One More Diopter Sight Question

[William273]

At the risk of sounding like an idiot and to make a long story short I'll go a head and come right out and ask. I don't know if most Diopter Sights on Chinese rifles are the same or not and from what I remember about the Chinese they read and write backwards...from right to left I think. I can't tell if turning the knob for windage is ...right clockwise to move the shooting point to the right and counter clockwise to move it to the left. Same with elevation...clockwise to move up and counter clockwise to move down? I remember someone telling me just the opposite when I first got it but after shooting today I will admit I'm at a loss.

I do regret not doing what AC advised me to do and to shoot a square box pattern by adjusting the sights but I got caught up in something else that didn't pan out but am planning to shoot again tomorrow and will try shooting as advised.

[ac12]

Well there is the difference between the US and European sights.
In the US we move the point of impact to the point of aim.
In the European sights, you move the point of aim to the point of impact.

I have both European diopter and open sights, and American open sights, red-dots and scopes.  So I have to stop and think whenever I adjust the sight.  If I don't stop and think, there is a 50/50 chance that I will turn the knob/screw the wrong way.

The Chinese sights are clones of the Spanish Gamo sight, so I think they are following the European method of moving the impact to the point of aim.

So.  if you are shooting down and right.
For a US sight you move the sights up and left.
For a European sight you move the sight down and right.

Just shoot part of the box, just up and right, and you will have your answer. 
If you go down and left, you know you need to turn the opposite way.
Remember, you need to turn enough clicks so you can clearly see that the point of impact has been moved.  If 20 clicks isn't enough, do another 10 to do 30 total clicks.

Is your sight labled?
My sights knobs are all labeled different.
- Some sights are labled U/D and L/R or if in German H/T and L/R. 
- My TAU sight simply has numbers 123456.  You turn up or down the sequence.
- My Gamo sight has Up with an arrow (clockwise) and R with an arrow (clockwise).  So you move the point of impact UP by turning clockwise and move the point of impact RIGHT by turning clockwise.

Once you figure out how your sights work, write it on a card and put the card with the rifle.
Or tape it to the stock.

Trivia
Chinese and Japanese when written vertically, is read from the right to the left, top to bottom.
But I was told when Chinese is written horizontally, it can be read R to L or L to R.  Yes confusing.  But if you know the language it will be obvious.

Like saying Hi.
.iH gniyas ekiL

[William273]

Looks like you understand where I'm coming from. All my sight has is just numbers but will have a closer look though. I will shoot the box today as it seems to be the only way to really know. A few days back I did test it at home and it looked like turning the windage counter clockwise moved the aiming point to the right so I did write that down but left the note pad at home when I did the actual shooting so I didn't have it to go by.

Funny thing though is yesterday it seemed just the opposite which I do not understand but today I will find out for sure. I also think my aiming has something to do with it too. Thanks very much AC.

William

[William273]

Well looks like windage is clockwise/right to shoot to the right and same for elevation...clockwise to raise the aiming point. There's about 1/8 inch clearance from the end of travel on both windage and elevation as it is set now and seems to be in the best area but am sure that can change.Does that seem like a reasonable amount...like is that much or that little amount of space normal? It's not all the way to the end of its travel. I'd feel more comfortable with a little more space but it shot pretty good.

[ac12]

I know where you are coming from because I had/have that problem myself.  I was brought up on the American sight, and shooting a European sight still confuses me.  It would help if I ONLY shot European sights, but that will not happen.

In your case because your sight is numbered, not direction labeled, your notes are even more important.  Now write that sight adjustment info on a card and keep the card with the rifle, or tape it to the rifle.

My Gamo sight has a total adjustment as follows.
- Horizontal 1/4" (center +/- 1/8")
- Vertical 1/2" (center +/- 1/4")
So I only have 1/8" either side of center for windage.

Once sighted in, 1/8" should be plenty.  If you think about the ratio.
- approx 2 feet from front sight to rear sight
- approx 30 feet from front sight to target. 
- That is  30/2 or 15:1 ratio
- Then 1/8" change at the rear sight = 1/8 x 1:15 = 15/8 = about 2 inches at the target.

Yes any time you change anything in the formula you have to resight the rifle.
- stance/shooting position, ammo, distance, wind, temp, muscle/mental condition, lighting condition.
Even as you shoot a 60 shot match, your body gets tired, and you may have to make sight adjustments during the match.
If you are outdoors, the direction of the sun is a know factor.  As the sun moved across the sky from L to R (or R to L) your groups will move, slightly, but it will move.

[William273]

Thanks AC.