Peep sight for a Marlin 1894

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v8stang289

v8stang289

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I recently aquired a '78 Marlin 1894 in 44 mag.
I've found a couple of good loads for it, and while the Buckhorn sights are perfectly useable, I think I'd prefer a peep.

I've looked at Williams, Lyman, Skinner, and Ranger point so far. But I'm not sure which one would be best.
I'm kind of leaning towards Williams or Lyman, just because of how adjustable they are and they look like they can get lower to the receiver than the top mount ones.
I would prefer to keep the factory front sight.

Any experience with these or any other peeps on Marlins?
Thanks
 
They all work fine, think the new Lyman are aluminum so I'd get the Williams first for the money. I like xs sights to I've used them on a few Marlins. Some peeps you may need I higher front sight to. The xs if you buy the peep and the front sight and it's the wrong night they will send you the front sight you need. Think I still have a xs peep and front sight from my last 1894 44 somewhere.
 
For a new sight, the Williams is fine. It lacks the appeal of the older steel Redfield and Lyman sights but they work fine. I like the Foolproof over the 5D or WGRS. They're also aluminum but seem to have a better reputation than the aluminum Lymans. In fact, I've had to replace my lone aluminum Lyman due to breakage.
 
I've used the Williams on a couple of lever actions. If you go that route spend the few extra dollars for the foolproof over the 5D. On my 1894CS I went with the Ranger Point Precision peep. It works with my factory front sight and I find that I prefer it over the Williams. I did use the standard round aperture (.125) instead of their cloverleaf pattern.
 
So, another question. Regarding the Williams, for the 1894 they show the FP-336, which mounts using the rear scope mount holes, and hangs over the hammer slightly on the 1894

Will the FP 94/36 fit? It uses the holes in the side of the receiver, and mounts a little further forward.
I'd rather have a side mount if it will fit.
It seems like it would, but it's listed as fitting the 1895 and 336. The 1894 isn't listed for the side mount.
 
If you look at my photo above, 3rd from the L is my 1894, 5th from L is a 336.... it doesn’t obscure the hammer.
 
Charlie98 said:
If you look at my photo above, 3rd from the L is my 1894, 5th from L is a 336.... it doesn’t obscure the hammer.
Click to expand...
Is it an FP336 that mounts in the scope holes on the 1894?
I know it doesn't obscure the hammer on the 336, as the receiver is slightly longer. But Williams say the FP336 overhangs the hammer on the 1894.
 
Williams are great. I have the FP on several rifles. I prefer a tang sight when possible but they are pricey, especially if you want windage adjustability. I’d say that if you want it for practicality rather than looks, the Williams of good value for money and for 44 Mag should work fine with the factory front sight.
 
I have the Williams on my 1894 44 Mag. You may want to change out the front sight to improve the sight picture (I prefer an ivory bead. also you may need to adjust the front sight height for elevation--but I have only run into this problem on a Winchester Model 94 Trapper).
 
v8stang289 said:
So, another question. Regarding the Williams, for the 1894 they show the FP-336, which mounts using the rear scope mount holes, and hangs over the hammer slightly on the 1894

Will the FP 94/36 fit? It uses the holes in the side of the receiver, and mounts a little further forward.
I'd rather have a side mount if it will fit.
It seems like it would, but it's listed as fitting the 1895 and 336. The 1894 isn't listed for the side mount.
Click to expand...
The 1894 will have to be a top mount.
 
I have Williams sights on a 1894 Win Trapper .44 and an 1895 CB Marlin .45/70, Lyman sights on a 1895G .45/70. I like them both.

The Lyman steel version feels a bit sturdier than the aluminum Williams’ do, but that may just be psychological as neither one has had an issue to date.

I do replace the buckhorn rear sights with folding rear sights after adding the peep instead of putting in a slot blank. While it’ll most likely be a rare thing, you just never know if you’ll need to unscrew a peep and use the rear sight if it’s damaged in the field.

Stay safe.
 
I have a Lyman on my 1894 that has always worked well and a Williams FoolProof on my 336, but if I were buying one again today I would consider the Ranger Point Precision. It is pricey, but I really like the design and chances are you won't have to change your front sight. I actually have one for a Henry 327 Fed Mag I bought, but haven't had enough time to mount it!

https://rangerpointstore.com/henry-cloverleaf-peep-sights
 
Riomouse911 said:
I have Williams sights on a 1894 Win Trapper .44 and an 1895 CB Marlin .45/70, Lyman sights on a 1895G .45/70. I like them both.

The Lyman steel version feels a bit sturdier than the aluminum Williams’ do, but that may just be psychological as neither one has had an issue to date.

I do replace the buckhorn rear sights with folding rear sights after adding the peep instead of putting in a slot blank. While it’ll most likely be a rare thing, you just never know if you’ll need to unscrew a peep and use the rear sight if it’s damaged in the field.

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
The buckhorn sight on it now is the folding variety, so hopefully it will fold out of the line of sight.
 
I've used both the Lyman, Williams and Skinner and have no regrets with any of them. My druthers are for he Williams FP for the ease of zeroing over say their 5D model. Too, I've never had to change out a front sight with either Lyman or Williams. Currently, I have a Skinner on my Marlin 1894 in .41 Magnum using the original front sight and a Williams FP on my 1894CS .357, with a Skinner blade front.

I had a Williams WGRS, on one of my Marlins, the 336 in .35 Rem IIRC, and found it ok, but hard to zero and I was afraid of its delicacy while hunting, and especially in a horse scabbard.

The Skinner is a very low streamlined installation using the scope mount holes in the receiver top. The only draw back is that it takes considerable time to zero it, and once set, it's only good for one load. With either the Williams or comparable Lyman, you can memorize the setting for various loads a switch from one to the other with little problem. I've hunted with all three successfully and see little difference when actually shooting. For deer hunting out to 100 yds, I prefer the Skinner and usually with the aperture removed for a wider field of view. Shots here in KY are rarely over 100 yds in our neck of the woods.

Tang mounted peeps are another story and while I like them, and have used several (Lyman and Marbles), they are a bit more delicate and most lack any sort of windage adjustment. You either have to drift the front sight for windage or shim the tang base. I've done both successfully, but again, it's a PITA and somewhat delicate.

Lastly, I used the link in post #17 to check out the Ranger Point offering and it does look interesting. I'm not a fiber optic fan but that clover leaf peep has me wondering...just not sure I want to send 'em $110+ to satisfy my curiosity.

With all of the above, I use a folding rear open sight up on the bbl and have memorized it's notch zero in case the rear peep gets bent, busted or the wx makes it unusable...rain/snow, can and has been a sometime problem with peeps...and you can't always blow it our or fiddle with a bent grass stem to clear the aperture.

Best regards, Rod
 
All of my Marlins, save the 1889 .38-40, are drilled for receiver sights, as shown in post #22. My newest is either my 189CS .357, built in '96 or my 1894 .41 Mag. built in '87. Those twin holes allow mounting of either the Williams or Lyman receiver sights...as I think most of you know. Rod
 
Last edited:
Both these rifles were fitted with top mount Williams Foolproof receiver sights. The top rifle is getting a new front sight anyway and the bottom rifle is new(ish) and hadn't been zeroed yet. So I went ahead and removed their peep sights for the pics.

Here's about a 14yr old "JM" 1894CB Limited.

D23BB063-0100-41A5-B8CE-C1EE5506EE6C.jpg

And a late model 1895.

4A68219A-4E74-46FD-8953-4A3815E6D6D1.jpg
 
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