If your 52CS is a Sporter then the Lyman 48F is the correct sight and would be tough to improve on

 

In Redfields, quality in ascending order was Olympic, International and Palma. The first 2 have considerable backlash and the Palma needs to be the model with adjustable gibs on it to keep the elevation slide tight as it wears. There certainly are better rear sights these days (don't know about the part "for the money"). Warner has quit making sights, but they are highly sought after and bring big money used. Phoenix is a similar type. I'm sure there are others that will be mentioned. These sights use hardened steel guide pins that closely fit hardened tubes with very little clearance and ground threads for minimal backlash. You might take a look at the sights that top centerfire Palma shooters are using, since they generally use side mounted rear sights. Most top RF shooters are using European rifles and sights that use Anschutz/Walther type sights that mount on receiver top grooves and are not easily adapted to your 52.

 

PNW

Pacific Northwest is another but I don't believe any of those mentioned can be had for the price of Redfield. I myself and a lot of shooting buddies use Redfield with few complaints.

 

Not sure of your definition of "more modern sights" is, but, you might want to look at a website called Champions Choice. They have a selection of MODERN rear sights and apertures that might be what you are looking for. I have purchased MODERN competition sights from them and they work well on my C and D as well as a Anschutz 64 I have. Good luck with your choices!!!!

 

Haven't seen a Redfield iron sight on the firing line in decades, well anyone above someone just starting out. All the Redfields are full of lash, you click it it may or may not move. Not predictable.

Sam Gates sights came out in the 70's, a true lash free rear sight that is still seen today even though they have not been made in a while.

Warner is likely the best rear sight ever but they are out of production right now too.

You might find either on EBay or a for sale board.

The only rear sight currently in production that is lash free (or it can be adjusted out) and mounts on a Redfield side plate is the Centra and CC sells those.

When I shoot 4P its always Any Sight?

I use Anschutz sights on my position rifle but anything I might get from a better rear sight is swallowed whole by my Aweful Hand.

 

What do the experts say about this Marble-Goss rear sight for a 52C? It certainly isn't modern.

 

I think you guys are missing the question. I think the OP is asking about something like Anschutz or Gehmann sights for the rifle.

That said, all that is needed is the proper sight mount then an appropriate front sight. I have been trying my luck on BSA Martini's with differing sights....yet they thought Redfield Olympics were modern back then

There is a chance to mount the Redfield Palma to a Winchester 52, or a Sam Gates. But I dont think that is what you want.

Any of the European sights need a dovetail fitting and I dont know offhand what sight mount could be used without D & T.....and then you dock the value of the rifle

 

I think you guys are missing the question.

Why would I recommend a sight that just has less lash (until they get older) ?

 

Jeff Perry and the late Dan Hunt manufactured a clone of the Gates rear sight, certain production has ceased, but there might be a chance he would have one still for sale. Haven't seen Jeff for a while and wouldn't know how to contact him

 

Would it be possible to make a bracket for a European top-mounted rearsight that fits the existing receiver screw holes?

 

Why not just buy the Centra, mount it to the side plate and go shoot? Problem solved.....
Regards
ken

 

I thought I saw a Redfield side mount to 11mm adapter plate somewhere , or Gehmann , centra, pnw , Phoenix make side mount sights

 

Phoenix rear sights have not been available for sometime and the rumor is they are not going to make them again.

Smallbore, Long Range and Palma are the only games left that are required to use metallic sights for part or all of the course of fire.

Firing lines have been getting shorter and grayer for some years. I am not convinced there are enough of us left to make a production run interesting.

 

Actually the #2 Warner's are going for stupid money since Al quit making them.

The Palma world has a strong junior program and Palma must shoot irons only.

NRA Long Range is about 1/3rd irons so anyone getting into that game needs a sight.

Al Warner never liked making those sights and he lost his lead screw grinder, thought he found another, made another run and lost his anodizer. He still didn't care for the new lead screw grinder so he hung it up. Thats the campfire story anyway.

Rumor is a well known sight company might start making Warner sights again but its just scuttlebutt for now.

There is also a similar style sight in production in Australia that I have seen picture of on the internet.

 

I have been used 1/8" Warner sight on my Winchester prone rifles for about 15 years and prior to that I was using a Sam Gates 1/8' sight. I have also used Sam Gates 1/6" and 1/4" models as well. I use the Redfield 670 mount which works well with these sights.

The days of Redfield sights being used on a regular competitors rifle are long gone. Frankly, the days of Winchester 52s being used a regular basis are also long gone. I love them so I soldier on with various 52 prone rifles as when well built, maintained and supplied with quality ammunition they are still just as competitive in the prone game.

Bill

 

It seems like the Centra sights on CC are likely my best route to pursue. What I meant by my original question re: "Modern" sights was a product manufactured in the last 20 or less years that has minimal lash. I understand that the Redfields and Lymans were top dog 50 some years ago, but when I see them on ebay for $250 and up, I think paying an extra $100 to $200 for a good quality sight seems reasonable. Thank you for all of the feedback and insights; it has been helpful and appreciated!!

 

Your logic is true



especially if you are a serious competitor. The old Redfields, Lymans, Weitek and Marbles/Goss are retro and if that is what you want on your rifle for informal club shooting that's fine too. I've shot some pretty good 100 and 200 yard scores and groups with those old sights.

 

I don't shoot "matches". Much prefer to shoot the old rifles with the original sights. More fun to me to make the rifle (and myself) to preform well, as they were originally designed.

 

What some of the posters



are saying is that there are better sights available. That is a given. Whether one avails themselves of them is a matter of choice. I can't justify $450 or more for a best rear sight for the type of shooting I do and my skill level.