Simple Way To Decide Receiver vs Tang Peep Sight

[COSteve]

Here's a simple way to demonstrate how much better you'll be able to see your sights and the target using a peep sight. You'll also be able to decide which setup, either receiver or tang mounted sight, works best for you and your eyesight.

Take a piece of paper and with a sharp pencil, poke a tiny hole (about 1/16" dia) in it. Now hold up the paper about 6"-9" from your shooting eye and look through the hole. Try to read something, look across the room, and look out the window. Is everything clear and sharp? If so, a receiver peep sight will probably work for you.

However, if you're like many of us 'senior' guys, it won't quite be enough to clear things up so move the paper to about 2"-3" from your eye and try it again. If that's where everything is clear then a tang mounted sight will be the ticket for you.

BTW, you can even remove your glasses and try it. If you have a small enough hole, everything will be clear too! It'll make you feel young again!

[AJMD429]

Good advice. Same principle can even help decide WHERE on the receiver you need the peep, if you have a choice.

[Malamute]

That's a bit oversimplified. aperture size at both distances will play a part in the sharpnes of the image, and can be tuned to a degree. The Mertit adjustable peep sight apertures can be adjusted to suit until the image sharpens up, same as ones you put on your glasses lens.

[adirondakjack]

Here's a simple way to demonstrate how much better you'll be able to see your sights and the target using a peep sight. You'll also be able to decide which setup, either receiver or tang mounted sight, works best for you and your eyesight.

Take a piece of paper and with a sharp pencil, poke a tiny hole (about 1/16" dia) in it. Now hold up the paper about 6"-9" from your shooting eye and look through the hole. Try to read something, look across the room, and look out the window. Is everything clear and sharp? If so, a receiver peep sight will probably work for you.

However, if you're like many of us 'senior' guys, it won't quite be enough to clear things up so move the paper to about 2"-3" from your eye and try it again. If that's where everything is clear then a tang mounted sight will be the ticket for you.

BTW, you can even remove your glasses and try it. If you have a small enough hole, everything will be clear too! It'll make you feel young again!

In most instances the tang mount is a superior SIGHTING device, even if it lacks the appearace points and reduced vulnerability of a receiver sight. The diopter effect simply doesn't work if the aperture is too far from the eye. I have used a merit aperture and they work, but have to be close....

[COSteve]

That's a bit oversimplified. aperture size at both distances will play a part in the sharpnes of the image, and can be tuned to a degree. The Mertit adjustable peep sight apertures can be adjusted to suit until the image sharpens up, same as ones you put on your glasses lens.

True, however, you are forced to use a larger aperture size as you move the sight from your eye to have the same Field Of View (FOV). Think of a very long, thin cone where the point end is at your eye and the open end is at the target. Now place an aperture anywhere along the cone and you'll see that as you move away from your eye, you must increase the aperture size to maintain the same FOV.

The issue is that as the aperture is increased in size, it's Depth of Field (DOF) shrinks. So, depending upon one's eyesight and the clarity one wants to achieve, the aperture size is critical. If you need a small aperture for increased DOF, then you have to place it close to your eye to have an adequate FOV.

In most instances the tang mount is a superior SIGHTING device, even if it lacks the appearace points and reduced vulnerability of a receiver sight. The diopter effect simply doesn't work if the aperture is too far from the eye. I have used a merit aperture and they work, but have to be close....

I agree because it allows for a smaller aperture for the same FOV which provides a longer DOF and it also results in a longer sight radius which aids in pointing accuracy.

[Montana Outfitters]

NEXT STEP...........Get a Merit apature peep so you can dial in the size hole size best
suited for light and eye conditions......makes a great improvement over a one size hole
and buying 6 different peep sights in different size holes really is just a waste of money
as the Merit will cover the whole spectrum with a twist of the eye piece..........

[COSteve]

Will the Merit work in a Marbles Tang sight? I can't find information on the treads on either Marbles or Merits sites.

[retmech]

yes the Merit will work in the Marbles. They sell two different threads, one for the Williams and a 10-32 for the Marbles at Brownells.

[COSteve]

Thanks, I may have to look into one for my tang sight.