Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Open sights

Does anyone else still use the sourdough "patridge" front sight?

Again, I would have to disagree with most of what allen says. Having been there, done that a gazillion times, it just ain't quite so.

Brent

Well Mr. Voice of Experience, what ain't quite so?

I believe I'm better able to judge the effectiveness of stuff I own and personally have used better than you are, and most of what I've stated is in line with what real, live African PHs use on their own rifles, especially the former setup I described.

What works in Africa as far as open sights are concerned was figured out in Africa 100 years ago.

AD

Like most things in life, you can make it simple or complicated.

Chamber a round, mount rifle, put front sight on critter whilst peeping through the peep, pull trigger.

Seems pretty simple to me.

Should be fun!

Pretty much... And it works just about the same whether in North America or Africa - possibly a little better in Africa if anything.

Brent

I am planning on hunting with open sights for elephant and buffalo on the Caprivi Strip with Vaughan Fulton next August. Had a Searcy PH in 450 NE express built for the express purpose. I grew up hunting with open sites from the age of 12 till I was about 20 something (when I got my first scoped rifle) I have no problem shooting my 450 and hitting the target. I take my rifles 416 and 450 rabbit hunting. Nothing like a running rabbit to increase coordination. Needless to say the jacks just vaporize but you know you hit them. 416 is scoped and my 450 has great express sites and is so accurate as Searcy's tend to be. Don't know what all the fuss on this blog is about. If you can shoot a rifle accurately who cares how others see the issue. Open sites have always worked for me.

Didn't John Redfield develop the sourdough? (He knew an awful lot about iron sights.) Several old-school writers praised them as the best hunting front sight. Redfield quit making them, but Burris made them for a while when that company got started. I bought a Burris about 17 years ago, and have enjoyed using it since. It works well in most light conditions.

--Bob

Really?

I see the fork and knife, but where is the Steak?

Seriously enlighten us.

I very much like the XS front sights (broad white center line). Currently run them on 3 levers and it will most likely be the first sight I try on the Mannlicher.

Mr Steelhead, did you get to Africa and use your iron sighted rifles?

Allen,

You can explain it to them but you can not understand it for them. Very good job of explanation though.

One of my best friends who specializes in big bore lever rifles took an iron sighted .38-56. It worked out well on wildebeest, etc.