Peep Sight on a Contender?

[Bob96]

 Wondering if anyone uses a Williams FP Peep Sight on their Contender pistol? I would think that it would be more usefull on longer 14" to 16" barrels?  I am thinking that it would be best on a low recoil caliber that would allow the pistol to be closer to the eyes? The further from the eyes the less field of view. Williams lists several apature sizes from .040 to .150. Maybe the larger ones would be better on a handgun? I was thinking about trying one but wanted input before spending $85. Just don't know the optic principals involved in using a peep sight on a handgun.

[Graybeard]

I see folks reporting that they do use peeps on handguns and with some degree of success but it's something I admit I've never tried. The basic idea with a peep is kinda two fold. Being close to the eye normally at least it increases your depth of field of your vision thus helping bring target and front sight both into better focus at the same time. The eye tends to naturally center that front sight when the aperture is close to the eye and you are merely looking thru a fuzzy aperture but not so much so when it's way out there as on a handgun. Then too any misalignment is magnified when the rear sight is that far from you plus you're trying to look thru a tiny far off hole to line up that front sight on target. The idea just doesn't appeal to me personally.

The closer you get that aperture to your eye the more accurately you'll shoot. Thus in reverse it seems to me that the further it is from the eye the less accurately you should shoot. As much as I favor them on rifles I just can't bring myself to use them on handguns.

[Sixgun]

I use a Williams FP to shoot the metalic sight Smallbore and centerfire Hunter's pistol Silhouette game.  I use a kind of modified taco hold and it works great with the 22 lr and 22 Hornet.  I have only lost one match in the last two years using these sights.  I would, however, say that the Hornet is about as big as I would want to go because of the recoil and the closeness of the apature to my eye. 

Sixgun

[Bob96]

sixgun
  Thanks for the info. What size apature dia. do you use?  How close do you hold the gun to your eye?

[Sixgun]

I use the smallest one I can get.  I don't remember the exact size but it is like a pin hole.  I use the smallest one because it is the only one that my 60 year old eyes can focus the front sight  with.  I use a modified taco hold which puts the sight right in front of my eye.  Maybe 1 to 1.5 inches. 

A toco hold is the hold that silhouette shooters use when shooting Hunter Pistol silhouettes.  You hold the pistol grip with your strong hand and grasp the bell of the scope with your weak hand over the bell of the scope.  I modify this by supporting the front of the barrel in the V between my thumb and index finger.  It is very steady and is a good two hand hold for TC type pistols.

Again, I only use this hold with my 22 LR and 22 Hornet barrels.  I have a Super 14 in 30/30 and a 10 in 357Max that I do not suggest that anyone try this hold with unless you want a TC for a hood ornament.

Sixgun

[WayneS]

I've got the Williams FP base on three 10 " contender BBl's ; 22 LR, .22 Hornet and a 32-20 {30-20} all used for IHMSA standing. Each BBl. has a 5" long large tube on the front with an Adl. width blade. On the rear I use a Merit adjustable apture, that way the opening can be adjusted for light & range conditions

Wayne