#10MinuteTalk

Aperture sights, commonly referred to as peep sights, are a fun and extremely accurate way to shoot an open-sighted rifle or muzzleloader. But why? What rifles do they marry well with? Mark Boardman, Jim Hamilton, and Ryan Muckenhirn pull a couple of Ryan’s rifles out of the safe to chat through them and the different styles of peep sights they are adorned with.
As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.
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[@BlueNinjaStay]

No offense to any of your great guests, but this trio is hands down the best combination.

[@brickhammerSS]

I'll second that

[@arkoutarkout3654]

I never seen anything like it before

[@leeturner3143]

AND a significantly longer sight radius vs a barrel mounted buckhorn. Great discussion as Always.

[@masonlansdale2701]

Helping people shoot in the army I learned to tell people to almost ignore the ring and passively focus on the front sight your eye/brain auto centers so well 17/18 year old kids that have never fired a weapon hitting targets at 300 meters with a small amount of training is a testament to how good peep sights realy are

[@VortexNation]

That's awesome and thank you for your service! 🇺🇸

[@pietervanwyk6686]

We shoot peep milliary sights on service rifles comps out to 400 meters and can hit man size targets with regularity

[@jeffzanow3499]

Had my dad put a Williams on my Savage 99 250 when I was a kid. 40 years later it’s still knocking whitetails dead. Keep both eyes open, point and shoot. Nothin easier. Great podcast!

[@nuckyduk15]

I JUST took a nice little 8 point in Wisconsin with my dad's old 1903 Springfield that has a beautiful peep sight installed. He always claimed a Peep was as good as a scope......until he turned 80 and now uses my rifle with a Viper HS on top 😂.

[@20020x]

Man Ryan, I love your taste in firearms!!

[@pauljcomp6621]

AKA Ryan Muckenheymsturm

[@aaronwilcox6417]

I want to meet him in a cagematch

[@scooterdogg7580]

I've always considered optics a luxury , nice to have but not essential , I still find iron sights better in heavy brush where range isn't an issue

[@timtimm9199]

Great discussion! I've always been so confident in my Garand sights and have had good results in competition. Shooting my 1892 with Buckhorn is always a challenge

[@45-70Guy]

Great video guys. Really love the peeps on most of my rifles, simple, fast, rugged, and lightweight. Very satisfying to take game this way. Took a good sized 7 pointer last week with my peeped 1895. “Teddy wasn’t no wuss” that was great

[@minnesotajoe247]

I’ve got a pre-64 featherweight model 70 30-06 with a Williams peep sight and a Marlin 336 with a straight stock in 35 Remington with a peep as well, it amazes me how accurate those old peeps shoot.

[@richardkut3976]

Excellent information, thanks again.

[@miwifri]

Let us not forget that the model 1895 in 30-40, model 71 in .348 and model 1886 in 45-70 were reproductions made in Japan and marketed by Browning back in the 90s. I have had all of these and they are great shooters with or without peep sites. The 45-70 is a tack driver at 100 yards..

[@arthurlagasse1994]

I hunt with an old savage model 340,30-30,bolt action with Williams peeps sights! Slick fast handling,perfect for where I hunt in Maine.

[@BrockOhhhh]

A good follow up woud be a 10 minute talk on the wholesome goodness that is the .300 savage.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

760 in 300 savage with a skinner peep no aperture 👍

[@jamespitts5915]

I think there is a fairly large number of folks in the hunting and shooting world who would be better served by a set of aperture sights rather than the high magnification optics out there.

[@VortexNation]

🤫 We really like our jobs! 😂😂

[@jamespitts5915]

@VortexNation there's nothing between us between aperture sight radius and opportunity. Let's make aperture sights great again!

[@pauljcomp6621]

Just Great. Thank you.

