Anyone use post sights with white lines or brass inserts?

[Canuck Bob]

I am upgrading the front sight on my Win 94. Actually all my rifles because my bead sights just seem to fade away these days. I started a thread about sources. What popped up is the differences in sights from Skinner or XS. They look like the right supply source.

What do you guys think of the white line of the XS, a fine line in the center of the sight, or the brass tip inserts, makes a kinda square brass bead, of the Skinner over the old faithful flat black post? The last post sight I used was on an FN when I was young enough to do a battle rifle justice.

Do current combat rifles still use the black post for iron sights or have they added any of these ideas?

[Malamute]

I use the Sourdough type, they are a square blade with inclined brass face. They work quite well in a variety of light conditions, and I've even been able to see them in moonlight when the light angle was good. They've been around for ages. I have several old ones by Redfield and a few newer ones from Burris. Marbles is making them now, or has fairly recently. I have one (Marbles) on a Mauser sporter. I took the scope off it a week ago in low light conditions in the evening, and was surpirsed at how bright the blade showed up in twilight conditions.

I've seen the Skinner and XS types, they didn't appeal to me.

Edit: I saw the other thread, and the Skinner Sourdough. The original Sourdoughs didnt have the brass face serated. I think having it flat and unserated is best, but have not seen one of the Skinner Sourdoughs in person. The flat face is part of what helps make a reflective surface to show light in low light situations.

[FWiedner]

I have the XS white-line blades on a couple of rifles, paired with XS Ghost-rings at the rear. My Model 94 .30-30 "Trapper" and my .357 1894C.

For the iron-sighted shooting I do, they are great on those rifles, and easy to see in most any light.

[WCF3030]

I've an XS sight with the white lined front post on my 30-30.
Great out to 100yrds and perfect for the quick 20-35 yd shots I take for deer and small game.
I will be adding another set to my NEF 500 S&W.

[Mac in Mo]

I have the Ashley Outdoors sights on my 1952 Marlin 336. I bought them before he sold his company to whoever it was that bought it. I assume they are the same or very close to what is available now. I have the front blade with the white line and the rear ghost ring. I absolutely love this set up. I have always preferred a sharp, flat post on rifles and handguns. For me, these sights are as close to a scope as you can get without actually mounting one. They are very precise and always easy to see. I would highly recommend them. That is my opinion.

Kevin

[ceb]

I have the XS sights on my Marlin Cowboy in .357. I like them just fine and have done well with them. I've seen pics of the Skinner sight and it interests me, hope someone with experience with them chimes in.

[Sixgun]

Yes, When reaching a certain age, all of the sights get a bit fuzzy. As a diehard iron sight guy, I have used 'em all and have come to the conclusion the best sight is a bead that is painted flat black. Even a post sight gets fuzzy but with a bead, you can more easily distinguish "where you are looking". Using the bead as a guide, you can guess better but with a flat post, you will almost invariably shoot high or low.

I prefer the bead to have an edge towards the front. If its still shiney, that adds to the "fuzz".

At least thats what works for me. I tried the upper lense bifocal but its too much of a distraction, especially if the target is small.-----------------Sixgun

[Canuck Bob]

Interesting sixgun, I much prefered the bead when my eyes were younger. I always sharpened my beads and removed any curvature from the face to eliminate one side getting better light a throwing off my aim. I would match blacken in bright light and wipe shiny late day always prefering the brass to the white. I hunted in lots of snow country. I like the Sourdough because I could do the same blackening trick.

So far the XS/Ashley version is getting good reviews.

I'm too lazy to look up the link now but I considered a bead sight used by Cowboy Action shooters. They are noticeably larger than the standard bead. One of our members deals in them. I might revisit that idea as well.

[LeverBob]

I like the Redfield sourdoughs for my sight needs. I couldn't tell where the bead was on the target at the moment the gun fired, unless I sighted the bead to be full on the target. Learning a six-o'clock hold wouldn't allow me to use the bead. Also, I would lose the bead in winter glare (just me). I was real young then, yet it still holds true for me anyway.

On my revolvers, I use a modified King post with 3 brass bars inleted into the sight. Learned to use that from old Elmer.

These work for me.

LB

[JerryB]

On my Rossi 92 .357 src I used white out on the factory front sight and it works great for my 74 year old eyes.

[M. M. Wright]

Have the Sourdough on my 86 in 45-90 paired with a marbles tang sight. When hunting I remove the aperture and sight through the threads. I have use the sourdough on several Marlin 45-70s and really like it because of the low light capability.

[zoner]

i'm a big fan of the XS post front sight with the white stripe.......Mike

[Canuck Bob]

Marbles site does not show the Sourdough anymore!

[John in MS]

"Marbles site does not show the Sourdough anymore!"

Yes, they discontinued them a year or two ago. what a shame!!

John

[Old Time Hunter]

Since my retina muscles started to age the XS sight has been a saviour to me.

[blackhawk44]

Mounted my first XS striped blade about 12 years ago and have added several since. I use one on my main game rifle (Browning 1895, .30-06 with a Marble tang) and can bench groups under 2.5 inches at 200yds. Not that bad for 63 and trifocals. It allows me to hunt almost as late as the boys with scopes.

[Jeff Quinn]

I really like the post front sights from Skinner, even the brass one works very well, and looks black when sighting in bright daylight through the rear aperature:
Details here: http://www.gunblast.com/SkinnerSights.htm

[Hobie]

I use the Sourdough type, they are a square blade with inclined brass face. They work quite well in a variety of light conditions, and I've even been able to see them in moonlight when the light angle was good. They've been around for ages. I have several old ones by Redfield and a few newer ones from Burris. Marbles is making them now, or has fairly recently. I have one (Marbles) on a Mauser sporter. I took the scope off it a week ago in low light conditions in the evening, and was surpirsed at how bright the blade showed up in twilight conditions.

I've seen the Skinner and XS types, they didn't appeal to me.

Edit: I saw the other thread, and the Skinner Sourdough. The original Sourdoughs didnt have the brass face serated. I think having it flat and unserated is best, but have not seen one of the Skinner Sourdoughs in person. The flat face is part of what helps make a reflective surface to show light in low light situations.

Pretty much my take on the subject... Post or sourdough, white lines are of no help to me, neither are the fiber optic things...