Windage sight wonders

[RJW NZ]

I fitted a windage sight to the ol smle a while back and just now noticed that the slider won't go to zero anymore as the slider frame collides with the windage knob. I never knew there were other shapes on sliders? I checked my spares box and they're all the same shape, none would go below 180 yards if I fitted them. Anyone have a pic of the right shape so I could scan ebay for one, or have some other advice? I do want to drop the sight to its lowest as I'm using an aperture sight and need to get it down out of the sight picture.
thanks RJWNZ

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.

[BushyFromOz]

Is that the larger windage wheel or the smaller one?

[RJW NZ]

Good question, I didn't know there was two, live and learn, lol, I guess thats parts of the answer ...

[Son]

The slider at 200 is at it's minimum graduation. Have a look under the leaf- slide it back any further and it usually starts to fall off the ramp. Zero is 200yds- to shoot at 100, leave sights at 200 and fix bayonet (standing order for enemy within 150yards at one stage was fix bayonets, IIRC)
Otherwise I think it is 1 1/2 iches high at 100yds- (been a while, will take a correction on this point- anyone?)

[Patrick Chadwick]

or have some other advice?

Here is "some other advice".

I shoot/have shot with a wide variety of ex-service rifles with open sights. From Enfield 1853 through to a 308 "Ishy", and from Mauser 1871 through to Israeli K98k. And although I have heard of Mosin-Nagants that actually shoot better with a bayonet attached, I am not attracted by the idea of adjusting the POI by trying out a variety of bayonets of different lengths and weights. I would need a mighty heap of bayonets!

As Son points out. 200 yards is the end of the ramp. It is similar for many others. In most rifles with open sights, the zero was at least 100 yards/meters, and often 200-300. And since shooting with open sights and presbyopia + astigmatism is a test of my eyesight, not the rifle or ammo, I can only carry out a useful test if I fit an aperture sight.

The simple, legitimate (because an "original" option) and easily reversible answer is to fit a higher foresight blade. This is usually the only way to get the sight line for the aperture backsight above the V in the open backsight. If you let the V partially occlude the aperture, this will produce an optical distortion (because different areas of the retina are seeing slightly different images) that is acutely sensitive to tiny variations of the eye position and will spoil the accuracy that you could otherwise achieve.

So long waffle - simple message - fit a higher foresight blade!

This also has the useful effect of getting the open backsight off the bottom of the ramp or ladder so that you have some room for adjustment when shooting with open sights at 100 yards/meters.

Patrick

[BushyFromOz]

Of course, if your not happy with it, you could always sell it to me

[barbarossa]

RJW NZ, I have a stupid but seemingly relevant question:

Is the rear sight elevation slide relieved on the right rear edge for the head of the windage adjustment knob? I can't tell from your sight pix.

If it ain't relieved with a radius cut for the wheel swap it out for one that is. That will let the sight set a bit lower. The late Mark III* pattern sight without windage adjustment dispensed with this cut as a machining economy on the post 1915 sight components. The earlier issue Mark III rifle sights made through 1916 had the cut in the elevation slide and that's what should be fitted to your rifle for use with the windage sight.

Cheers

barbarossa

[RJW NZ]

Awesome Barbarossa, thats what I was wondering about, the answer is no, I have a late model slider. You've confirmed for me that there is other types to look for. Whoopee, another treasure hunt ...lol

[5thBatt]

Awesome Barbarossa, thats what I was wondering about, the answer is no, I have a late model slider. You've confirmed for me that there is other types to look for. Whoopee, another treasure hunt ...lol

I have a spare, PM me.

Small pattern windage wheel
Attachment 20349