GB2186062A

GB2186062A - Adjusting firearm sights

Info

Publication number: GB2186062A
Application number: GB08700151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen K Vogel
Original assignee: Sturm Ruger and Co Inc
Current assignee: Sturm Ruger and Co Inc
Priority date: 1986-01-07
Filing date: 1987-01-06
Publication date: 1987-08-05
Also published as: GB8700151D0; FR2592710B1; BE906141A; BR8700023A; IL81156A; FR2592710A1; IL81156A0; CH671284A5; GB2186062B; DE3644101A1

Abstract

A method for aligning adjustable sights on a firearm with the point of bullet impact at a given range in which the sights are aligned during firing range testing, including the use of a laser beam unit mounted on the firearm sights, the laser beam indicating the alignment of the sights vis-a-vis the target. The laser unit is perched without further support on the front and rear sights and the location of the laser beam spot on the target is observed either with the naked eye or with a spotting scope. The rear sight is adjustable both in elevation and side-to-side.

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of adjusting firearm sights This invention relates to a method of adjusting firearm sights.

Prior gun sight alignment systems have depended on a worker's eye to judge the amount of sight adjustment required to make the bullet's impact coincide with the alignment of the front and rear sights of the gun. This process is generally called "zeoring in" the firearm. It has been the practice to initially adjust the sight to generally centre each adjustable part vis-a-vis the barrel with each so positioned for elevation and for windage.

Thereafter, the firearm is range tested by firing at a target and comparing holes in the target with the sight alignment as made with the tester's eye. The sights are then moved so that their alignment coincides with the bullet holes in the target. Thereafter when the gun is aimed and fired properly by the user, the bullets will strike where the sights indicate. The gun is then considered to be "zeroed in" and accurate shooting is now possible.

To aid in comparing target hits with the sight position relative to the barrel, telescopes have been suggested (U.S. Patent No.

1,048,975). It has also been proposed to use lasers to align pipe conduit sections, pipe mill rollers, and machine turning tools (U.S. Patents Nos. 3,631,601; 4,319,406; and 4,417,816).

Of relevance also is the prior suggestion of aligning sights on a gun by using two intersecting light beam sources; one beam through the bore of the barrel and one beam from a position above the barrel (U.S. Patent No.

3,782,832).

No previous sight alignment system has used a laser to describe the actual line of sight on the target so as to simplify the process of aligning the path of the bullet with the sights.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting firearm sights in elevation and windage (side-to-side) comprising (1) placing the firearm in an adjustable hol der means; (2) positioning the holder means at a fixed distance from the target which target in cludes a target sector; (3) mounting on the firearm sights a laser unit which projects a beam of laser light at the target; (4) adjusting the holder means to cause the firearm to move until the sight mounted laser unit projects its beam adjacent to the target sector; (5) firing the firearm to cause a bullet hole in the target; (6) comparing the target bullet hole with the target sector; and (7) thereafter adjusting the sights while observing the laser beam until the beam in tersects the bullet hole.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting in elevation and side-to-side the sights of a firearm comprising (a) placing the firearm in an adjustable range holder positioned a fixed distance from a target; (b) mounting a laser unit capable of project ing a beam of laser light, on both front and rear sights to cause the projected beam to shine on the target; (c) adjusting the adjustable firearm holder to cause the firearm with laser unit mounted thereon to move until the laser beam shines at the desired target point in relation to the bull's eye; (d) firing the gun and comparing the target bullet hole with the bull's eye; and (e) adjusting the sights to cause the succes sive bullet holes to pass through the bull's eye while the laser beam shines on the de sired target point.

The method is carried out using (a) an adjustable range holder for holding the firearm; (b) a target including a target sector positioned a selected distance from the fixture; and (c) a laser unit removably mountable on the sights which laser unit emits a laser light beam substantially parallel to and above the barrel which beam shines on the target.

It is a feature of the invention that the barrel of the firearm can be prealigned with the laser beam prior to range testing, resulting in great economy in the expenditure of labour and ammunition to "zero in" the firearm.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the range testing system; Figure 2 is a schematic elevational view showing triangulation of the sighting and alignment arrangements; Figure 3 is a forward looking view of the firearm holding apparatus including separate depictions of target and spotting scope; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the laser unit mounted on the firearm sights; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and Figure 7 is a partial exploded enlarged view showing the laser unit positioned on the firearm sights.