[@dinoquintana4319]

Excellent show as always 2 things that were not discussed were sight radius which is much better for sight alignment and also ghost rings which out to 100 yds is faster even than a red dot.thAnks for the 1st class knowledge and information you provide

[@ZachHunts]

I've used peep/aperature sights for most of my life. Anschutz Smallbor/Airguns, a Palma Rifle, Service Rifle, and a set of Skinner sights on my Guide Gun. I did opt for a red dot on my Win 94 Big Bore though.

[@normankaster917]

Ive found that a peep really helps with my eye from wandering around my sight picture ( hold my focus) when using iron sights.

[@AirborneMOC031]

Aperture sights have been the foundation of some of the finest shooting ever done over the last 150+ years. Whether the early Schutzen '40 rod' offhand matches, the Olympics, NRA over the course, Biathlon, Service Rifle, Palma international, etc. Oh... and WWII, Korea, Vietnam... etc. Not to throw shade, but I'm amused that so many of today's alleged firearms experts find this to be news and they've never heard of this. Hopefully those who are Marine Corps veterans know how far out aperture sights can be used for precision shooting.

[@clinkerclint]

My very first center fire rifle was a Navy Arms rolling block built by a local gunsmith, chambered in 45-70. It has a very tall rear peep. I shoot about a 2" group at 100 and I've got dope on that gun out to 900. I tried amd tried to make it happen at 1K but its hard to hit a vertical plate when the bullets are coming down like artillery 😂. Thanks for the episode. I need to look into one of those adjustable apertures.

[@mikemcmanus116]

Great discussion. I'm 78 and shooting a Brno model 3 with peep sights. I changed the factory disk with a Gehmann 510 adjustable iris. Amazing how well I can shoot it. I just ordered a Gehmann 530 with 1.5 magnification to replace the 510. It should sharpen the front sight even more. I have a fixed 36 power target scope with very fine cross hairs on another target rifle, but I love the simplicity of the peep sights. Come to think of it I have a FWB 300s 10 meter competition spring cocker air rifle and a Marlin JM 39A also wearing peeps. Maybe I'm addicted!

[@donaldmorgan5265]

I just acquired a Parker Hale Hadley disc for my Martini International... it is sexy but not as good as my Merit disc... great stuff guys!!!

[@kbowen2251]

I have a new Ruger African in 300 win mag with the express sights. I'm shooting a max distance of 150 yards so for me these are good for almost all situations I'm in. I will eventually add an LPVO with QD rings but i intend on keeping the irons just in case something happens to the optic on a hunt. Plus with just the irons the rifle has one of the best looking silhouettes I've ever seen 😂

[@6Sally5]

Ruger “African”? I’ll look that up. 🤔

[@kbowen2251]

@@6Sally5 it's a version of their Hawkeye. Has a walnut stock and iron sights on it. Regularly has the 375 and 416 Ruger but they will do limited runs of other calibers too.

[@JamesWillmus]

Got a Williams FP sight on the back of my Savage 110D 30-06 and upgraded the front sight to a brass bead on the front. I get the same groups as a 3-9x scope. It was cheaper than a scope, keeps the rifle light, and allows me to fully access the receiver in winter gloves. I do limit out on distance where after about 200 yards I'd be uncomfortable shooting an animal. However, this is my go-to rifle for the woods or when the snow flies and in those situations it can't be beat. If the shots are really close and its getting dark, I can always pull out the aperture and use the rear sight like a ghost ring.

[@bradbo3]

After i turned 45 and started wearing glasses I struggled mightily with irons. All my milsurps were almost unshootable for me. I replaced many of the old v notches with peep sights and can still shoot them and very accurately even at 54 yrs old now. But when hunting….its either a scope or red dot….i just want to be sure of my shot.

