neodymium magnet apertures for iron sights

[RobD]

Old eyes like mine can all too easily have issues with iron "U" and buckhorn style rear barrel sights. Been thinking on this for awhile and come up with an easy, fast and non-invasive solution that has been working really well for me. I use powerful neodymium (rare earth) ring magnets magnetically stuck to rear iron sights. Once stuck they won't budge unless some goodly force is applied. They can be moved up/down and left/right as the rear sight allows. Just look through the magnet "peep" and it'll automatically center the tip of yer front sight perfectly, every time. These little ring magnets are less than a buck each and I get mine in different outside and inside diameters from kjmagnetics online.

[Sneakon]

Great idea!

[Hanshi]

That idea never occurred to me.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[rollingb]

Cool idea!!!!!!  

[greyhunter]

 I'm up for that!

[Uncle Russ]

Good information!
Thanks for sharing.
 
 
Uncle Russ...

[One Shot]

Wow! Who woulda thought....... great idea, thanks for sharing...

Now, where does one buy them?

[RobD]

i get mine here ...    K&J Magnetics: Neodymium Ring Magnets

[Ironhand]

How well do they stay put under recoil?

Ironhand

[RobD]

How well do they stay put under recoil?

Ironhand

you must not be familiar with the incredible strength of neodymium rare earth magnets - they laugh at the recoil of 90 grains of swiss 3F and .600" 323 grain ball!  you simply can't easily move a neo mag that's stuck like glue to a piece of iron.  it's hard enuf to move the sucker by hand.

[Uncle Russ]

How well do they stay put under recoil?

Ironhand

you must not be familiar with the incredible strength of neodymium rare earth magnets - they laugh at the recoil of 90 grains of swiss 3F and .600" 323 grain ball!  you simply can't easily move a neo mag that's stuck like glue to a piece of iron.  it's hard enuf to move the sucker by hand.

That's enough to get me on-board!
 

Uncle Russ...

[Skychief]

rfd, thanks a lot for sharing this with us!

A couple questions....Do you know if these are able to be shaped with a file fairly easy?  I can see how filing one to form a base on its edge, then attaching said edge upon the top barrel flat would make for a clean looking peep sight.

Another question is, if a guy can file a flat spot on an edge as described above, would that edge attach to a barrel flat, or, is it what the "faces" of the magnets that are attracted to steel?

Finally, if all of the above will work, are the magnets strong enough to "stay put" attached to the barrel flat by only the flat edge which has been filed into it?

Really appreciate your posting this as I'm having more trouble with open sights , especially in the shadowy squirrel woods this year.

Best regards, Skychief

[RobD]

rfd, thanks a lot for sharing this with us!

A couple questions....Do you know if these are able to be shaped with a file fairly easy?  I can see how filing one to form a base on its edge, then attaching said edge upon the top barrel flat would make for a clean looking peep sight.

no, neodymium rare earth magnets are preformed and don't take kindly to filing or drilling.  direct, intense heat is not good for magnets, either.

however, flat sided neo's with center holes are available from -    K&J Magnetics: Countersunk Magnets - they're thickness magnetized, and may require another similar flat edged neo placed in front (or behind) one that's to stand vertically on its edge.

Another question is, if a guy can file a flat spot on an edge as described above, would that edge attach to a barrel flat, or, is it what the "faces" of the magnets that are attracted to steel?

neo mags come in varying magnetic (gauss factor) strengths according to their size and composition.  choosing a thicker or overall larger magnet will make it stronger.  KJ lists their neo mag offerings in pounds of pull strength.  as an example, this 1/2" square by 1/4" thick neo has 9-1/2 pounds of attraction strength - that's a LOT!



Finally, if all of the above will work, are the magnets strong enough to "stay put" attached to the barrel flat by only the flat edge which has been filed into it?

see my comments above!

Really appreciate your posting this as I'm having more trouble with open sights , especially in the shadowy squirrel woods this year.

that's the idea - poor vision focus is always increased via a rear aperture.

Best regards, Skychief

[Skychief]

THANK YOU rfd for the quick and thorough response!!!

I plan to monkey around here today with some sheet brass for making a hillbilly, L-shaped aperture sight attached by the rifles tang screw.  I like the magnet idea real well and hope to place an order.

I never thought my vision would get to where it has, but, I'm soon to join the ranks with the "old timers".

Thanks much again for sharing this idea here, Skychief

[RobD]

my pleasure, skychief.