Ross Mark lll sight

[gunsaholic]

Anyone have an idea of what the rear sight is worth that was made by Cooey. I have a chance to pick one up.

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.

[RangeRover]

Numrich sells the sights for about $33.

[buffdog]

They seem to run $15 to $30 in Canada at the Gun Shows. I picked up one about 6 months ago at the Brandon show, complete with milled base for the 1905 Mark II** for $30.

Not as often seen as a Lee Enfield sight, but not rare either. You just have to look a bit more for one.

Check the windage slide to see if it is quite loose. They often are on these sights, and will move and change your impact point when the rifle is fired.

Ross Mark III rear sights can be a bit difficult to remove and install, due to spring pressure and lining up the sight pin. An old pair of pliers with the serrations gound flat, EXCEPT one protrusion on one arm, will make it easier. Take the bolt out, put the arm with the protrusion on top, and press down on the spring releasing pressure. Use a punch to drive the pin out. When installing, put the pin in one side, but not as far as the middle. Compress the spring, line everything up, and drive the pin in. I put a bit of a chamfer on the end of the pin to help guide it in. It is possible to do this by yourself, but the help of a third hand makes it very simple and quick.
.
.

[gunsaholic]

Thanks for the info guys. I don't have the rifle, I was just going to pick up the sight to have with my Cooey collection but not for what the fellow is asking.

[Tom-M]

Newby here, with his first Ross. It has a VG+ bore, and is a VG+ shooter.

Problem is the rear sight is all messed up. Are "Cooey" rear sights the standard military rear sight on a standard MK.111? I want to use my Ross in military rifle competition, and to do that I need a really good condition standard issue rear sight on the rifle!

[Ax.303]

Same thing. See Rangrover`s post above, Might be your best bet. Just ask for the Ross MK III sight, probably come with the bridge and all.
I`ve been trying to find one with the base for the MK II** or even just the base, for a while now. None yet.
Good choice for the shoots, Maybe you should leave the sights as is. Give the other guys a chance. Let us know how you do.
Maybe a couple of pictures of your rifle.

[Tom-M]

Here are pics.

[smellie]

@Tom-M: Howard W Cooey was one of he contractors on the Mark III Ross Battle Aperture Sight. Parts interchanged with others built by other contractors. The thing is, AFTER the war, Cooey built a large number of .22 rifles which became to Canadians what the Winchesters and Savages became to the US: national icons, practically. But as to Ross sights, the only difference is the tiny HWC-in-an-oval stamping which identifies his work.

DO have fun with your Ross in the match. When I started shooting, I once entered a match with a decent Ross. They wouldn't let me shoot because it wasn't fair to the guys with scopes! After that, I just went to the gravel pit alone. So go ahead: get the old girl (and yourself) some RESPECT.

BTW, my load for the Mark III Ross is 37 grains of 4895 with a Sierra 180 flatbase Pro-Hunter, seated to the OAL of a Mark VII Ball round. It shoots half an inch if you can hold it, although it does have a bit more drop than milspec ammo: MV is about 2350 against 2550 with milspec from the 30.5" tube.

Have fun! That's what it's all about.

Hope this helps.
.