I first saw a model 77 with the Diopter sight on the rimfire central forum for air rifles. I don't want to return there to go digging through all of the posts to find the guy, so I'm just going to ask here if anyone owns one of these? I'm awaiting price info from Krale, who would have to order it from the factory, since I already own 2 77's one in .177 and the other in .22 cal., I don't plan on putting scopes on either of them, so the thought comes to mind, to just purchase a set of Diopter sights, I was looking at sight set's and found what looks to be what is on the HW77 Diopter. I had hoped it was a special set that was made in Germany, but I believe it's an american airgun company Daisy. 
Weihrauch 77 with Diopter sight
- Thread starter smithfan4152
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That sight looks like the cheap copy of FWB sights that have been offered by several companies in the last few years. You don’t want one. It’s heavy, has rather sloppy adjustments, and its mounting foot is a cheap sharp-edged stamped thing that can scratch the gun. (Yes, I am a terrible snob when it comes to diopters, LOL).
Weihrauch’s own classic OOP diopters will fit, but my personal preference is old Anschutz sights. They can be found all over Ebay, gun shows, etc. They fit perfectly, have precise adjustments, and (unlike HW’s old sight) leaves plenty of room for your thumb behind the receiver.
This pic shows a classic HW 55 CM (same groove spacing as the HW 77) with a classic old steel Anschutz “Universal” sight. My avatar pic is another variation of this sight on another 55.
Weihrauch’s own classic OOP diopters will fit, but my personal preference is old Anschutz sights. They can be found all over Ebay, gun shows, etc. They fit perfectly, have precise adjustments, and (unlike HW’s old sight) leaves plenty of room for your thumb behind the receiver.
This pic shows a classic HW 55 CM (same groove spacing as the HW 77) with a classic old steel Anschutz “Universal” sight. My avatar pic is another variation of this sight on another 55.
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The HW77 comes with front and rear sights, now the front sight if you look at one in hand, is mounted to an 11mm mount, so that they can either put the globe sight on, or the blade sight. I just double checked on my 77s, and the blade mount screws down onto the 11mm rail and most likely has a pin for a key to keep proper alignment. The break barrel models with open sights have the dovetail cut into the barrel. The 77s and other underlever models that have a blade front sight can all be changed.
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That sight looks like the cheap copy of FWB sights that have been offered by several companies in the last few years. You don’t want one. It’s heavy, has rather sloppy adjustments, and its mounting foot is a cheap sharp-edged stamped thing that can scratch the gun. (Yes, I am a terrible snob when it comes to diopters, LOL).
Weihrauch’s own classic OOP diopters will fit, but my personal preference is old Anschutz sights. They can be found all over Ebay, gun shows, etc. They fit perfectly, have precise adjustments, and (unlike HW’s old sight) leaves plenty of room for your thumb behind the receiver.
This pic shows a classic HW 55 CM (same groove spacing as the HW 77) with a classic old steel Anschutz “Universal” sight. My avatar pic is another variation of this sight on another 55.
I was hoping that the rear sight on the HW77 diopter was one of their own, spending nearly $400.00 plus to get a set of the Anschutz sights means it's cheaper to just buy the new 77 already set up. I don't get to many gun show's and trying to find a very nice set for under $300.00 is not that easy. Being just an avid plinker, I'm not a complete snob on buying the best sights, but reason comes into play when I"m looking at a 3rd 77 just for this option. I guess I can always put the original sights back on the rifle when it's time to sell, and use the diopter set on something else. So the Anschutz are that much nicer than the Weirauchs?
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There’s a reason I said OLD sights in my first post, LOL! You don’t need their latest-and greatest ones which are in crazy-money territory.
Shop around for used ones on Ebay, the gun auction sites, and such. You should be able to find a nice Anschutz diopter rear sight for around 100 bucks.
The sight on the right in these two shots is an alloy-bodied model that Anschutz supplied with match air rifles and less expensive .22 lr target rifles for many years. The other three are variations of the upgrade, steel-bodied “Universal” sight supplied with their top models. Back in the day the Universals cost much more than the alloy ones, but most modern sellers don’t really seem to distinguish.
