The Marlin 39 Club - Page 3

grizz · March 20, 2007, 12:12 AM

I'm very interested in a 39. After a year of buying several EBRs and hi-cap handguns, I think my lusting is now turning back towards the fine grained stocks and blued barrels of traditional hunting rifles and shotguns.

Besides a CZ Ringneck SxS 20ga, I'm considering a CZ bolt .22, or now the 39. I was thinking about the Henry Golden Boy, but I was just reading about how the Marlin is built like a tank, and is well regarded for its accuracy. I also love lever guns, expecially Marlins.

I don't want to hijack this thread with my decision making process so I'll stop here. I realize this is a club thread, and I'm sorry to say I don't own a 39 yet.

From the 10 minutes of reading I've just conducted, however, they seem like great rifles. The 39 just might beat out the CZ as my next purchase.

--Grizz

Nematocyst · March 20, 2007, 02:45 AM

Quote:

I think my lusting is now turning back towards the fine grained stocks and blued barrels of traditional hunting rifles and shotguns...I don't want to hijack this thread with my decision making process so I'll stop here. I realize this is a club thread, and I'm sorry to say I don't own a 39 yet.

Grizz,

You've come to the right place.

Trust me, you're not hijacking at all. As long as the topic involves 39s in some way, it's on topic.
This thread ("club") is for anyone interested in (even exploring) a 39. Ownership is NOT a requirement.

If you'd like opinions about how bolt .22s compare with levers, just ask. You'll find them here.

The "club" concept is not about being exclusive. It's NOT about ownership. It's just a place in cyberspace where owners can come and discuss their guns, and those interested in the gun (whether they own one or not) can find information (or links to it) that they want/need in one place without having to search many different threads. "Club" threads are intended to be a clearinghouse for information with links to other threads (on THR or not). They are not meant to replace other threads. Far from it. They are meant to connect them, to help pull the pieces together into a coherent whole, kind of like an encyclopedia does.

In the end, the gun that is the focus of a "club" (just a metaphorical name for a thread) may be right for some, and not for others. That's cool.

If people can find what they want/need to make a decision - pro or con - by visiting the thread, then it's successful. (If not, then just ask!)

It's very interesting that your decision involves a CZ. My path to the 39A involved a CZ 452. The latter is a fine gun. Truly a tack driver. But I realized I'm just not a bolt gun guy, so I sold the 452 to a friend who is more bolt oriented than me. (Actually, I bought my 39A even before I sold the 452.)

I never owned an EBR though I still own an EBS: evil black shotgun = 870P,
which is still my main HD gun (and will remain so; see user name).

But as one who has owned pumps (first: an 870 Wingmaster in 16 ga; now the 870P); then levers (first a 336C .35 Rem in my youth; now a 336A in .30-30); then revolvers (first was a Taurus .38 snubbie; now 642, 686 and soon another J or K frame), I came to understand that my love was for ...

... levers, pumps & wheels.

Welcome to the "club".

Nem

Piney Woods · March 20, 2007, 04:03 PM

Count me in, please.

I have a 1954 vintage 39A that I picked up in 2004. Put a Williams Foolproof FireSight on it and it's a real tack driver, even with my old eyes. I use it mostly at our 22 Plate Shoots, but I may put a tang sight on it for Cowboy Action Shooting side matches.

It fits right in with my other Marlins: an 1894 Cowboy Limited in 45 Colt and an 1895G 45-70 Guide Gun.

yodar · March 20, 2007, 06:59 PM

HOWEVER, HOW BADLY WAS MY 39a'S VALUE (CIRCA THE LATER 50'S) LOWERED by my discovering a bulged barrel and it's subsequent replacement recently by Marlin with a Golden 39A replacement barrel clearly not matched to the receiver's
era

Barrel replacement cost me more than dad paid for the Rifle

yodar

Nematocyst · March 23, 2007, 03:32 AM

Piney and Yodar, welcome.

I've been away for a few days dealing with my last week of classes
and an equipment failure in the studio. Will get back to business here soon.

Piney, very interested to hear more about those William's FP sights.
How do you compare them with a scope? I've got a Leupold 2-7X rimfire on my 39A, and like it a lot. But if the FP's are as good ...

