Funny thing is I went to the range today and shot my rifle with out fiber optic insert for the first time and had a much easier time with it.... I agree, the best shooters will do the best and while not caring for the change agree if it keeps a couple more guys shooting all the better. I do disagree with the death in 10 years though. While the average age is high, the new shooters seem to be older too. There seems to be a "charm" to the fact that it is iron sights and not a run and gun game. May just be my perception though.

I experimented with a small lee shaver aperture a few weeks ago. I didn't shoot any better over a bead.

In my initial testing using a aperture in the front sight is that it's all about diameter. The idea, like bullseye shooting, is to get everything concentric. If you can't get the entire animal in the circle you really don't know if your are centered. I had good luck with using a insert that I enlarged to .170 ID.
I'm still going to do some more testing in the spring but it seemed that target acquisition was a lot easier to obtain and control.
ppkny

Oh I hope I'm wrong, totally agree with you regarding the "charm" of lever action. I enjoy shooting Steel targets as much now as when we started 30 years ago. That being said I'm still not buying LT Stock in the game, lol. Al Bean

I shot twice with the smallest insert I had in the front 3.2mm (about .128"). For the smallbore standard size animals it was way too big. They also let me shoot "Club Silhouette" which are pistol animals. Its true. Fill the circle with the orange paint and pull the trigger. It was a hit. Not all of them fell down, sometimes just a "Tink". Now that its legal, I will buy some smaller inserts and try again in the spring. Irons is FUN. First match I got 10, second 15. Glad to hear the rule change.

David

It's not legal yet. This is a recommendation that still has one more round of approvals needed before the rule is changed. Then the rule will have an effective starting date. We shouldn't be using aperture inserts yet for official NRA scores in the books, for grand slams or for records.

David M R wrote: ...(snip) Now that its legal, I will buy some smaller inserts and try again in the spring. Irons is FUN. First match I got 10, second 15. Glad to hear the rule change.

David

Although the assumption is that they are now legal, I'm pretty sure it still has to be approved by the NRA Rules Committee.... Which is a different group than the Silhouette committee.

-Tim

That is correct. The committee had to vote twice to pass it so maybe the rules committee will really scrutinize it.

Al Foust

Regarding the implication of heresy to seeking a rule change allowing front aperture sights into the sport of CLAS shooting ("let the equipment race begin", or something to that effect) it was good to be minded of what has been done in the long distant past.
If one cares to read the current (Winter) edition of the Black Powder Cartridge news, Steve Garbe has included in his article "There's Nothing New Under The Sun" an illustration from the 1875 Winchester Repeating Arms catalog of peep and globe apertures that were available for the Model 1873 l/a rifle, a lever action rifle if ever there was one. Not only is there a regular bead post, and a regular bullseye aperture such as we would use today, but there is also a glass aperture with central ring, much as would be used today in what might loosely be called Olympic type events.
So, before the equipment race drum gets too much of a beating, it might be worthwhile to reflect on what has been in use for a VERY long time.
Let the equipment race begin, indeed. It might even be reasonable to suggest that without the benefit of our modern day optometry and specialist lenses, that the old timers just might have benefited with a better sight picture. As would modern times participants who have failing eyesight. Or am I a heretic too, and beyond the pale, for making such a suggestion?

49er

I'm pretty lost on the equipment race as it pertains to aperture front sights. Given that fiber optics are allowable, the equipment race has been alive and well for a long time.

A lever gun with a Redfield receiver sight, perhaps tricked out with a lens, and then fiber optic front sights looks like a race gun to me.

The rear sight/lens thing can be done with prescription glasses, too. I have a pair that are +.5 diopter, same as putting a lens in the rear sight. I don't see this as an equipment race, but a race to be able to see. my 35 year old son looks thru my gun and can't see because the Merit is closed down to aid me in seeing the front sight. He can see much better than I, but I shoot better than him

Except for sights, CLA is pretty stock. Triggers are cleaned up, not tricked out. Barrels are factory. Calibers are real basic. As close to keeping "the Indian not the arrow" the main focus.
Anyone shooting High Power Service rifle, their gun ain't what the average Infantry men is carrying

chuck

You think there's a equipment race in Silhouette check out this rig for Air Rifle Field Target.
PPKNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNyWWWbeGjA

Star Wars?

His last statement is a KILLER!
"Back to Normal"

What happened to the Red Riders??

I know a bunch of you are kind of surprised to see that open class field target air rifle. For the open class in field target, that is a normal open class air rifle. But the field target guys are shooting much smaller target than us silhouette shooters. Their target (KZ) (kill zone inside of the face plate) can be as small as 3/8 inch at 10 yards to 1 1/2 inch at 55 yards. The targets are set at an unknown distance and they have to range find each target for distance.

Now to get back on target: I am using the 17A with the AUG height. I am using a short front post insert. I would love to see the front post clear. I know the targets will be blurry when the front post is clear. If I could afford it, I would have the Merit rear sight with the corrective lens in it, so I could see the Front sight better.

Will seeing the front post clear, make me a better shot, no I will not. But is sure is fun to see the front sight clear. The only thing that will make you a better shot is trigger time, proper practice and correct information.

Ken,
Seeing the front sight is what its all about. HP shooters, the post is everything. talk with any older shooter, the blurry front posy is the death of your scores. Its a battle. I almost went back to HP, as they went scopes on Service Rifles this year. Couldn't get positions to work. Distance is my other poison. Use to be 600 yards, but my last match, I was leading it until rams. Even 200 yards with open sights is a challenge.
If you wear glasses you can adjust your prescription.
chuck