My personal favorite is the one second from the right with the clear acrylic elevation/windage scale. My avatar pic is this sight on an HW 55, with a Gehmann iris.
Shop around for used ones on Ebay, the gun auction sites, and such. You should be able to find a nice Anschutz diopter rear sight for around 100 bucks.
The sight on the right in these two shots is an alloy-bodied model that Anschutz supplied with match air rifles and less expensive .22 lr target rifles for many years. The other three are variations of the upgrade, steel-bodied “Universal” sight supplied with their top models. Back in the day the Universals cost much more than the alloy ones, but most modern sellers don’t really seem to distinguish.
My personal favorite is the one second from the right with the clear acrylic elevation/windage scale. My avatar pic is this sight on an HW 55, with a Gehmann iris.
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Thank you again so much for the clarification, I really would have been looking for something that resembled what was on the rifle. Now at least I have an idea what to be looking for. No need to buy a 3rd 77, but now I can go get something else...... Here is a photo showing the front sight mounting on the HW77's and any other model underlever with the front sight blade. It's removable from the top via a small FH Cap screw. It straddles the dovetail mount, which is 8mm. Once removed you can mount the globe front sight to it.
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Look for used take offs that backyard plinkers put scopes on their FWB300s or other 10 meter guns for back yard precision plinking/sniping who never compete with their guns anyway.
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MDriskill you are a wealth of knowledge. I was going to buy a new version. Thanks to your post I have my sights on older Anschutz models. I also like the fact they’re old German engineering and manufacturing.
I’m new to this game, I’m not doing 10 meter matches, but for some reason I want a set of Diopters sights. To me they are so cool. Thanks Crow
I’m new to this game, I’m not doing 10 meter matches, but for some reason I want a set of Diopters sights. To me they are so cool. Thanks Crow
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No illumination or projection of light they are a "fancy" style iron sight basically. Highly precise and used for 10m competitions but can be used elsewhere.
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Hello aneijko!
New member here with a 2 month old HW 77K.
I just found a Anschutz 6702 and I'm looking for a front globe, pretty much like your set up.
Is that an original Weihrauch globe? This globe is not listed as fitting the HW 77...
With this set up, is a 10m / 11 yards range possible?
New member here with a 2 month old HW 77K.
I just found a Anschutz 6702 and I'm looking for a front globe, pretty much like your set up.
Is that an original Weihrauch globe? This globe is not listed as fitting the HW 77...
With this set up, is a 10m / 11 yards range possible?
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Welcome MANNEKEN78! That is indeed an original Weihrauch globe front sight that I took off my HW50s (HW99). It was the one with interchangeable elements. HW probably don't list it as fitting the 77K since they provide the blade front sight. They also don't seem to mention anywhere that there's a rail below the sight.
About shooting at 10m, I think it would be possible (can't think why not), but I can't say for sure. I only shot it offhand at the range at 25 yards, with good results back then. Hope this helps!
About shooting at 10m, I think it would be possible (can't think why not), but I can't say for sure. I only shot it offhand at the range at 25 yards, with good results back then. Hope this helps!
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I don't own an HW 77, but it sounds like the front rail spacing is the same as on barrel-cocking HW's - a more or less standard one of about 9mm. Anschutz front globe sights fit perfectly, and Diana ones will also work in a pinch.
HW and Diana globes have an "M17" thread on the removable sleeve (17mm x 0.5mm). Anschutz has the slightly larger "M18" thread, which was standard for most German match guns for many years. This is a significant advantage, as there are many OEM and aftermarket options for Anschutz metal inserts, and a huge range of useful accessories is still available for M18 sights - clear acrylic inserts, threaded-in adjustable apertures and lenses, etc.
This pic shows a basic-model older Anschutz globe on an HW 55 barrel. Below it is the OEM HW globe to the left, and a Diana one to the right.