Yodar, "bulged barrel"? Can we hear more about that? Never heard of it before. What would cause a bulged barrel? (Tell me so I can avoid it...

)

Nem

Piney Woods · March 23, 2007, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematocyst-870

Piney, very interested to hear more about those William's FP sights. How do you compare them with a scope? I've got a Leupold 2-7X rimfire on my 39A, and like it a lot. But if the FP's are as good ...

I don't know how I'd compare them to a scope, other than the fact that - IMHO - a scope looks out of place on a lever action rifle. I have two 10/22s - one with a 3X-9X scope and one with Williams FireSights - and I can shoot equally well with both unless the targets are really small or get out too far, then the scope is definitely an advantage. One thing's for sure; they are waaaaaay better than traditional post and notch iron sights. As my CAS teacher kept telling me, "Front Sight, Front Sight, Front Sight!" The fiberoptic front sight is really easy to pick up.

koja48 · March 23, 2007, 09:59 AM

Count me in!

Nematocyst · March 23, 2007, 05:52 PM

Welcome, Koja. Tell us stories, please. Got one? Want one? Got one, want another?

Piney, that's a really compelling perspective on the FP's. Yeah, I gotta try a set. I'm a .22 scope guy from waaaaaaayyyyy back (Weaver or Swift 3x9 on a Nylon 66 often got my mom and dad 'n me dinner in my teens...), but I gotta agree: on this rifle, somepins' not qwight right 'bout a scope.

I'll just have'ta see how it pans out.

I've put XS ghost rings on my 336, and can tell that once I get to the range (soon, I promise myself, soon; just finishing up a term, got some time next week...), they're going to make a HUGE difference over the stock sights. I may put a scout scope on it eventually, but haven't decided yet.

I'm sort of in the same place with the 39: exploring options. I know I don't want GR's on it, and I don't like the open buck horns. Besides that, the sky is the limit.

This is largely why I'm looking forward to scope and sight summaries soon (gee; pardon my alliteration

): so's I can put all this information about options in one place, sit back and think about it ....

OK, back to work. "Vacation" doesn't start 'til tomorrow...

Nem

skeeter1 · March 23, 2007, 06:54 PM

I wouldn't do something like this any longer, but it was fun at the time.

Quote:

Yeah, I remember shooting bottles in the creek, too.
Like you, I wouldn't do it now, but it felt right then.

This was probably 30 years ago at the Grand River hunting area (~7000 acres) in Ohio. I was squirrel hunting that day, but there were no critters to be found. So... there were some "slob" hunters upstream from me that were throwing their beer cans in the river, and there are few things better than sinking them with a 39 and a few boxes of .22LRs.

It was still a fun day, even if I didn't bag a squirrel. I think the inebriated hunters (I could hear them from about a quarter-mile away) scared them all off.

CajunBass · March 23, 2007, 07:20 PM

Will this one get me in? I think I got it in 1982. It's wearing a cheap Bushnell "Banner" scope, but will shoot 10 shot groups the size of my little fingernail at 25 yards.

I got a case of the dumbs last year, and thought about trading it. I'm glad I thought it was worth more than they did. Never again.

Pay no attention to that Ruger Box. I had just bought a 10/22 and the box was just there.

Rollis R. Karvellis · March 23, 2007, 08:06 PM

Bought mine about three years ago, and put the willims peep sight on. No failer to fire but a few failer to extrat, I, will findout sunday if this continus with remington.

koja48 · March 23, 2007, 09:15 PM

Had mine since I was a kid . . . it's gathered lots of "character" over the years & spent countless hours with me on a combine in NE Montana wheat fields. Factory sights, extremely reliable, and when I was a lad, was the bane of jackrabbits.

Bentonville · March 23, 2007, 09:53 PM

I got a Marlin 39A last fall. It was manufactured in 1946 and the wood looks like it was made ten years ago. Beautiful gun. Just normal wear on the muzzle and one side of the hammer and the inner surface of the lever. I have a Problem...HELP if you can. I lost the rear sight elevator and I can not find one to match it. Marlin doesn't have them. The style of the rear sight changed in the early fifties. Numrich had one but the smallest end is a little too high and makes the gun shoot high. Brownell's had a kit and the same problem exists with that elevator. Does anyone have an original rear sight elevator that you're not needing? Thanks and keep those Marlins pumping out lead. My son is more accurate with my rifle than I am.

