Rear Sight windage adjustment

[Bwgunslinger]

Could you take a look at the pics and let me know if it is sometimes normal for the rear sight to require being this off center to get a good zero?

It’s a Mauser m98 magnum .375. It’s now zeroed at 50 yards. I’m just wondering if there is a flaw or issue with this being off center that much.

Pics are not great but I tried to show both sides. Thanks!

 

[whisk(e)y hunter]

It is not unusual, but did you buy the rifle new recently? If so, I would ask them for a warranty service to true up the sight bases.

I have purchased several used rifles that required that much of a modification, then the choice was there to leave the sight, move it back to center to use with an optic, or visit the gunsmith.

 

[whisk(e)y hunter]

You could also have a smith reprofile the sight so the notch is in the correct place for the ammo that you’ve chosen, or file down the side so it sits flush with the base

 

[Bwgunslinger]

It is not unusual, but did you buy the rifle new recently? If so, I would ask them for a warranty service to true up the sight bases.

I have purchased several used rifles that required that much of a modification, then the choice was there to leave the sight, move it back to center to use with an optic, or visit the gunsmith.

I got it about a month and a half ago. I’ll have to see where Mausers are serviced.

Or like you said, see if my gunsmith can do anything.

 

[Ray B]

Years ago I had a Savage 24 that had the rear sight mounted out-of-center. It should have been caught by the quality control inspector- but evidently not. Otherwise, I've not seen anything like it so it must be rare.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Years ago I had a Savage 24 that had the rear sight mounted out-of-center. It should have been caught by the quality control inspector- but evidently not. Otherwise, I've not seen anything like it so it must be rare.

This one showed up with the sights centered but the poi was high left. So I adjusted it to where it’s on at 50 and it took that much adjustment.

 

[High Country Hunts]

Depends on what ammunition you are using. Different projectiles, different projectile weight, speed and so on all make the projectile act differently exiting the muzzle.
For example - my .375 bolt rifles the rear sight is centred just fine using 300 grain Norma oryx.
If I use a 250 grain Barnes (going much faster) the point of impact at 100 yards is slightly to the right - needing the rear leaf sight adjusted slightly to the left. That’s the point having adjustment anyways.

 

[High Country Hunts]

So no - don’t let your gun smith attack with a file.

 

[leslie hetrick]

if you could move the front sight a little it may help, i,m not sure if it would solve the whole problem.

 

[R eight]

It could be how you’re shooting the rifle….are you using a lead sled ? are you flinching?

I’d get someone else, who is a know good shot, to fire a few shots. If his targets look different to yours then you know where the problem lies.

If your targets look the same then I’d try some different ammunition and see what happens.

Mucking with the sights would be my last option.

Good luck.

 

[whisk(e)y hunter]

I personally dislike sights and other metal that sits proud - to each their own. As I am trusting that the OP is a capable shot, I would find what ammo works well in the rifle, that you intend to use for a long time, and make a permanent reflection of that.

This is a new rifle, if the rear base is off center then it should be fixed by Mauser.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Depends on what ammunition you are using. Different projectiles, different projectile weight, speed and so on all make the projectile act differently exiting the muzzle.
For example - my .375 bolt rifles the rear sight is centred just fine using 300 grain Norma oryx.
If I use a 250 grain Barnes (going much faster) the point of impact at 100 yards is slightly to the right - needing the rear leaf sight adjusted slightly to the left. That’s the point having adjustment anyways.

I’ve shot Hornady 300 grain factory, federal factory with a frame and handloads 350 grain. All are high left.

Now it’s zeroed for Hornady at 50 but I haven’t tried the other loadings yet. I assume the others will be close as well. I hope lol

 

[Bwgunslinger]

It could be how you’re shooting the rifle….are you using a lead sled ? are you flinching?

I’d get someone else, who is a know good shot, to fire a few shots. If his targets look different to yours then you know where the problem lies.

If your targets look the same then I’d try some different ammunition and see what happens.

Mucking with the sights would be my last option.

Good luck.

Yeah I’ve tried to get all those variables out of the way. No led sled and no flinching. I’m stacking them at 50 and killed two coyotes at about 110 yards. So I’m pretty consistent with it.

The only other person that shot it was a lefty and he and I always have a little variation with poi of our other rifles as well. Even with that, he was high left as well initially.

I appreciate the tips. I’m not ruling out human error but after all the time spent shooting precision rifle, I’m definitely trying to focus on the fundamentals.

One benefit is that this gun doesn’t kick bad at all! I just hate how much to one side that rear sight sits right now. OCD? Maybe? Lol

 

[Bwgunslinger]

if you could move the front sight a little it may help, i,m not sure if it would solve the whole problem.

Unfortunately I can only move that one up and down. Unless there is a feature I’m missing which could be the case.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Blaser/Mauser is taking a look at the pics.

 

[roklok]

Not uncommon in my experience, at least on less expensive rifles. The question is if you can live with it on an expensive rifle. I have a .375 that is the same way, Zastava Mauser that I took great care in installing the NECG rear base, to zero it looks just about like yours with sight to the right in base. If the base was not sitting square on the top of the barrel that would look worse in my opinion. The sights are adjustable for a reason, though I do agree that the OCD part of me likes it to be centered more closely.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Not uncommon in my experience, at least on less expensive rifles. The question is if you can live with it on an expensive rifle. I have a .375 that is the same way, Zastava Mauser that I took great care in installing the NECG rear base, to zero it looks just about like yours with sight to the right in base. If the base was not sitting square on the top of the barrel that would look worse in my opinion. The sights are adjustable for a reason, though I do agree that the OCD part of me likes it to be centered more closely. View attachment 722907

Oh yeah you have almost exact same thing going on. Might be more common than I’m thinking.

Great news I just heard from JD Outfitters is that Rigby has designed a RMR plate for the front of the Mauser/Rigby receiver. Said maybe 60 or 90 days before ready to sell.

That will solve that problem! Other thought I had was swapping to a ghost ring rear sight but cannot seem to find any that specifically say they fit the M98 Magnum.

I do enjoy ghost ring sights so that would be cool if I could find one.

 

[Nhoro]

I would set the rifle up in a rest and measure the front and rear sight are centred. I bought a CZ 550 and front sight was soldered at an angle and so the rear sight had to be offset to correct it. A smith heated up the front sight and straightened it up. Rear sight zeroed exactly central after that. Maybe you have a similar problem ?

 

[Bwgunslinger]

I would set the rifle up in a rest and measure the front and rear sight are centred. I bought a CZ 550 and front sight was soldered at an angle and so the rear sight had to be offset to correct it. A smith heated up the front sight and straightened it up. Rear sight zeroed exactly central after that. Maybe you have a similar problem ?

Wow. I was too dense to think of checking that earlier. I don’t have a vise but I just used a small wheeler level and checked the receiver, rear sight base, and front sight base.

Hardly had any surface area to put the level on the front but they seemed to be level.

 

[GOLK09]

I couldn't bring (trust) myself to take a hammer and punch to my gun so I bought a sight pusher tool a couple of years ago. works like a charm on every gun I've tried it on.