Front Sight Post width?

[MrBorland]

I've been reading Bill Pullman & Frank Hanenkrat's, The New Position Rifle Shooting. Though it's written for Olympic Rifle shooters, it's chocked full of other good and general information. I noted, though, they recommend that "the width of the top of the post should appear equal to or slightly wider than the diameter of the bull".

Sure, maybe this is only for rifles, but out of curiosity, I checked my 46M, and the post is considerably thinner than the bull, or at least what I've always called "the bull" (everything within the black 7-ring).

I searched this forum, but didn't see this addressed, so I ask: Is there a consensus as to the relative width of the front post? Whatever works? Does a sight that matches the width of the bull generally preferred? Am I misunderstanding what is "the bull"?

[Gwhite]

Don't know why your search didn't find it. It's been discussed quite recently:

http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php ... ight+width

[2650 Plus]

My sights are set up for me to see what appears to be identical to David M.s illustration, However when using younger eyes the gap on either side if the front sight was only about half of that shown in the allignment illustration. I also center my hold on the center of the aiming bull. Should anyone misunderstand that is the center of my hold area and is not a sight picture. My focus is totally on the front sight and keeping it centered in the rear sight while keeping the top level with the top of the rear sight blade. Pressure on the trigger starts before focus and concentration on the sights begin. Pressure is smoothe and continious until the pistol fires. So I'd better get the sights alligned before the firing pin hits the primer. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[MrBorland]

Thanks for your help, folks. I don't know why that link didn't come up on a search, either, but it helped.

I've been shooting my 46M as it was set up from the factory, a 3.5mm front post and 2.5mm rear notch. Seems silly in retrospect not to have fiddled with it, but I'm a newb and figured I'd work on fundamentals and technique first, and details later.

Anyhow, after some experimentation, I settled on a 4.5 mm front post (the only other the 46M came with) and a 4 mm rear notch. Much better. It looks more like Dave M's illustration as well. Sounds like a big change, and maybe it is, but my sight picture seems clearer with less distortion. Too soon to tell if it's reflected in my scores