Brassman · March 23, 2007, 11:42 PM

I'm not familiar with the difference in your sight elevator and my new one, but is it possible to file the one you have down a little?

Brassman · March 23, 2007, 11:52 PM

I just received my Tim Skinner sights today. It took about 3-4 minutes to install them. My 39A and I are headed to the range in the morning to see how these things perform. That ring sure looks better than the scope that I removed. I just hope my eyes are still good enough to group shots like I could with the scope on. I don't think I could ever hold mine still enough to group small fingernail-size groups like Cajunbass, but I might could do dime-size groups. That's good enough for minute of squirrel head.

dfariswheel · March 24, 2007, 12:16 AM

Bentonville

Here's some possible sources for the earlier elevator:

Jack First
1201 Turbine Drive, Rapid City, SD 57701.
(605) 343-9544
Check here first, but be sure to explain exactly what you need.

http://www.poppertsgunparts.com/index.htm

http://www.wisnersinc.com/rifles/marlin/rflever.htm

Marlin 39 parts often turn up on eBay, and you could ask on the Marlin Collectors forum:
http://www.marlin-collectors.com/

tubeshooter · March 24, 2007, 12:56 AM

Obligatory club member post....

I saw this thread about 2 weeks ago, but haven't had time to say anything until now. I have a newer one (manufactured in 2006), got it back in October. So far it has lived up to my high expectations. Well worth the long wait.

Can't compare it to other .22 levers (never owned/shot any), but I think it was money well spent. Added a Williams 5D and a sling - that's about all I plan on doing as far as upgrades.

Makes a nice "little brother" to my 336. I've only got about 2 bricks or so through it, but I plan on shooting it a bunch and getting real good with it when the weather warms up some more.

skeeter1 · March 24, 2007, 02:04 AM

Quote:

I'm not familiar with the difference in your sight elevator and my new one, but is it possible to file the one you have down a little?

If you have one, and a vice, and some blueing touch-up, that sounds like a great smithy practice job. Won't cost you much, and it doesn't sound like you have much to lose. Sounds like a fun Saturday afternoon project!

Nematocyst · March 24, 2007, 02:19 AM

Welcome to new members.

Remember, readers: you don't have to be a 39 owner to be in the club,
just express an interest or have questions or opinions.

Please let me know if I left anyone off the list.
________

Aka108 (Aka)
Bazooka Joe71 (Joe)
Bentonville (Ben)
Borrowedtime69 (Time)
Brassman (Brass)
Brian Williams (Brian)
Buckinbroncobaby (Buck)
CajunBass (Cajun)
CrackerJim (CJ)
Dfariswheel (Dfaris)
Dr.Rob (Rob)
Fast Frank (Frank)
F4t9r (F4)
Grizz (Grizz)
Henry455 (Henry)
Jkingrph (J'King)
JohnBT (John)
JustsayMo (Mo)
Koja48 (Koja)
Laloremus (Lalo)
Lee Lapin (Lee)
Moondancer (Moon)
NailGun (Nail)
Nematocyst-870 (Nem)
Piney Woods (Piney)
Rollis R. Karvellis (Rollis)
Saltydog452 (Salty)
Sistema1927 (S'tema)
Skeeter1 (Skeet)
Shane333 (Shane)
Shrinkmd (Shrink)
SwampWolf (Wolf)
TCB in TN (TCB)
Tubeshooter (Tube)
Vaarok (Vaarok)
Yodar (Yodar)

Bentonville · March 24, 2007, 09:51 AM

Thank you for the suggestions. I am calling the suggested companies now. I will try filing if I can't find the original article. I know it won't affect function but I would like to have the original parts. I have to say that without the elevator the gun is scary accurate at up to 25 yards with bead dead on target.

