Silly Question

Smedley · 10-13-2006, 07:53 PM

Hi folks, I have had a stamped WWII mauser for a long time. I took it out of the closet today after watching a show on TV about snipers and sharpshooters and realized that i don't know how to adjust the rear sight. what do the numbers 1-20 mean? I know they somehow translate to distance, and that's about it. Thanks in advance.

Smedley

MountaineerWVa · 10-13-2006, 08:15 PM

I would say that 20 would represents 2,000 meters,and 1 would represents 100 meters,...Multiply the number on the site by 100 meters,Is how I would guess it's done.

billy · 10-13-2006, 08:44 PM

i dont know either but 2000 meters? thats over a mile! quite a bit over....

MountaineerWVa · 10-13-2006, 08:53 PM

It wasn't uncommon for military rifles to have sites calibrated for such distance..I think the o3 Springfield had sites calibrated up to about 1800 yards..You were in effect shooting the trajectory of an arch....

Smedley · 10-13-2006, 11:21 PM

Thanks for the response guys. does anyone know how to adjust it on the fly? For example, you are out in a field shooting at distance, is there any way to use the sight as a "guage" to find the distance? Or do you have to guess the distance and adjust accordingly?

lefty o · 10-14-2006, 12:11 AM

there is no way to use the sight to judge the distance. reading distance is an aquired skill. the sights were marked quite optimistically for use in "volley fire".

Smedley · 10-14-2006, 12:33 AM

I was afraid of that lefty. Oh well, I guess I'll have to dust off my measuring tape...........
Thanks to all

billy · 10-14-2006, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountaineerWVa

It wasn't uncommon for military rifles to have sites calibrated for such distance..I think the o3 Springfield had sites calibrated up to about 1800 yards..You were in effect shooting the trajectory of an arch....

i wonder what the max distance someone today could hit a man size target consistently with one of these guns and iron sights ? or how to find out? im not that man..

billy · 10-14-2006, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountaineerWVa

It wasn't uncommon for military rifles to have sites calibrated for such distance..I think the o3 Springfield had sites calibrated up to about 1800 yards..You were in effect shooting the trajectory of an arch....

yeah the curvature of the earth!

Big Dog · 10-14-2006, 07:49 AM

One thing to keep in mind is that the sights are calibrated for the issue ammo of that particular country. They can have different ballistics. When I shoot the hotter Turkish 8mm in my Yugo M48, for example, it shoots much higher than if I shoot Yugo ammo - given the same rear sight setting.
With the usually lower-powered commercial ammo, it throws the elevation off even more!
All part of the fun of shooting milsurps.

DWARREN123 · 10-14-2006, 10:18 AM

Some shoot quite effectively at long range with older military rifles.

10-13-2006, 07:53 PM	#1
Smedley Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Silly Question Hi folks, I have had a stamped WWII mauser for a long time. I took it out of the closet today after watching a show on TV about snipers and sharpshooters and realized that i don't know how to adjust the rear sight. what do the numbers 1-20 mean? I know they somehow translate to distance, and that's about it. Thanks in advance. Smedley

10-14-2006, 07:49 AM	#10
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	One thing to keep in mind is that the sights are calibrated for the issue ammo of that particular country. They can have different ballistics. When I shoot the hotter Turkish 8mm in my Yugo M48, for example, it shoots much higher than if I shoot Yugo ammo - given the same rear sight setting. With the usually lower-powered commercial ammo, it throws the elevation off even more! All part of the fun of shooting milsurps. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

10-13-2006, 08:15 PM	#2
MountaineerWVa Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jackson County, W.Va. Posts: 88 Images: 3	I would say that 20 would represents 2,000 meters,and 1 would represents 100 meters,...Multiply the number on the site by 100 meters,Is how I would guess it's done.

10-13-2006, 08:44 PM	#3
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 11,965 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	i dont know either but 2000 meters? thats over a mile! quite a bit over....

10-13-2006, 08:53 PM	#4
MountaineerWVa Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jackson County, W.Va. Posts: 88 Images: 3	It wasn't uncommon for military rifles to have sites calibrated for such distance..I think the o3 Springfield had sites calibrated up to about 1800 yards..You were in effect shooting the trajectory of an arch....

10-13-2006, 11:21 PM	#5
Smedley Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Thanks for the response guys. does anyone know how to adjust it on the fly? For example, you are out in a field shooting at distance, is there any way to use the sight as a "guage" to find the distance? Or do you have to guess the distance and adjust accordingly?

10-14-2006, 12:11 AM	#6
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,785	there is no way to use the sight to judge the distance. reading distance is an aquired skill. the sights were marked quite optimistically for use in "volley fire".

10-14-2006, 12:33 AM	#7
Smedley Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	I was afraid of that lefty. Oh well, I guess I'll have to dust off my measuring tape........... Thanks to all

10-14-2006, 10:18 AM	#11
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 773	Some shoot quite effectively at long range with older military rifles.