Lyman Receiver site or alternative for Marlin 1894?

[brewer12345]

I cannot see the factory irons on my 1894 any more and I would like to be able to use it for deer. I would prefer not to go to a scope since that would make this handy little rifle less so, and I shoot a Marbles tang peep really well on another rifle. A buddy suggested a Lyman 66 receiver sight since my rifle already has the screws to mount it, however the reviews on Midway look less than favorable (several people said it was flimsy). Anyone have any experience with these sights they could share? Is there another, better alternative?

 

[x2501]

Try Skinner sights or XS. I think they'll have what you need.

 

[rcmodel]

Never used Skinner but they get a lot of recommendations.

If you go tang sight, go Marbles, not Lyman.

Marbles has click windage adjustment.

Lyman has to be shimmed over on the tang, or front sight moved sideways to change windage adjustment when sighting in.

rc

 

[35 Whelen]

Watch eBay for one of the old all-steel Lymans or better yet an older Redfield. They're steel and are tough as nails. Or Google Gary Fellers. He has a bazillion receiver sights.

35W

 

[MEHavey]

The Williams FP 336 sight is absolutely perfect in general use -- I have it on two of my `94s (the 45 Colt & 44Mag).

But I had such good luck with the Lyman #2 on my two 1873's, that I put another one on my third `94 in 38 Special just the other day.
It's a superb sight: Simple. Comes w/ two apertures. Sits right next to your eye. Folds down out out of the way for snap shots, Solid as a rock when unfolded; and flawless in function.

 

[dragon813gt]

If you don't plan on adjusting in the field then go w/ a Skinner. I have them on all my Marlins. They are all dialed in for a particular load and I know the holdovers close enough. Not that it matters because anything over 50 yards is a long shot where I hunt. They also look great.

 

[brewer12345]

Then again I wonder if I should not just bite the bullet and pick up a scope. I have a Lyman All American 3X on another lever and it is dandy for large game. A mistake with the 1894?

 

[Kendal Black]

Since no one else has, I'll mention the Roy and Buck option.

Mount a mini red dot to the forward receiver. Roy Rogers, meet Buck Rogers.

There are traditionalists who moan if you even put a telescope a lever action. But the red dot actually complements the fast natural handling of a lever carbine. I figure that men were practical in the century before last. If they had possessed modern sights they would have used them.

 

[brewer12345]

Red dot is an interesting thought, but eyesight is an issue. Peeps seem to work for me, but I have never used a red dot. No magnification, right? Do they have the same optical illusion mojo going that the peeps have?

 

[Kendal Black]

If you have uncorrected astigmatism the dot looks like a bunch of grapes.

Other than that, if you put the bunch of grapes on the target you are on, because a good quality dot sight has minimal parallax at any useful distance.

I find the best way to use a dot is to focus both eyes downrange, looking at the target, and raise the rifle until the sight gives me an aiming reference, like a heads up display.

 

[Bobson]

I just put the Skinner Reliable on my 336. Love it, super sturdy and a nice improvement.

 

[Airman Basic]

Had good luck with the Williams.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I have the XS on my 94 that is a 44 mag and it works fine for me. I also put one on the 95 which is a 45/70.
It's a good hunting sight, more of a ghost ring than a target peep.

 

[readyeddy]

The red dot or scope will superimpose the dot/reticle on the target to present a single focal point. An aperature sight has two focal points (target and front sight), and leaf sights have three focal points (target, front and rear sights).

So the red dot or scope are the easiest on the eyes.

 

[gwpercle]

I had the same problem...old eyes and a Winchester 94 . A scope is out of place on a lever and since the holes were already drilled, on an impulse , I picked up a used Williams 5D receiver sight at a gun show. I knew my 94 was drilled and tapped for one . The sight came with a standard peep with .096 aperture .
I like the sight and it works for old eyes. the more expensive Williams FP has click adjustments .
Just to experiment with, I ordered a smaller .070 and a larger .125 to see how they worked...haven't tested them yet.
The trouble with Red Dots might be mounting them. I had a devil of a time getting a red dot mounted on a S&W model 64 , it has fixed sights and mounting without milling drilling and tapping wasn't easy.
Go with the receiver sight first, easy mounting and they just look right on a lever.
The Williams is not flimsy , I can recommend it and would buy another. I like the way you look through the peep hole and your eye naturally centers it so all you focus on is the front and target. The smaller diameter aperture sharpens your focus . And no batteries to change or fail in the middle of a hunt !
Gary

 

[stiab]

The Lyman 66 works great on my 1894, I highly recommend it...

 

[greyling22]

I've used 2 different williams, the skinner, a scout scope, and now a fixed 2.5x scope on my 1894.
I like the value offered by the williams 5d a great deal, and I was able to keep my front sight. But it was a little bulky.
The williams wgrs http://www.brownells.com/UserDocs/Miscellaneous/mgr_decwb8.jpg mounted funny and I needed a taller fornt sight.
I tried the skinner lo-pro next, and it was very compact and sleek, but I missed having windage adjustment. I was able to use my factory front sight.
I have not used it, but a regular skinner will require a new front sight.
The scout scope worked, but I never really took a liking to it. Apparently my shooting eye is not my dominant eye, so both eyes open didn't work, and with 1 eye closed the field of view was tiny. awkward looking mount position too.
Finally I went with a leupold fx2 2.5x20. smallest scope I could find, and I love it. kind of tricky to mount through. too far forward for a regular scope mount, too far back for a scout mount. Wound up using a scout mount and chopping the front off. (obligatory pic below)

 

[brewer12345]

After some thought and considering what I want to use this rifle for, I am on the hunt for another vintage Lyman scope similar to what I have on another lever. These scopes are relatively compact, fit the dimensions of the rifle well, and are pretty good quality for the money. I nee to be able to confidently take 100 to 125 yard shots and have a high likelihood of making a humane kill on a deer or hog (and we are talking about mule deer and 200+ pound hogs). With my eyes a peep is a 50 yard (maybe 75) proposition, and my eyesight is only going in one direction as I head toward 50. So call it facing reality.

For small game, I can definitely do a peep/open sights because the distances are not as far and even a marginal hit usually means I can take a second shot and finish them off. With large game I think I owe it to the animal and myself to be able to make a kill shot at the ranges I need to rather than either greatly restricting my range or taking potentially iffy shots and having a mess to deal with.