SCI What is the name of this observable phenomenon, or am I the first to describe it?

BadMedicine

BadMedicine

Would *I* Lie???
I am publishing my 'findings' here for the first time. I just observed this, not for the first time, but really thought about it just now while lining up the iron sights on my AR.

I know we have some physics folks out there so maybe this phenomenon has a name or has been otherwise observed, but it's pretty neat and may have implications other than sights/ targeting- but that alone is a BIG one in todays warring world....

Reminds me of/ (probably not-)might be related to the expirement where they shoot strait light beams through holes in a cloth and get unexpected patterns on the other side implying the light beams had bent when they hadn't/shouldn't had.

Goes like this:
I have unorthodox iron sights. Well, of mixed orthodoxy. The front sight is a PSA barrel affixed permanent front sight with slight wings on right and left even with the midde-front sight. The back sight is a flip-up front sight with just a single adjustable pin in the middle, and then also two wing 'shrouds', one on either side protecting the pin.

When shouldered I can quickly line up the tops of the two pin sights. So much so that when focusing on the front sight, the back pin takes on a 'T" shape whereas I can see the entire front pin, and the back pin becomes 'transparent' and I can see the center of the back pin very darkly if I wobble left or right of center AT ALL the back pin becomes prominent, but when in the 'sweet spot' it disappears except the top bar of the 'T" is rested right across the top of the front sight, which is completely present. even though the pins-front and back sights- are the same width and size, my one pupil, being WIDER than the rear sight, is able to see most/ nearly all of the far sight ON BOTH SIDES of the pin and therefore shows a full darkened and non-transparent view of the front sight, while the rear sight toggles between visible and "just right." The top bar of the "T" widens out to either side of the front sight aabout half way to the wings, giving another 'gap check' for fine tuning. While looking at a spot across the lake I felt pretty configent I could hit a milke jug at 200 yards.. guess I'll have to go see.
 
L.A.B.

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
(GHOST RINGS) are a name for the effect aligning your ‘eye-sight focus’ from the mechanics and setting of your shoulder pocketed cheek weld, viewing / peeping through your rear aperture or (ringed) sight, while your ‘eye-sight focus’ transitions down the length of your barrel ‘acquiring in focus’ your front sight.

The transition from eye to rear sight [momentarily], to picking up the front sight, refers to the rear aperture or hood sight “ghosting” out of focus, but retaining the proper Visual Perspective for proper sighting alignment.

Instinctive to use, for those who react to dynamic targets. I started with a gold bead on the trap gun, and discovered the effect you are describing when I transitioned to the combat shotgun.
 
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D

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
www.americanhunter.org

An Official Journal Of The NRA | XS Ghost Ring Hunter Sights

XS’ peep sight is simple and made of steel, so it’s extremely tough; you don't have to worry about knocking it out of zero during a pickup ride.
www.americanhunter.org www.americanhunter.org

Get a little more conventional ...

First ghost ring rear I ever saw came with a set of dotmil night sights - big ring rear, tritium front. I about wore them out swapping them from AR to AR. Nowadays an A2 rear aperture is common and will do just as well.

ETA- pictures at the link.
 
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ShadowMan

ShadowMan

Designated Grumpy Old Fart
Here I thought it was just magic!
iu
 
L.A.B.

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
IJT said:
I lost all of my ARs when we moved from VA to TN, a large footlocker never made it. I couldn't make a claim because I wasn't supposed to ship firearms or ammo.
Click to expand...

One question.

Did the canoe survive the rapids on the paddle to TN?
 
colonel holman

colonel holman

Veteran Member
Yes, edge diffraction.
Related to aperture size on a rear peep sight. The smaller the aperture, the larger the “depth of view” will be in focus. Similar to a tight camera aperture (f12, f16 or f22) which renders both foreground and background in focus, versus wide open lens (f2 or f4, for example) which leaves only foreground or background in focus, but not both. Tiny rear sight aperture causes close object (front sight) to be in focus at same time as the distant target is also in focus. That is why competitive shooters place a pinhole patch on their shooting glasses (one inch piece of black tape with pinhole in center placed on center of dominant eye glasses lens). Try it and you will discover front sight is in focus a same time target is in focus, or at least close to it.
 
K

Kennori

Contributing Member
We all have a blind spot on both our corneas, shows up when what we are looking at effectively disappears as the light picture focuses an the fovea which has no light sensors. This a small area on the retina which houses and transports sensory data out the back of the eye to the optic nerve and then to our occipital areas where sight actually occurs. Possibility.
 
Lone_Hawk

Lone_Hawk

Resident Spook
BadMedicine said:
I am publishing my 'findings' here for the first time. I just observed this, not for the first time, but really thought about it just now while lining up the iron sights on my AR.

I know we have some physics folks out there so maybe this phenomenon has a name or has been otherwise observed, but it's pretty neat and may have implications other than sights/ targeting- but that alone is a BIG one in todays warring world....

Reminds me of/ (probably not-)might be related to the expirement where they shoot strait light beams through holes in a cloth and get unexpected patterns on the other side implying the light beams had bent when they hadn't/shouldn't had.

Goes like this:
I have unorthodox iron sights. Well, of mixed orthodoxy. The front sight is a PSA barrel affixed permanent front sight with slight wings on right and left even with the midde-front sight. The back sight is a flip-up front sight with just a single adjustable pin in the middle, and then also two wing 'shrouds', one on either side protecting the pin.

When shouldered I can quickly line up the tops of the two pin sights. So much so that when focusing on the front sight, the back pin takes on a 'T" shape whereas I can see the entire front pin, and the back pin becomes 'transparent' and I can see the center of the back pin very darkly if I wobble left or right of center AT ALL the back pin becomes prominent, but when in the 'sweet spot' it disappears except the top bar of the 'T" is rested right across the top of the front sight, which is completely present. even though the pins-front and back sights- are the same width and size, my one pupil, being WIDER than the rear sight, is able to see most/ nearly all of the far sight ON BOTH SIDES of the pin and therefore shows a full darkened and non-transparent view of the front sight, while the rear sight toggles between visible and "just right." The top bar of the "T" widens out to either side of the front sight aabout half way to the wings, giving another 'gap check' for fine tuning. While looking at a spot across the lake I felt pretty configent I could hit a milke jug at 200 yards.. guess I'll have to go see.
Click to expand...
From what you have described, you unintentionally installed a pop-up front sight in the rear sight position.
 
D

Delta

Has No Life - Lives on TB
It is a known "hack" to look through a small hole (sideways through a fist, for instance) to read fine print without glasses (assuming you no not normally have near-focus). This increases depth of field, as Col. Holman said above.
 
Capt. Eddie

Capt. Eddie

Veteran Member
Lone_Hawk said:
From what you have described, you unintentionally installed a pop-up front sight in the rear sight position.
Click to expand...
I'll second that, but my old eyes don't do well with iron sights anymore so it's been year since I've installed any. In fact I just removed them from my muzzleloader to mount the scope lower and get a better cheek weld.
 
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