Figure 3 shows the sight stem removed front the sleeve. with the small pin at the end. After the sight is attached to the rifle, it should be tested at fifty yards for "point blank- shooting; when the sight is adjusted for this distance, mark the sight stem at the tap of the sleeve. Then turn it out and drive the pin into the hole at the end. Screw the sight stein back, and if it is above the mark remove it again and file the pin shorter, until it is rig,,ht for shooting at fifty yards. The stop pin is quite important, as it prevents the sig,lit from ever being too low for "point blank" shooting. By holding the front sig,ht high on the object when taking a long shot it is not often necessary to elevate this sight when hunting. Figure 4 shows the sight folded down. The Lyman combination sight, with cup disc, is shown in Fip-.,ure 5. It has a large detachable disc and is intended for Match rifles and Gallery rifles. It is not as good for "all around" shooting as the Combination sight. Many target shooters like it, however, for it is much better than the ordinary Vernier peep sight. The disc of this sight is easily removed, and the shooter will find that for most practice better work can be done with it off. The Wind-gauge target sight with this siert makes a good. outfit for a Match rifle. Those who use it for Gallery shooting can improve the disc by enlarging the aperture to 3-32 inch diameter, or inch at least.
On most rifles the rear combination sight can be screwed directly to the tang by anyone not a mechanic. As some rifles, however, have no screw-holes in the tang for a rear sight, it will be necessary to make some. After screwing the base to the tang, turn the sig,ht up, so that the spring in the joint holds it in position for shooting. Fig,ure 6. If the spring. does not hold it quite perpendicular with the barrel, take a round piece of iron about the size of a lead pencil (a large nail will do), and put one end into the loop-hole at the right and turn the spring screw a trifle, either to the right or left, as may be required to hold the sight perfectly, upright. This can be done by anyone without loosening the set-nut on the left side of the joint, and when once done it remains in its place. Do not spoil the spring by pinching it together in a vise. It is hardly ever necessary to take it out of the base. For Double Express rifles and shot guns having a rifle barrel, the sigrht sometimes requires to be screwed to the wood pant of the stock, when the tang- does not extend back far enough. On some rifles the sight should fold down, forward instead of backward when not in use. The middle, e., the rear open sig,lit, should always be removed from the rifle barrel. A large proportion of those using the Lyman sight do not get one-half the benefit from it that they should, for the reason that they will not take off the middle sight, which stands directly in the way of a large part of the view. This
stationary- sig-ht can be replaced by the folding leaf sig,ht, or the slot on the barrel can be filled with a blank piece, when the middle sight is taken off, so that the looks of the rifle will be improved. Sight the rifle at a target by adjusting the front sight sideways and the rear sight by its elevation. The graduated scale which is on the sight stein does not indicate particular distances, and, therefore, can be used only after the gun has been tried. The graduated marks are, however, for about 4o or so yards, depending on the kind of rifle. Shoot first at nearly point blank range, say so yards, noting the graduated marks on scale; then shoot at 75, ioo, 15n, 200, 300, 400 and, roo yards, and up to 1,000 yards; if possible, noting- each distance on the sight, and, if necessary, putting on additional marks, so that the scale will be understood. After marking the sight -for point blank, put the short pin in the lower end of the sigrlit stem, so that it can never lie turned down below the point blank ratt,cfe. In hunting it is not often necessary to change the elevation of the sight, for the front sight can be held a trifle high on the object when taking a long shot. When shooting at a running game, such as a deer, the sight can be elevated by a turn of the knurled sleeve without removing the eyes from the game or the rifle from the shoulder. This gives one a great advantage when using a magazine rifle. The sight should be near the eye, as it will naturally come if the rifle is held properly. After adjusting the sights carefully, turn down the rear sight and shoot at some near object, using only the front sight, as one would with a shot-gun. It will become apparent at once how easy rifle-shooting would be if one had to use only the front sight; but, of course, to hit the mark, one moist use a rear sight. Now, turn up the rear sight with large aperture and continue shooting, only giving attention to the front sight and the object, and it will be found that aiming is as easily done as it was with the front sight alone, and that there has been obtained what is essential in a rifle—means of using it accurately as well as rapidly. In target shooting the top of the front should be held below the bull's-eye, as seen in Figure 7.
When adjusting the rear sight to muzzle-loading rifles it is desirable to know the measurements for the height of the sight. This is easily done by finding how high above the tang or stock the line of sight is for point blank shooting, or when the rifle is sighted for about fifty yards. Figure 8 shows what is necessary.