In Figs. 1 to 3, firearm 10 (shown in dashed lines) is mounted on fixed machine rest unit 11. Machine rest unit 11 includes firearm clamp 12 and movable carriage 13.

Laser head unit 14 is mounted on firearm 10 as further shown.

After firearm 10 has been assembled in the factory and its rear sight components prealigned, it is placed in and secured through clamp 12 to unit 11 for aiming, firing and further rear sight component adjustment.

Range target 16 is positioned a selected distance down range from the firearm 10 (Fig.

2). The portable laser unit 14 is placed on the sights 18, 19 where it perches without further support. Conduit 31 supplies power to unit 14.

Laser unit 14 is energised and the location of the light beam spot 21 on target 16 is observed with the naked eye or spotting scope 22 (see Fig. 3). If the laser target spot 21 is located below and tangent to bull's eye (target sector) 23, no adjustment of firearm rest unit 11 is required. If spot 21 is located elsewhere, unit 11 (with firearm 10 clamped to it) is adjusted until laser spot 21 is located below and tangent to target sector 23.

A round is then fired down range through target 13. If the bullet does not pass through target sector 23, rear sight assembly 19 is adjusted by moving notch piece 27 left or right (Fig. 6) or elevating or lowering arm 29 (Fig. 7) or by making both adjustments. A second round, or group of rounds, are then fired. This sequence continues until proper range-test adjustment of rear sight assembly 19 is attained.

Turning to Fig. 2 the triangulation formed by the target, the barrel bore, line of sight (through the front and rear sights 18, 19) and laser beam is schematically shown. The following letters are used: G is rear sight; H is a front sight; J is the laser light source; A is the distance the front sight is above the barrel bore; and C is the distance laser beam passes above front sight. The laser unit 14, being mounted on the pistol sights 18, 19, is elevated several inches above a line of sight as viewed by eye through the rear and front sights. To compensate for this fact, the laser unit 14 may be constructed to point slightly downwardly so that the laser beam strikes the target (at 25 or 50 yards distance) at the same point as the line of sight.

Referring back td Fig. 3, it is seen that adjustable rest unit firearm holder 11 has firearm clamp 12 which secures firearm 10 to carriage 13. Carriage 13 has horizontal adjustment means 34, vertical adjustment means 35 and locking means 36 to lock unit 11 in a selected position for firing the firearm.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting firearm sights in elevation and windage (side-to-side) comprising (1) placing the firearm in an adjustable hol der means; (2) positioning the holder means at a fixed distance from the target which target in cludes a target sector; (3) mounting on the firearm sights a laser unit which projects a beam of laser light at the target; (4) adjusting the holder means to cause the firearm to move until the sight mounted laser unit projects its beam adjacent to the target sector; (5) firing the firearm to cause a bullet hole in the target; (6) comparing the target bullet hole with the target sector; and (7) thereafter adjusting the sights while observing the laser beam until the beam in tersects the bullet hole.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a subsequent firing of the firearm and the sights are further adjusted.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the adjustable sights are adjustable in elevation.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the adjustable sights are adjustable in windage (side-to-side).

5. A method of adjusting in elevation and side-to-side the sights of a firearm comprising (a) placing the firearm in an adjustable range holder positioned a fixed distance from a target; (b) mounting a laser unit capable of project ing a beam of laser light, on both front and rear sights to cause the projected beam to shine on the target; (c) adjusting the adjustable firearm holder to cause the firearm with laser unit mounted thereon to move until the laser beam shines at the desired target point in relation to the bull's eye; (d) firing the gun and comparing the target bullet hole with the bull's eye; and (e) adjusting the sights to cause the succes sive bullet holes to pass through the bull's eye while the laser beam shines on the de sired target point.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, in which the sights are adjusted a second time to cause thereafter successive bullets to pass through the bull's eye while the laser beam shines on the desired target point.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 5, of adjusting firearm sights substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.