[Kestrel]

I have a Marlin 336 .30-30 and a .45-70 Guide gun. I'd like to put ghost ring sights on them. Does anyone have any comments on the Ashley ghost ring or the Wild West Guns ghost ring sights?

Thanks for any help,
Steve

[Mannlicher]

I have found that a Lyman Receiver sight, the model 66LA works well for me on my Marlin 336. I use the sight disk with the larger hole.

Target aquisition is quick, and the sight is very accurate. The adjustments are easy to make, and positive.

I believe the Lyman sight is superior to the Ashley, for any shot longer than 50 yards.

[Elkslayer]

Where can I find a Lyman 66la sight other than at Brownells?

[Watch-Six]

I have a WWG setup on my 45/70. It works out nicely. The Ashley would probably be fine too. Watch-Six

[Kestrel]

I've noticed the Ashley doesn't have any protective ears. I wonder how much of an issue this is?

Steve

[Poodleshooter]

Have you tried www.midwayusa.com for the Lyman sight?
I'd love to have one of these sights, but they cost almost 1/4 the price of a new gun and nearly the same as an economy scope and ring combo.

[larryw]

I've the Ashley on my Marlin 1894, a friend has the Williams on his Marlin 336 (oh man, you should see the wood his new gun came with, gorgeous!), so a quick comparison.

Ashley is small and very tough (need for wings is debatable, I'd be more concerned about the front blade). I didn't like the front post that shipped with it, so bought a new front sight blade (Williams Fire Sight, 250N .406 high, $16) that fit in the factory ramp. Works like a charm. Ashley are for close work as even the small aperature is BIG. Offhand, I get nice tight groups up to 50 yards, 100 yards are a challenge.

Williams receiver sight is very nice. Quality part that screws right on. Many aperature sizes; you can get the pinhole one so you can dot the "i" at 100 yards. But it looks fragile (looks, don't know if it is). This is a sight for a serious paper puncher or long range hunter.

For a close in hunting gun, I'd say the Ashley is fine. If you want to reach way out and touch something, its ill suited.

[MolonLabe416]

Both the Ashley and Wild West sights are well made and will provide yeoman service. You might also consider sights from Jim Brockman at www.brockmansrifles.com

All three are well made, it just boils down to which you like best.

[Keith]

I've played with most of the sights available.

I have the WWG sight on my Marlin. It's a nice robust sight, but maybe a bit over-engineered... It's bigger than it needs to be.

The Ashley sight is nice too, but maybe it's just a tad under-engineered because it lacks the protective wings.

The Brockman sort of splits the difference - it has the wings, but doesn't sit on the barrel like a toad on a lilly pad - like the WWG sight does.

The Lymans are not worth considering unless you just want to shoot targets. They are too delicate for rough field treatment.

I bought the WWG sight back when that was all that was available. I'm satisfied with it and have no plans to change it, but if I was doing it again with the new choices, I'd buy the Brockman.

Keith

[Gomez]

XS Sight Systems (Ashley's) offer protective wings as an option now. That's probably the route that I'd go. I've used the Lyman sights as well as the Wickert sights (The WWG sight is actually a Tim Wickert design) and the XS. The Wickert sights are to big and I didn't like the "loosen the screw and move the aperture around" adjustments. They were a pain. I've handled some old (first or second gen) Brockman's, but don't have any real experience with them.