Cannot access the notebook! Cannot look down rifle sights?

When I press N, nothing happens. I cannot find anything in key bindings indicating I should use another key, instead. What's up with that?
When I pick of a long rifle, it is really hard to target enemies beyond close range, as I'm always shooting from the hip, as it were. Is there no way to look down the sights for better aiming? Will I run into the same issue with scope-mounted weapons later in the game?
I have to say, if not for this mod, I would have already uninstalled the game. My memories of it were quite charitable. I'm sure RtCW was fantastic at the time of release, when last I played it.