Rear sight for a Marlin 1984 Lever Gun?

[Macchina]

Well, I pulled the trigger on a Marlin 1894 .44 Mag. It's coming with stock sights though. I want to put a peep sight on it, but can't decide which one. I'm looking for an inexpensive one (it doesn't need all the fancy adjustments). I work in a machine shop, so I can mount anything and even fabricate my own mount if needed. Is there a nice cheap peep sight for a different rifle that may work on a Marlin with a little modification?

 

[gunnerh]

I put a Williams receiver sight on my Marlin 336. It has work great for me for years. They are not expensive. Mid-way has them. So egunparts.com. Williams also makes the fancier guide series receiver sights.

 

[Gustav]

You may want to look into the XS Ghost Ring Sights or a Lyman 66

 

[eldon519]

+1 for XS Ghost Ring Sights. Given the range of a 1894, it's all you need precision-wise and will give you alot more speed for target acquisition than something like a Williams which is what I'd look for in a pistol caliber carbine.

 

[charlie505]

I put Brockman sights on my 44mag 1894 - very nice

http://www.brockmansrifles.com/

 

[Jaguar]

Skinner Sights

I use this on my 39A and I like it a lot. Fits the rifle nicely, looks good, works well, and is relatively inexpensive.

Jeff

 

[woof]

I have heard good things about Skinner sights but I like the stock sights on my Marlin 1894 .357. Besides, changing them would seem, to me, like changing the essence of the rifle. You know - cowboys didn't have peep sights

 

[davera]

Go with a receiver sight of some type. I have the Lyman on my 1894 and my 336. You could also go with a tang sight.

From looking at old Winchester advertisements and product listings, these were certainly NOT unknown to the cowboy.

 

[MrBorland]

I had Wms sights on my 1894, but didn't like having to use a hammer spur, so I installed a rear Skinner sight. I like the compact design of the Skinner sights, and that they can be used without a hammer spur, but the vertical elevation isn't infinitely adjustable; you adjust the sight by simply turning the peep that screws into the base. Since you can only turn it in 180degree increments, it only adjusts in increments. I forgot how many tpi the threads are, but I recall the adjustments come out to something like an inch per 50yards.

 

[xtarheel]

I put XS sights on mine. I like the fact that you can get different size apetures depending on your eyes and shooting needs

 

[ACP230]

My 1894 in .41 Magnum has XS sights installed.

They work very well.

 

[Anotherguy]

I will also recommend the XS ghost ring sights. Easily adjustable and very high quality. No drilling and tapping of the reciever is required. You can easily install them yourself in about 15-20 minutes. They come with two different size ghost rings and others are available to tailor them to your style of shooting. They also provide a longer sight raduis compared to the stock sights. Excellent customer service as well.

 

[Macchina]

It sounds like the XS ghost ring sights are the way to go. They are on sale right now at Midway for $65. It says that it fits "1894 with Integral Ramp", how do I know I have that? The rifle I am getting is the newer model with Ballard Rifling. How are they for accuracy? Can I do 4" at 100 yards?

 

[Anotherguy]

If your rifle is a newer model they will go right on. Mine did with no problems. Just be sure to remove ALL of the factory Loctite from the tapped holes after you remove the factory front sight or it will seem that the provided screws are too long when you try to install the XS front sight.

 

[Cosmoline]

I rigged one up for my Puma 92 out of a busted up old Mojo:



I crafted a dovetail with files to fit the existing slot. It's in there very solid and gives me an instant sight picture. I really like it. Nothing against Ghost Ring sights but if you have a machine shop it's much more satisfying to custom make one yourself to your own preferences.

 

[Hutch]

I'd guess you could find a load that would give you 4" at 100yds off a bench, no trouble. Start w/ 158gr JHP's.

 

[bigdave1121]

I can personally attest that the XS sights are the way to go. I just purchased the scope rail from XS for my 1894 also. I'm really looking forward to getting out there on the range and mounting some sort of scout scope to see how that improves my shooting out past 100 yards.

Anybody have any suggestions on a good scout scope (say 2-7 power)?

 

[Macchina]

I ordered the XS Ghost ring sights a few days ago. My Marlin should show up at my local gun shop on Monday or Tuesday. The new sights will go on the gun before I even take it to the range. Can't wait.

 

[hqmhqm]

I found the Skinner sight very nice because the brass
really fit well with the cowboy rifle time period. I did need to get a slightly taller front sight though.

 

[rcmodel]

Need a hammer extension with a Williams peep sight?

Whats that all about?
They clear the hammer by a mile.


And all Marlins are already drilled & tapped for them.


rcmodel

 

[rugmar]

Bigdave,

I have this one on a 1895M Marlin and absolutely love it. This one is a Burris 2.75X. I also have a Leupold Scout on a 1894ss that I like as well. I do like this Burris Scout just a little better though.

 

[MrBorland]

Need a hammer extension with a Williams peep sight?

Whats that all about?
They clear the hammer by a mile.

Well, I dunno. Just that it didn't clear by a mile on my 1894C. Compared to the reciever on my 336 .35 remington, the reciever on my .357mag 1894C is considerably shorter, which makes sense given it's chamber in a revolver, not rifle, caliber. Installed on the shorter reciever, it hangs very close to the hammer, thus the hammer spur. Maybe I installed it in the wrong spot? I'll have to look again.

 

[Gator]

Something is wrong there, the sight should not be near the hammer.

...cowboys didn't have peep sights.

Sure they did...tang sights! And if XS had been in business back then they'd of all been using those

 

[LooseGrouper]

Something is wrong there, the sight should not be near the hammer.

I believe that Williams sells the exact same sight for both 336s and 1894s. For some reason the two pre-drilled holes on the 1894 are closer to the rear of the receiver (probably something to do with the shorter recieve and standard scope lengths). That causes the sight to hang off the back of the receiver about a half inch. On mine, it only causes a problem when trying to completely lower the hammer, or raise it from the fully lowered position (doesn't contact the hammer, just makes it hard to get to). The sight is pretty much out of the way of the half cocked and full cocked positions.

I've been told this can be fixed by having one additonal hole drilled and tapped (about $35 bucks). I'm looking into it.

 

[Buzztail]

I have the Skinner sight on my 45-70, and love it. I'm also a machinist, and bought the sight for less than the dovetail cutters would have cost. If you only build one, and need to tool up to do it it does't add up. Trust me, I'd rather build everything than buy anything, but the Skinner is a good deal.