Nematocyst · March 24, 2007, 03:27 PM

Ben, if you can't find originals, it could be worthwhile in this case (to preserve the aesthetics of an older rifle) to consult a metal fabricator or a machine shop. If you at least had an image of the original part, they could probably make one for you for not too many bucks.

skeeter1 · March 24, 2007, 04:44 PM

I was afraid my Marlin 39D would get lonely in the safe, so I got him a big brother to keep him company -- Marlin 1894C in .357 Magnum.

As you can see, I'm a Marlin levergun fan. All things considered, though, the 39 is my favorite. I can shoot all day for a few bucks (.357 ammo has gotten rather pricey), and it kills tin cans just as well.

Nematocyst · March 24, 2007, 04:54 PM

Skeet, what's that scope on the 39, please?

skeeter1 · March 24, 2007, 11:10 PM

Nemato--

The scope on the 39 is a Weatherby 4X-50, intended for a Weatherby Mark XXII.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=68377932

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=68405192

It's not the best fit in the world, but optically, it's the best scope I have. Long discontinued.

Brassman · March 24, 2007, 11:12 PM

Finally got to try out my Skinner aperture sights today at the range. I did not install the front, only the rear sight. There was a little adjustment to be done at the first. The rear was a little low. It took about 3 turns of the aperture post to get it high enough. The lane that I was given was not a full 25 yds because of cable problems the last 5 or 6 yds. But at about 20 yards I could group about a nickel-size diameter. I left the small aperture in the sight and had absolutely no problem getting a sight picture. I think I'm really gonna like these things and they sure look better than my scope did. I keep thinking Roy Rogers (childhood hero) would have used a ghost ring, not a scope.

March 20, 2007, 04:03 PM	#53
Piney Woods Member Join Date: September 7, 2006 Location: "Live Free or Die" NH USA Posts: 81	Count me in, please. I have a 1954 vintage 39A that I picked up in 2004. Put a Williams Foolproof FireSight on it and it's a real tack driver, even with my old eyes. I use it mostly at our 22 Plate Shoots, but I may put a tang sight on it for Cowboy Action Shooting side matches. It fits right in with my other Marlins: an 1894 Cowboy Limited in 45 Colt and an 1895G 45-70 Guide Gun. __________________ Piney Woods NRA Life, SASS Life, GONH, Libertarian www.PineyWoodsPlace.com/ www.piecesofwood.com/ "Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional."

March 20, 2007, 06:59 PM	#54
yodar Member Join Date: January 1, 2003 Location: FL. Posts: 160	ADD ME TO CLUB 39A too HOWEVER, HOW BADLY WAS MY 39a'S VALUE (CIRCA THE LATER 50'S) LOWERED by my discovering a bulged barrel and it's subsequent replacement recently by Marlin with a Golden 39A replacement barrel clearly not matched to the receiver's era Barrel replacement cost me more than dad paid for the Rifle yodar __________________ Words MEAN things

March 23, 2007, 07:20 PM	#60
CajunBass Member Join Date: June 2, 2005 Location: Chancellorsville, Virginia Posts: 4,485	Will this one get me in? I think I got it in 1982. It's wearing a cheap Bushnell "Banner" scope, but will shoot 10 shot groups the size of my little fingernail at 25 yards. I got a case of the dumbs last year, and thought about trading it. I'm glad I thought it was worth more than they did. Never again. Pay no attention to that Ruger Box. I had just bought a 10/22 and the box was just there. __________________ For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV) Last edited by CajunBass; March 23, 2007 at 08:11 PM.

March 23, 2007, 11:42 PM	#64
Brassman Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 278	Bentonville I'm not familiar with the difference in your sight elevator and my new one, but is it possible to file the one you have down a little?