[@tannerthomas5905]

Ultradyne makes a great set of iron sights that use a dual aperture system, similar to a peep style

[@ThemantleofElijah]

My grandad hunted with a 1917 30-06 for years with only peep sights. He made a long shot like 400 yards on a buck once but missed until the fifth shot, I now have that rifle

[@ditzydoo4378]

Like your 1895, my Winchester 1894 in 30-30 has a Buckhorn rear sight, but being it's, a Marbles type the center piece is both reversable and replaceable with a Marbles Peep insert. I have done that and replaced the original larger bead front sight for a Marbles fine bead in ivory protected by the sight hood which acts much like the 17A globe sight on your Highwall. It aims and shoots like a laser out to about 300-yards, anything farther simply requires a stalk to a more reasonable/ethical range.

[@DavidDeshane-ic4cg]

Learned on aperture sites froom the canadian army and always had them my hunting rifles. Never felt like i needed more.

[@timfetters7471]

Great job! I love the talks that pertain to older hunting rifles. I know you did a straight wall cartridge talk but would love to hear one about the .45-70 on its own. And how capable it can get hand loaded out of modern lever guns and ruger no 1’s.

[@VortexNation]

We will see what we can muster up for you, Tim. I think Ryan has a couple of those lying around. Stay tuned!

[@wowbagger3505]

One point is that the light passing through the aperture creates a subtle, dark cancellation node in the exact center of the aperture. Your eye is drawn to that node and your back sight is really that precisely located node. Focusing on this node can be unconscious. This is one reason apertures are so accurate. In a sense these are optical sights too.

[@lisaannaallen6283]

negc makes a peep that sits on a weaver type base or pick rail for use on your long range muzzle loader for NM or CO

[@markanderson9857]

Great talk! Unfortunately most people have never used or will never use a peep sight. Other then maybe a military rifle. And the first thing that they do is try to find something to replace it with. Never trying it out and finding out how handy they really are. Tho I have been surprised to see them on a couple of lever actions etc lately. It would be great to see a come back. The story about being give the peep sight. And it turned out to fit the 1895 later on was great! The same kind of thing happened to me. I picked up a peep sight for ten bucks at a gun show in Northern Idaho a few years back. I didn't have any idea what it would fit. It was kind of strange. It's mounting holes were horizontal. But ten bucks! Fast forward a couple years. I picked up a model 88 Winchester. Looking it over I noticed that it had two horizontal mounting holes on the side of the receiver. Low and behold that sight fit right on.

[@RodolfoLozano-pk1er]

I have a modern reproduction Cimarron 1874 Quigley Sharps also in 45/70 with a 34” heavy octagon barrel. I also put a Soule Tang sight from Montana Vintage Arms also has a front globe sight with a bubble level. It’s sweet to shoot with 525 gr bullets, when I bought it they had another one in a 45/120 but I opted for the 45/70 as it uses smokeless powder, the 45/120 only uses black powder. I can shoot the 45/70 hot enough to replicate the velocity of the 45/120, in my 45/70… great video….

[@JRTRAPP1]

Peeps are about all I use anymore. My marksmanship has improved greatly. If I use a scope to t feeks like it is so easy it is cheating.

[@alaskalamb]

Model 88 Winchester with a red field peep is A really nice setup

[@rekcahdab]

You all so missed a rare opportunity to dim the lights 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@MrTacklebury]

I'm so jealous you have the 1895. I almost spent my bonus on one last year, but I decided to go to Scotland and see the Castle of my Clan. I wanted the 30-40 Krag version though, because I still shoot my great grandfather's 30-40 Krag bolt action and load for it. I think Big Medicine was a great firearm also, but as you stated a kicker. In an 8 pound gun, the 30-40 is really nice. I love shooting mine with the Hornady SST though, not the 220 gr. RN bullet.

[@jonathanmitchell3733]

Irons is quite something. All we had was a 1914 lee enfield with v notch. Piece of metal plate on the stock realy eats up the recoil

[@dalebob9364]

It's the same principle you used when you poked a pinhole through paper in Elementary School to watch an eclipse

[@gebogen4409]

I used to shoot service rifle with an 1/8th moa armalite peep very accurately out to 600. You had my head nodding in agreement throughout the podcast. Idea for a show. What types of knife styles and shapes do you guys or have you guys used for processing game? Small animals to large, trout to saltwater and so on?

