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As always, lots of good input, thanks.

Rear apture sights or “ghost ring” work perfectly with “older eyes” and please don’t think I am half blind, it is just that I am trying to “fine tune” things. However I personally find the tradional rear V blade and bead the fastest for quick short-range shots. Fitting an aperture to older English DR would not be easy, but would improve things under some situations.

It has been pointed out that John Taylor advised moving the rear sight further forward, he is correct but I want to avoid gun smithing on my old rifle, also this would be a major job as my rifle only has a ¼ rib.

Some think it sacrilege to mount a scope on a DR but even John Taylor gives that his approval. I have done a lot of firing at night (Rabbit control from the back of a Land Rover in the UK when it was still legal to do so) with both iron sight shotgun and scoped .22 and the scoped rifle excelled when rabbits were in the fringes of the headlights. I can’t imagine waiting for a Tiger at night with a DR and iron sights, talk about a challenge, a scope under those conditions would be superb.

I can’t fault fitting a small “Red Dot” sight to a DR from a practical view, but in my opinion it would look very out of place.

I hunt with a nine three DR fitted with a detachable scope and an iron sighted .470 NE. When in Africa a few weeks ago I booked my PH for Buffalo next year, he saw me operate my rifles and made a comment that I should be prepared to take my Buffalo with the nine three as there could be occasions when the scope would allow a shot to be taken when the iron sights would not.

No argument first rd shot placement is critical, and we have a moral responsibility to see that we only take shots with in the capability of our skill and equipment. Hence my desire to maximize my performance with the iron sighted .470

Next year it will be my personal choice to pass up a shot with the .470 and switch to the scoped nine three if circumstances dictate or follow my dream and take a Bull at point blank range with the iron sighted .470 NE. He may score less than the Bull I pass up with my scoped rifle but so what! I know in my heart the magic of Africa would more than compensate and I will have filled a dream.

The solution, scope the .470 NE, at least for the moment, I will not do this.

In the mean time I will continue to keep fit and work on my equipment and skills and dream of the next African hunt.

John

Edited by John (31/08/07 12:27 AM)