March 24, 2007, 02:19 AM	#69
Nematocyst Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: 44°N x 69°W Posts: 11,607	Updated club membership roster Welcome to new members. Remember, readers: you don't have to be a 39 owner to be in the club, just express an interest or have questions or opinions. Please let me know if I left anyone off the list. ________ Aka108 (Aka) Bazooka Joe71 (Joe) Bentonville (Ben) Borrowedtime69 (Time) Brassman (Brass) Brian Williams (Brian) Buckinbroncobaby (Buck) CajunBass (Cajun) CrackerJim (CJ) Dfariswheel (Dfaris) Dr.Rob (Rob) Fast Frank (Frank) F4t9r (F4) Grizz (Grizz) Henry455 (Henry) Jkingrph (J'King) JohnBT (John) JustsayMo (Mo) Koja48 (Koja) Laloremus (Lalo) Lee Lapin (Lee) Moondancer (Moon) NailGun (Nail) Nematocyst-870 (Nem) Piney Woods (Piney) Rollis R. Karvellis (Rollis) Saltydog452 (Salty) Sistema1927 (S'tema) Skeeter1 (Skeet) Shane333 (Shane) Shrinkmd (Shrink) SwampWolf (Wolf) TCB in TN (TCB) Tubeshooter (Tube) Vaarok (Vaarok) Yodar (Yodar) Last edited by Nematocyst; March 26, 2007 at 05:51 PM. Reason: adding names that joined after this post

March 20, 2007, 12:12 AM	#51
grizz Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 412	I'm very interested in a 39. After a year of buying several EBRs and hi-cap handguns, I think my lusting is now turning back towards the fine grained stocks and blued barrels of traditional hunting rifles and shotguns. Besides a CZ Ringneck SxS 20ga, I'm considering a CZ bolt .22, or now the 39. I was thinking about the Henry Golden Boy, but I was just reading about how the Marlin is built like a tank, and is well regarded for its accuracy. I also love lever guns, expecially Marlins. I don't want to hijack this thread with my decision making process so I'll stop here. I realize this is a club thread, and I'm sorry to say I don't own a 39 yet. From the 10 minutes of reading I've just conducted, however, they seem like great rifles. The 39 just might beat out the CZ as my next purchase. --Grizz

March 23, 2007, 03:32 AM	#55
Nematocyst Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: 44°N x 69°W Posts: 11,607	Piney and Yodar, welcome. I've been away for a few days dealing with my last week of classes and an equipment failure in the studio. Will get back to business here soon. Piney, very interested to hear more about those William's FP sights. How do you compare them with a scope? I've got a Leupold 2-7X rimfire on my 39A, and like it a lot. But if the FP's are as good ... Yodar, "bulged barrel"? Can we hear more about that? Never heard of it before. What would cause a bulged barrel? (Tell me so I can avoid it... ) Nem

March 23, 2007, 09:59 AM	#57
koja48 member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: SE WA State Posts: 1,912	Count me in!

March 23, 2007, 05:52 PM	#58
Nematocyst Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: 44°N x 69°W Posts: 11,607	Welcome, Koja. Tell us stories, please. Got one? Want one? Got one, want another? Piney, that's a really compelling perspective on the FP's. Yeah, I gotta try a set. I'm a .22 scope guy from waaaaaaayyyyy back (Weaver or Swift 3x9 on a Nylon 66 often got my mom and dad 'n me dinner in my teens...), but I gotta agree: on this rifle, somepins' not qwight right 'bout a scope. I'll just have'ta see how it pans out. I've put XS ghost rings on my 336, and can tell that once I get to the range (soon, I promise myself, soon; just finishing up a term, got some time next week...), they're going to make a HUGE difference over the stock sights. I may put a scout scope on it eventually, but haven't decided yet. I'm sort of in the same place with the 39: exploring options. I know I don't want GR's on it, and I don't like the open buck horns. Besides that, the sky is the limit. This is largely why I'm looking forward to scope and sight summaries soon (gee; pardon my alliteration ): so's I can put all this information about options in one place, sit back and think about it .... OK, back to work. "Vacation" doesn't start 'til tomorrow... Nem

March 23, 2007, 08:06 PM	#61
Rollis R. Karvellis Member Join Date: February 16, 2007 Location: S.E. OHIO Posts: 706	Bought mine about three years ago, and put the willims peep sight on. No failer to fire but a few failer to extrat, I, will findout sunday if this continus with remington.

March 23, 2007, 09:15 PM	#62
koja48 member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: SE WA State Posts: 1,912	Had mine since I was a kid . . . it's gathered lots of "character" over the years & spent countless hours with me on a combine in NE Montana wheat fields. Factory sights, extremely reliable, and when I was a lad, was the bane of jackrabbits.

