L1A1 Sight Picture

[230Ball]

Sort of embarrassed to ask this, but what does a correct sight picture look like for the L1A1? I trained for years on the M-16 and M-4 and the relationship between the front sight and rear sight aperture is second nature to me. I can't help but try to replicate the same proportions looking through the L1A1's rear sight; however, there appears to be so much space (to me) when looking through the rear aperture at the front sight that it's difficult if not impossible to duplicate any kind of consistent sight picture. Perhaps I'm just not a natural rifle marksman!
Thanks in advance!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Charlie303]

Well, the L1A1 did have quite a generous rear sight aperture, which was why some, including the Army shooting team I'm led to believe, adopted the 'Hythe Sight'. Its got a double bladed rear sight with a night - large aperture - leaf, and a daylight - small (smaller than the standard sight) aperture leaf.

[nzl1a1collector]

Here's an image that relates to the use of an Aim Correct on an L1A1 rifle showing you what your sight picture should look like. Hope this helps.

[Peter Laidler]

I think that the picture he's relating to is the size of the now fuzzy hole he's looking into - if you'll excuse the phrase. Because we can't focus on two or three things at the same time (in fact some people, such as politicians for example, can't even focus on ONE thing at a time....) the eye just sees a fuzzy aperture of the backsight while the foresight and target are in focus (but sometimes you'll even have to compromise there too.....) I just let the foresight blade sit in the optical centre of the fuzzy outline of the backsight aperture.

George Patchett says that he cured this lack of optical clarity/fuzziness at the backsight with his patented Sterling L34/Mk5 silenced gun. That had a series of very small holes equidistant around the main aperture that he said would always cause the eye to look through the centre of the aperture. Well, that what he said.........

[kosmolinekid]

I remember expending a lot of mags to zero mine I think I got it close enough though .

[ArtioZen]

Hi 230Ball! - The L1A1 sight picture observation is not unusual, and may not reflect of your rifle marksmanship. I often “show and tell” my L1 with my AR / M friends and have found they too take a little time to create a sight picture that is repetitive and delivers hits.

As observed above the L1A1 has a large rear sight aperture – ideal for low light = time to fight. You can consider reducing the aperture rather than learning to live with it (save Ammo!)

Others have recommended bushing the aperture down (legal in CMP and other type rules). A neatly trimmed section of stripped insulation from 16 gauge wiring is a good solid fit in the aperture (add a dab of super glue) and gives a good base ID reduction – experiment to suit as necessary. I prefer this over the now (to me) pricey Hythe rear sight kits.

If you have a bore laser you can save some ammo and frustration by testing your new aperture size on a quarter / 2p sized target on a wall and waggling your sight picture and POA around until happy/ memorised (considering laser body to bore slop and elevation offset - there is still some work to be done with live fire).

Peter - the politicians / unable to focus on one thing is too funny!

[David TS]

I have not only added a Hythe rear sight to my straight pull L1A1, but also got a spare front sight blade and ground it down to half its original thickness - now it doesn't obscure the whole of the black centre of a target at 400 yards and beyond .

[ArtioZen]

Nice! Any pics D TS? - Thinner front blades really help with target shooting (as thin as you can see - unless your'e a politician..) - but may get lost more in the stock rear appeture (black hole!). Paolo Orange did a nice job over on the FalFiles with a turned (round section) front blade to a thin diameter - allowed variable height adjustment. Alternately a "square" post allows four elevation adjustment levels per turn (add the index grooves to register). He also recommended installing a coil spring under the blade to positively pre-load it "up" under all conditions (not sure if thats a big deal). I will be working these (round post when I have access to a lathe again and a spring for S&G) into my build n tune along with the reduced rear appeture (I think smaller than the Hythe est @0.050").

[mrclark303]

Second for the Hythe sight, it will tighten up the groups a treat....if you can find one that is!

Cheers, john

[Ex Crab]

Second for the Hythe sight, it will tighten up the groups a treat....if you can find one that is!

Cheers, john

DS Solutions sell brand new Hythe sights, http://www.ds-solutions.co.uk/.