1. NRA Probationary Course Unit 8 The Rifle Sights Compiled by Dave Burton

2. NRA Probationary Course Unit 8 Introduces: Minutes of Angle Vernier Scales Elevation & Wind Settings Different types of sighting system

3. Elevation And Distance When the rifle is close to the target the bullet hits the centre providing the sights are correctly set to the bore

4. Elevation And Distance But:- further away, the bullet drops due to gravity and air resistance

5. Elevation And Distance To hit the target the front of the barrel must be raised The longer the range, the more the barrel must be raised

6. ELEVATION The further the distance from firer to target, the greater the angle ‘x’ has to be. ‘x’ is the angle measured on the sight. x Firer Target trajectory

7. ELEVATION Only a small change of angle is needed at the rifle end to make a big difference at the target end The angle is measured in MINUTES of angle - (one minute is 1/60 of a degree) At 100 yards, changing the sight by 1 minute, changes the fall of shot on the target by 1 inch

8. Minutes Of Angle A minute of angle is: The adjustment of the REARSIGHT that will cause the POINT OF IMPACT to move 1 Inch per 100 yards

9. ELEVATION Therefore: Distance1 minute at the target is: 100yd1” 200yd2” 300yd3” etc.

10. ELEVATION 1 Minute 200 yds 2 inches 300 yds 3 inches 1 inch 100 yds The graph above is the change in line of sight as you raise the rearsight. Line of sight is a straight line. A bullet’s trajectory is a curve as the bullet drops.

11. Approx elevation To Allow For Bullet Drop Over Set Distances CHANGE (yards) RISE BETWEEN RANGES (minutes) 100- 200 2.0 200- 300 2.5 300- 400 3.0 400- 500 3.5 500- 600 4.0

12. Elevation DISTANCE (yds) RISE (mins) 200 – 3002.5 300 – 5006.5 500 – 6004.0 600 – 90016.0 900 – 10007.0 This gives us the standard rises between ranges: Note that as you aim further away a greater change in angle is needed to achieve the same effect on the impact point.

13. Standard Elevation Table for 7.62mm

14. The Elevation Vernier

15. 20 0 40 5 0 20 0 40 5 0 20 0 40 5 0 014 Elevation Vernier Settings

16. The Elevation Vernier Set at 6 minutes of elevation

17. The Elevation Vernier Set at 9 minutes of elevation

18. The Elevation Vernier Set at 13 minutes of elevation

19. Set at 31 minutes of elevation The Elevation Vernier

20. The Wind Vernier

21. The Effects Of Wind On The Bullet Target F P Still Air Target F P Still Air

22. Range Flags/Wind Speeds Light2 mph Gentle4 mph Moderate8 mph Fresh 12 mph Strong 16 mph Very Strong 20 mph

23. The Wind Scale

24. 0 20 0 5 0 5 2 LEFT 20 0 5 0 5 3 RIGHT 20 0 5 0 5

25. Set at 8 min left The Wind Scale

26. Sight Systems Different target shooting disciplines may involve different types of sights eg. Telescopic sights (F and Match class) Leaf sights (Older military rifles) Buckhorn sights(Gallery rifles)

27. “Service” Rifle Sights Note the different method of sight adjustment

28. Telescopic Sights Telescopic sight adjustment may be in the opposite direction to that of target sights

29. Leupold Sight Telescopic sight adjustment may be in the opposite direction to that of target sights

30. Tasco Sight

31. NRA Probationary Course Compiled by Dave Burton