[@monsterk7603]

I am HORRIBLE with peep sights. Lol. That needs to be a new years resolution.

[@michaeldickerson873]

Great video. Which peep sight is best for old eyes on a savage 99 in259-3000 that is still available?

[@6Sally5]

I bought a new Winchester model 73 chambered in 45 Colt….just buckhorn sights. My son in law wanted me to put a scope on it, but I resisted because I wanted to keep the rustic look. I instead installed a Marbles tang sight…left the bead front sight on. It is absolutely wonderful and looks great. I might change the front sight to the one you have.

[@VortexNation]

Got to keep that nostalgic look sometimes!

[@markgalyen38]

I love a full buckhorn

[@MrRyanmcmahon]

What do you guys think of the SeeAll sights. They seem like they would work really well but i've not tried one yet.

[@michaelm9211]

I just got an 1896 colt lightning small frame rifle. I think I’m going to put the original peep sight on it just for fun.

[@jonrolfson1686]

Twenty-odd years ago a Browning Model 65 (Japanese made Winchester 1892 clone) with a tang sight produced my lifetime best ever, sub thumbnail size, iron-sights group. The rifle was chambered in .218 Bee, shooting a load using Hornady’s 45 grain HP Bee bullet over an appropriate amount of WW296 powder. My son, watching on the spotting scope (I couldn’t see the tiny holes on the target), suggested that I stop with the three shot group that he saw. I went for five shots, then retrieved the target. All five shots were within half an inch. Now, I’m sure that this was an unrepeatable fluke, that all the normal variations just happened to vary toward the center of the group rather than away from the center. Whatever contributed to that memorable group hasn’t recurred.

[@tomlongbow]

„Iron sights, the stick shift of the gun world“

[@rickmoss7040]

I just bought a (Ruger owned) Marlin 1895 Trapper, 45-70…I have the Skinner Trapper peep on it. Tore it completely down, did a full action and trigger job…put a comet muzzle brake, bullet point mag tube cap on it, RPP trigger shoe, and the quick takedown lever screw(all Ranger Point Precision parts)…took my time and did a really good job working that rifle. Took it out, and was EXTREMELY impressed with the accuracy of that peep once I got it sighted in. Super quick to get on target…and very small and agile rifle. I will be chasing huge Ohio white tails with it tomorrow. I am a bow hunter and rarely get excited about gun hunting, but this little rifle has me super pumped to go out and chase deer with a gun. Should be fun. This little rifle is amazing. I don’t WANT to put an optic on this rifle, it is so small, and agile like it is….should be awesome.

[@joearledge]

27:30 FYI, a scatter gat front bead is roughly 18 to 22 MOA-ish so not ideal for smaller targets or relatively longer ranges. It works ok on scatter gats because the average pattern is roughly 50 to 100 MOA-ish. Red dots have definitely made a world of difference in the consistency of aim in shotguns.

[@tonydevich7937]

Awesome guns, use to shot a sharps 45 and 2tenths

[@TMFShooting]

Great Stuff 💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@user-ms5sc7ct7h]

Do you need to replace your front sight if you put a skinner on a Henry 45-70.?

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

On the 1895: Russia did place an order for them, they were kind of buying any available gun chambered in 7.62x54R. The 1895 action is just a solid nope in the mud, but they do work. I actually had to chance to buy a 14" NFA-exempt Trapper model, i assume the history on it was the unsold models were made as suitable for the American market as they could be, as no one really wanted to buy a lever action musket in in a weird caliber no ones heard about (given the time perion, see Bannerman Mosin for more context) Unfortunately i was young and didnt exactly know what i was looking at, i already owned a Mosin and thought another 7.62x54R rifle was pointless. The NFA exempt feature didnt even click in my head until a few years later.

