Central Aperture Sights + others for SMLE's

[BushyFromOz]

Does anyone out there have a proper reference on Central Aperture sights?

I have two with 7.62 range scales, one with a Parker Hale 60 aperture on it, but am a bit lost as to how to read the different scales, what MOA the adjustment is in.

Thought it could be interesting to pool some info about them.

Cheers

Information

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[tbonesmith]

They're usually in 1/2 minute clicks, you can tell by counting how many clicks it takes to get you from say "0" to the "5" mark. Those numbers refer to minutes of angle. You may find the wind arm in 1/3 MOA clicks, but that's only some later models.
The range scale on the left of the elevation arm is calibrated for .303 or 7.62, I set my 7.62 up zero'd at 600m, by sighting it in on a manned target and then adjusting the location of the range plate so it read "600" at that range, then you just adjust to whatever range you're at.... ie."300" at 300m etc. And it works pretty good. The other side is points of elevation for reference. You can record these zero's if the range plate side doesn't work out accurately enough.(I always record these for given ranges as the range plates are not the best between 50 and 300 m).
If I havn't answered your querie I can probably explain better or add some photos.

[BushyFromOz]

The other side is points of elevation for reference. You can record these zero's if the range plate side doesn't work out accurately enough.(I always record these for given ranges as the range plates are not the best between 50 and 300 m).

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I'm still confused about the "points of elevation", i cant seem to make any sense out of the numbers. IN the photo at 300 yards it has 0 points of elevation (i assume these are supposed to be zeroed at 300?) but at 700 it has 16 points. Is that so you can record indivudual distances at different rifle ranges (i.e X range may be 18 points at 700 yards and Y range 16 points at 700 yards?)

As a side note, does anyone know what the manufacturing issue that led to SAF Lithgow being struck from the sight?

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[Bindi2]

There is a guy on gunboards who has written a book about these sights. Suggest you give him a try he is a range shooter.

[BushyFromOz]

Thanks bindi.

Had a score today, picked up a second omark for my foray into fullbore and got a nice little "spare" SMLE range scale with the central sight.

[tbonesmith]

I'm still confused about the "points of elevation", i cant seem to make any sense out of the numbers. IN the photo at 300 yards it has 0 points of elevation (i assume these are supposed to be zeroed at 300?) but at 700 it has 16 points. Is that so you can record indivudual distances at different rifle ranges (i.e X range may be 18 points at 700 yards and Y range 16 points at 700 yards?)

Yes, the whole range scale might not be perfectly calibrated to your barrel length/load etc. With the "points" on the right you can clearly adjust from any position on the range scale in points/MOA. These sights were and are full bore sights and 300 is the shortest range, but with the ones I use for shorter range service shooting I suppose it's adjusted low, as I just ignore the range side and record the points for all ranges.

[BushyFromOz]

Thanks, entirely new to fullbore shooting and have never used peep sights before - its been quite an education.

[fergs]

As a side note, does anyone know what the manufacturing issue that led to SAF Lithgow being struck from the sight?

could have been on a marksman variant and disposed of later on, will confer with a mate of mine who seems to know a fair bit about marksman variants.
regards
Fergs.