in the sky and no longer answers my emails. Have any of you old M14 shooters tried the standard front post as compared to the NM front post?

 

[ShootDots]

There is a fellow on here whose handle is "Wooley".. His name is Wes VanBramer. He shoots that (M14) all the time and has for quite awhile. Send him a PM and ask his help. He will be glad to help you any way he can..

 

[swehrman]

You might get more responses on the National Match site.

http://www.usrifleteams.com/forums/index.php

I don't shoot the M1A/M14, but in the AR-15 I much prefer the 0.074 front sight over the 0.052 version.

-- Scott

 

[6fatrat]

In the early 80's when I started XTC I used the battle front sight, made Master in 2 years before switching to a bolt gun. Certainly worth a try.
Steve Bair

 

[PDS]

T-Rex, That's a good name for a guy shooting a dinosaur rifle. When I was shooting and wrenching on M14"s in the 80's and 90's I and several of my team mates had had the standard front sight on our rifles. The coaches would always say "focus on the front sight". The bigger front sight is easier to see. Just let the fuzzy bull sit on top of that wide blade.
Fred

 

[r bose]

It's all personal preference. On an AR, I've known shooters use between a 34 thou to a 72 thou. 52 being the "NM" size and 72 being the "standard" battle front sight (and easier to focus on in my opinion). On a M14/MiA just because it's stamped "NM" doesn't mean you have to use it. Try both, use what works best for your eyes.

 

[akajun]

In addition to a larger front post, many older shooters such as ken roxbourogh recommend using a center mass hold instead of a traditional 6 hold.

 

[chkunz]

In addition to a larger front post, many older shooters such as ken roxbourogh recommend using a center mass hold instead of a traditional 6 hold.

Would Ken Roxbourough have been Gunny Sargent Roxbourough some time in the 1980s?

 

[akajun]

Yep, one in the same. He works as the head of Team Remington now. They put on a Advanced Highpower clinic at perry every year. I highly recomend anyone not distinguished or struggling to take it.
I took it 3 years ago, stuggling at expert. Within a year a Had picked up my first leg points and was a Master.

 

[chkunz]

Yep, one in the same. He works as the head of Team Remington now. They put on a Advanced Highpower clinic at perry every year. I highly recomend anyone not distinguished or struggling to take it.
I took it 3 years ago, stuggling at expert. Within a year a Had picked up my first leg points and was a Master.

I took Juniors to Camp Perry in 1986 to shoot smallbore and highpower and while we were there I enrolled them in the Marine Corps Highpower training. It was conducted by Gunnery Sergeant McGinnis and Staff Sergeants Curtis and Roxburgh. It was excellent training and I sat in on all the classes with the juniors. I wrote a thank you letter to them thru General P. X. Kelley, Commandant of the Marine Corps at the time and received a nice letter back from the General which I have saved. I learned a lot and took more Juniors in subsequent years. If you have contact information for Roxburgh please send him my regards. Thanks, Clyde.

 

[chkunz]

I shot a practice match on the 100 yard reduced course today with the standard front sight. I filed it down to match the height of the NM front sight. I can definitely say that it make things better and I saw significant improvement in the prone slow fire stage. If you are an older shooter and it has become a seeing contest instead of a shooting contest I would recommend that you try this. Even if you are not a dinosaur like me it may be worth a try.

 

[chkunz]

In addition to a larger front post, many older shooters such as ken roxbourogh recommend using a center mass hold instead of a traditional 6 hold.

I have been using the center of mass hold for some time now in the standing position and that works well for me. I will experiment with it in the other positions now that you bring it to my attention.

 

[johara1]

I go back to the M1 then the M14 and finally the 16, i found the .062 too slow and hard to see with and i used a battle front sight with the top filled on an angle to get rid of glare. It was faster rapid fire and standing. After the Marine Corps i shot for the Guard a little and still stayed with the battle sight. …….. Now i need a scope nothing helps. ……. jim O'Hara

 

[M14AMU]

I used the wider front battle sight and shot HM using it! One of your better options might be to invest in a pair of Knobloch glasses whereby you can have a selection of lenses to help compensate for aging vision!

 

[chkunz]

I used the wider front battle sight and shot HM using it! One of your better options might be to invest in a pair of Knobloch glasses whereby you can have a selection of lenses to help compensate for aging vision!

Thanks for your input. I have shooting glasses with various lenses with magnification. The problem is as you increase magnification with age to be able to get a clear front post, the target gets more indistinct. As it turns, and as I found today that the wide post allows me to get a clear front post with less magnification and that results in a better sight picture. So I am in the game for a few more years.

 

[FatBoy]

You may want to give the Miso lens a try. SR legal, though you have so much stick'em on that stock now you're probably well outside legal stock dimensions

 

[navyrad8r]

+1 on the Miso I love mine
cheers,
doc

 

[chkunz]

You may want to give the Miso lens a try. SR legal, though you have so much stick'em on that stock now you're probably well outside legal stock dimensions

I have used the Decot glasses for a long time and like them but tell me more about Miso. The great thing about shooting the M14 today is that no one even remembers what SR legal even means for that rifle and I still have several layers of tape from trigger weighing at LEG matches. It is self correcting, if you get below the required trigger weight then the rifle doubles and the second round goes over the top of the target.

 

[FatBoy]

That's not just an M1a problem. My DCM AR did that with the JP single. When Jeff Corn couldn't fix it I put a Jewell in there. I have since moved to Geissele for new builds, but you really don't have that option as far as I know.

Here is a link to the lens kit. As you have an engineers mind, you can search Miso lens and get a much better description of how it works and why it'll work with the M1/M1a rear sight where others may not.

www.creedmoorsports.com/shop/Miso-M1A-Lens-Kit.html

 

[akajun]

I've looked and looked, I can't find my email for Ken. I would contact the CMP or remington for his contact info .
You didn't by chance know Mr Henry Couvillion from louisiana? I started shooting highpower at Perry as a junior with him in 91. Mr henry was running juniors at Perry since the late 70's