[@VortexNation]

Sounds like a cool rifle you were able to get your hands on!

[@michaeldickerson873]

How marketable is the Redfield Olympic style sight with globe front sight and turn style adjustable aperture for Remington 700?

[@jmc041071]

How do you choose the correct sight, without having to buy them one at a time to check them.... I've been looking at the globe sights and there are .375, .550, .475 etc.

[@rpmorrisjr]

Once you hear this you can’t unheard it. Listen to Ryan, and Jordan Peterson. There you go.

[@paisleyprince5280]

4:38 I'm 45 and haven't been to an optometrist ever either.

[@ZekeWoodard]

Since Mark mentioned it is there a good way to put a red dot on an 870 it’s not some wonky apparatus that goes around the receiver And with red dot would be a good one for a shotgun?

[@AirborneMOC031]

Bill Weaver, back in the early 70's, mounted a small optical sight on a shotgun and shot doves very, very well with it. Outdoor Life or one of the other mags at the time covered it. If I remember rightly, Weaver eventually offered it, but the shotgunners of the day thought it was simply just too fugly. Being a connoisseur of classic over and under shotguns, I grit my teeth at the thought of such a contraption and what it would do the lines and looks. The part of my mind that spent the last 30 years of my career jumping out of airplanes with optical sighted rifles says that a small optical sight would work just great. Something like a three minute dot in the middle with something like a 60 minute ring around the dot. Make it hard to miss because you picked your head up off the stock while swinging or didn't get a proper cheek weld.

[@jmc041071]

I also have sight problems, so when Ryan said he does also, I got even more interested in this topic. I've had lasik but my right eye, my aiming eye, is not as crisp as my left. Can a rifle, bolt action, that has no iron sights, be fitted with them accurately?

[@AirborneMOC031]

Short answer is yes. Probably using the existing holes that are drilled and tapped for scope mounts. But if the rifle doesn't have those already, gunsmiths have been drilling and tapping actions since sights existed. Many competition rear aperture sights take diopter inserts to correct your visual focus; don't know whether you would want to go that far.

[@rocksandoil2241]

My 1895 has a factory Lyman sight - my Sharps a Pedersoli - can't gripe.

[@philipccr69nolan66]

Peeps are deadly.

[@marcussamson7640]

I like running a circle insert in my globe I can see my target

[@CrimeVid]

What about Skinner/ Ghost ring sights ?

[@VortexNation]

Ran out of time! We may have to save that for a later date.

[@Rusty-Brown_]

***I LIKE YOUR DDG-7 SHIPS HAT***I WAS ON DDG-10**FOR 3.5 YEARS**!!!!

[@InfamousTactical]

M1 Garand …..

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

The Mosin/Enfield/Mauser/MilSurs almost always have _ramp_ sights, not ladders. Their location on the gun doesnt matter so much (see P13/14/17 and M1903A3) so much theyre anolog BDCs. They have predetermined settings and are not adjustable/tuneable.

[@AirborneMOC031]

"always have ramp sights, not ladders... They have predetermined settings and are not adjustable/tuneable." That's a revelation to those of us still shooting Enfield rifles in Service Rifle competition. Can you explain to us how we're changing our sights between 200 yards and 800 yards? cdn.athlonoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2015/09/ms16-no4mk-rear.jpg

[@Rusty-Brown_]

CAN I PUT A STAINLESS BARREL ON CARBON STEEL RECIEVER ***AND VISE VERSA??????????????????????

[@tonydevich7937]

Ryan if I knew you liked sharps rifles I wouldn't have sold mine, I would let you have a shot at mine

[@bigotonbrand]

No audio

[@rustyshackleford2723]

No red dot, no way....

[@brickhammerSS]

That would be pretty cool if you guys could get Ron Spomer on this show and just shoot the breeze for a couple hours

[@onefifthtoofifthwedfifthbr5371]

Maybe “pragmatic”

[@trentongoering5060]

First