Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Shout out to Ocala Armory for their great front sight hoods

Hey guys. I don't know how many of you have tried these, but they are damn nice. They are described as "brand new original pattern sight hoods", and they fit like a glove and look great. Beveled on both sides and very nicely finished. Basically a new pre 64 model 70 sight hood.

My smith used to always tell me, "an original is a 40 dollar bill". Well, these are $25.00. I paid $22.50 ea, since I bought 2 to try out. These guys sell them on ebay, gunbroker, and gunsinternational. If you haven't given them a try, I highly suggest them:




I pulled the ugly matte finished one off of my new 270 std, as it was out of place on that rifle. The new one looks and fits much better. Give one a try, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the heads up. I need one for the 270 I got for my son a bit back. I’ll have to look and see if I am missing any others.

Yep, no problem. I forgot to mention that the shipping on these is $4.95. If you buy 3, they are $21.25 each. Pretty good deal buddy.. I have no affiliation with them, just giving a shout out.

I still find it ironic that many hoods on "using" M70 rifles/tools ended up in the trash or in a drawer. The rifles look nice with them (and I like them, too) but they were taken off the rifles for a reason... they distracted in a low powered scope view, they got "caught" in a scabbard or case and inflicted at minimum some frustration in the rifleman or at worst caused some delay in getting a shot off on a 38" mule deer trophy!!!

Todays shooters/hunters are different. Less practical? Maybe but it probably has to do with the current "worship" (me included!) of these old M70's and the hidden desire for "museum pieces" for most of us vs specimens with tats, bolt-ons, or other aftermarket add-ons. Give me "original equipment!!!"

I do know one thing, those hoods did not fall off or disappear on their own. They were actively removed by a more practical generation...

I know some N. WI. old timers who used open sights back in the day took them off because they would clog up with snow.

Good post. I remember the first one I had to buy. The damn thing got ripped off of my 338wm, in the brush when elk hunting. So, they can come off when you don't want them to. Depending on how well they grip the front sight.

I've seen some loose ones, like the original that was on my 338 shown above. The ones from Ocala fit tight:

To my eye, at least, a pre 64 model 70 just does not look right without the front sight hood. Without the front sight hood, they just look like they are missing something:

270 fwt as I bought it last week^^^ It is now wearing the matte finished original that was on the std wt 270.

All of my rifles have them. YMMV..

Just sayin'.

I like them, too and like the look of these that you are referring to as well!

One bad "functional" experience with one could make a guy change his mind though. On another note, I don't ever remember not being able to see the front sight (at least with "young" eyes!) because of glare, etc. which is why I would imagine they were put on in the first place. Perhaps they enhance the function of older eyes like a smaller rear peep aperture does... will have to test that theory even though I think I know the answer to that one!

Another purpose of a front sight hood is to protect the front sight

Yes sir. Do you think it was carried over from the military rifle days? My M96 has a good front sight hood as well:

Thanks for the heads up. Why has it taken so long for someone to make these!!!

Copyright infringement, I'm assuming. That's why other manufactures left one end squared, and not angled like the originals.

I'd be mildly surprised if that was copyrighted, never thought of it before. Thanks for the tip BSA, I totally agree with you that these rifles need a hood if there's a sight on the end of the barrel. I can't stand to look at one without.

First of all, a piece of equipment cannot be copyrighted. Perhaps you were thinking of patented.

Second of all, any patent would have expired years ago.

Probably just not enough business value for someone to mess with it. $25 times what, 3000 guns that might need one at most? With a profit of $10 each after design and mfg.

If they were not making money, they would not be wasting their time. I'm pretty sure none of us, including you know how many they sell in a years time. I'm going to venture a guess and say it's quite a bit. Also, when a patent is still valid, manufactures can make similar products, but it can not be exactly the same. The reason they leave one end square. It's probably not because they are fu cking stupid and don't know what they look like. Just sayin.