HW and Diana globes have an "M17" thread on the removable sleeve (17mm x 0.5mm). Anschutz has the slightly larger "M18" thread, which was standard for most German match guns for many years. This is a significant advantage, as there are many OEM and aftermarket options for Anschutz metal inserts, and a huge range of useful accessories is still available for M18 sights - clear acrylic inserts, threaded-in adjustable apertures and lenses, etc.
This pic shows a basic-model older Anschutz globe on an HW 55 barrel. Below it is the OEM HW globe to the left, and a Diana one to the right.
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Hi MDriskill, thanks for your input!
The Anschutz 6702 arrived and it's a beauty, clicks perfectly and no rust what so ever.
Now a globe! Would fancy a steel one.
A diopter is very interesting, especially aiming with both eyes open. Light is an "issue" it seems. At a too low levels it's hard to see the target and 2 eye aiming doesn't work anymore. Might be training,
Has anyone experience with a fiber optic globe? I imagine this only makes real sense with a fiber optic rear sight...
But as for light goes, well i guess if it's it's dark it's dark, right? For paper targets a tripod with a flash light does the job.
The Anschutz 6702 arrived and it's a beauty, clicks perfectly and no rust what so ever.
Now a globe! Would fancy a steel one.
A diopter is very interesting, especially aiming with both eyes open. Light is an "issue" it seems. At a too low levels it's hard to see the target and 2 eye aiming doesn't work anymore. Might be training,
Has anyone experience with a fiber optic globe? I imagine this only makes real sense with a fiber optic rear sight...
But as for light goes, well i guess if it's it's dark it's dark, right? For paper targets a tripod with a flash light does the job.
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Congrats! That sight looks in nicer shape than any of mine, and the eyeshade is a nice bonus.
To work on the darkness issue, start by playing with the distance the sight is from your eye. The closer it is, the bigger the opening will appear of course. (Sorry...that probably insulted your intelligence!
)
But, diopter sights are optimized for use on a well-lit 10-meter target range, so the OEM eye disk opening is usually small - in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm (it may be marked on your eye disk). This gives the best "diopter effect" - i.e., clarifying the focus, sometimes to a startling degree - but for most real-world use a somewhat bigger opening is usually good.
So...now I'm gonna be a jerk and urge you to spend even more money, LOL, on an adjustable iris. A standard model from Gehmann or Centra adjusts from 0.8 mm up to 3.0 mm, and is not too expensive (this will change if you layer on additional features - colored filters, polarizer, magnifying lens). You can then quickly adjust to about any lighting conditions, it really greatly extends the utility of the sight.
The selection on the Gehmann site will make your head spin... https://gehmann.com/en/
But all you really need is the basic iris!... https://gehmann.com/en/510-Gehmann-rearsight-iris/GEH100132
Here's my old 6700 sight, with a vintage Gehmann iris:
To work on the darkness issue, start by playing with the distance the sight is from your eye. The closer it is, the bigger the opening will appear of course. (Sorry...that probably insulted your intelligence!
)But, diopter sights are optimized for use on a well-lit 10-meter target range, so the OEM eye disk opening is usually small - in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm (it may be marked on your eye disk). This gives the best "diopter effect" - i.e., clarifying the focus, sometimes to a startling degree - but for most real-world use a somewhat bigger opening is usually good.
So...now I'm gonna be a jerk and urge you to spend even more money, LOL, on an adjustable iris. A standard model from Gehmann or Centra adjusts from 0.8 mm up to 3.0 mm, and is not too expensive (this will change if you layer on additional features - colored filters, polarizer, magnifying lens). You can then quickly adjust to about any lighting conditions, it really greatly extends the utility of the sight.
The selection on the Gehmann site will make your head spin... https://gehmann.com/en/
But all you really need is the basic iris!... https://gehmann.com/en/510-Gehmann-rearsight-iris/GEH100132
Here's my old 6700 sight, with a vintage Gehmann iris:
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That is the rear diopter iris I have on my 77, after you get the factory front sight off it is a 8mm dovetail. I think I have an Anschutz globe there with a clear plastic diopter in it.
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