March 23, 2007, 09:53 PM	#63
Bentonville Member Join Date: June 18, 2006 Posts: 372	I got a Marlin 39A last fall. It was manufactured in 1946 and the wood looks like it was made ten years ago. Beautiful gun. Just normal wear on the muzzle and one side of the hammer and the inner surface of the lever. I have a Problem...HELP if you can. I lost the rear sight elevator and I can not find one to match it. Marlin doesn't have them. The style of the rear sight changed in the early fifties. Numrich had one but the smallest end is a little too high and makes the gun shoot high. Brownell's had a kit and the same problem exists with that elevator. Does anyone have an original rear sight elevator that you're not needing? Thanks and keep those Marlins pumping out lead. My son is more accurate with my rifle than I am.

March 23, 2007, 11:52 PM	#65
Brassman Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 278	I just received my Tim Skinner sights today. It took about 3-4 minutes to install them. My 39A and I are headed to the range in the morning to see how these things perform. That ring sure looks better than the scope that I removed. I just hope my eyes are still good enough to group shots like I could with the scope on. I don't think I could ever hold mine still enough to group small fingernail-size groups like Cajunbass, but I might could do dime-size groups. That's good enough for minute of squirrel head.

March 24, 2007, 12:16 AM	#66
dfariswheel Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Posts: 5,736	Bentonville Here's some possible sources for the earlier elevator: Jack First 1201 Turbine Drive, Rapid City, SD 57701. (605) 343-9544 Check here first, but be sure to explain exactly what you need. http://www.poppertsgunparts.com/index.htm http://www.wisnersinc.com/rifles/marlin/rflever.htm Marlin 39 parts often turn up on eBay, and you could ask on the Marlin Collectors forum: http://www.marlin-collectors.com/

March 24, 2007, 12:56 AM	#67
tubeshooter Member Join Date: August 15, 2006 Posts: 752	Obligatory club member post.... I saw this thread about 2 weeks ago, but haven't had time to say anything until now. I have a newer one (manufactured in 2006), got it back in October. So far it has lived up to my high expectations. Well worth the long wait. Can't compare it to other .22 levers (never owned/shot any), but I think it was money well spent. Added a Williams 5D and a sling - that's about all I plan on doing as far as upgrades. Makes a nice "little brother" to my 336. I've only got about 2 bricks or so through it, but I plan on shooting it a bunch and getting real good with it when the weather warms up some more.

March 24, 2007, 09:51 AM	#70
Bentonville Member Join Date: June 18, 2006 Posts: 372	Thank you for the suggestions. I am calling the suggested companies now. I will try filing if I can't find the original article. I know it won't affect function but I would like to have the original parts. I have to say that without the elevator the gun is scary accurate at up to 25 yards with bead dead on target.

March 24, 2007, 03:27 PM	#71
Nematocyst Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: 44°N x 69°W Posts: 11,607	Ben, if you can't find originals, it could be worthwhile in this case (to preserve the aesthetics of an older rifle) to consult a metal fabricator or a machine shop. If you at least had an image of the original part, they could probably make one for you for not too many bucks.

March 24, 2007, 04:54 PM	#73
Nematocyst Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: 44°N x 69°W Posts: 11,607	Skeet, what's that scope on the 39, please?

March 24, 2007, 11:10 PM	#74
skeeter1 Member Join Date: July 30, 2006 Location: Northest Ohio Posts: 385	Nemato-- The scope on the 39 is a Weatherby 4X-50, intended for a Weatherby Mark XXII. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=68377932 http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=68405192 It's not the best fit in the world, but optically, it's the best scope I have. Long discontinued.

March 24, 2007, 11:12 PM	#75
Brassman Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 278	Finally got to try out my Skinner aperture sights today at the range. I did not install the front, only the rear sight. There was a little adjustment to be done at the first. The rear was a little low. It took about 3 turns of the aperture post to get it high enough. The lane that I was given was not a full 25 yds because of cable problems the last 5 or 6 yds. But at about 20 yards I could group about a nickel-size diameter. I left the small aperture in the sight and had absolutely no problem getting a sight picture. I think I'm really gonna like these things and they sure look better than my scope did. I keep thinking Roy Rogers (childhood hero) would have used a ghost ring, not a scope.