Hi everyone,
    We've had some discussion about front sights on this board, and I'm on record as saying that I like a bead front sight. This is true, but I must say that statement was made about big game hunting. Now, I may even reconsider that position!
    I have a receiver sight on my Rem 700 .223. I decided to try filing the bead off since I use this rifle mostly for targets anyway, I figured at worst I'll get no improvement, at best I'll see a little tighter group.
     I was amazed! After I got sighted in pretty close to where I wanted to be I fired a couple of groups. The first, using a Nosler 50gr BT measured .592 inches. Next I moved my sights 3 clicks left and shot a group with the same load using Hornady 50gr V-max's. This group measured .165 as close as I can tell with my calipers! At that point I quit. I know how to retain my braggin' rights! Seriously, I know it won't shoot this way every time, but I was still impressed with the improvement over the bead. I usually shoot 1.25 or so with the bead.
         Food for thought!          IDShooter

ID,
* Not a surprise on this end. Elmer Keith always prefered a flat, sourdough front sight to a rounded bead one. He stated it was alot easier to maintain elevation with it as you had more flat surface to hold on target. Much easier on the eyes. I have been replacing my Marlin lever gun front sights only, with AO front sights, for this exact reason. Paired with my current receiver sights, a deadly combination. By the way, great shootin' <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo--> . Who needs those new fangled glass scopes with results like that!

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Jeff

Elmer also said that the bullets srtike will be towards the light with a colored sight. The gold bead is really bad in this respect. The position of the sun moves the zero around. The bead is ok if it is set into a patridge blade flat with the surface.
The bead does work well for fast, close work.