Peepsight for a Ruger number 3

[loose noose]

I'm still looking for a peep sight for the above rifle in 30-40. It is drilled and tapped for a scope mount, but so far have been unable to even find the scope mount for that rifle. The sights on it are terrible to say the least. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Silent Sam]

Nothing wrong with the open sights on #3s. What is so "terrible" about them? Anyway factory drilled #3s take #85 & #86 Weaver bases. Search "Ruger #3 scope bases" and you'll find what you've been looking for. You can use any Weaver style rings you want. Any peep that fits a Weaver base will work. Check Williams or NECG. If you need to adjust the front sight height they are available also. It is dovetailed into the barrel band mount. Any place that sells peep/aperture sights should have front sights that will fit the std dovetail.

 

[steveno]

you might check the Paul Matthews book "Forty Years with the 45-70". I haven't read the book in a while I kind of remember that he put a receiver sight on a Ruger #3

 

[AK103K]

I put a set of XS sights on mine. No complaints.

https://www.xssights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=8410

 

[loose noose]

I thank you guys for the information, I just ordered from Midway a Weaver rear mount #85, and the NECG Peep sight CZ550. The reason I wanted a peep sight over the open buckhorn type sights on my Ruger #3, is my old eyes (68) needed a much better sight picture than what the #3 provided me. I thought about a scope, however I didn't want to break up the over all appearance of that little carbine. Hopefully next year I'll get drawn for elk, and the farthest I've ever had to shoot an elk, where I hunt is about 75 yards. I do believe that 30-40Krag should do the trick, once I have that peep sight installed. Again I thank you folks.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Loose Noose, you'll also need to install a taller front sight.
The peep sight installed on top of the scope base is quite a bit taller than the factory iron sights.
I think you'll be happier with a low mounted scope such as a Leupold 1-4x or 1.5-5x. I have a 1.5-5x mounted on a Marlin 1895 GuideGun. Couldn't be happier.

I wish Ruger would make another run of #3's. An acquaintance in college had one in .45/70. Factory ammo was surprisingly mild. I later had one in .22Hornet. Only, I found out after first firing, it had been converted to .22Hornet, and chamber was botched... Later traded it off to someone that could afford to send it back to Ruger for re barreling. That was 30+ years ago, I'd like to have another...

 

[MEHavey]

This is not hard.

Put a WILLIAMS SIGHTon it -- directly fits existing scope mounting screw holes
-- stays low and puts the aperture close back toward your eye.

The above link has the picture.
THIS LINK has the sight available (10803 FP-RSS)

I have similar Williams on three other `94 & `95 Marlins. The link above fits the Ruger #1/3

.

 

[AK103K]

Im trying to picture how that Williams would mount, since the holes are on top of the barrel.

As far as the NECG peep's, I had one for my Ruger 77/357, and while it was well made, it was very "fiddly", and would not mount on the rear most mounting point, where it needed to be, as it interfered with the bolt. On that specific sight, you cant remove the aperture, so you can have a ghost ring, as the aperture is the lock for the elevation setting. You may want to look at the sight youre getting, if thats something you want, as they do differ.

 

[loose noose]

MEHavey, I checked out the chart you provided, however those sights for the Ruger #1 and #3 require drilling and tapping, I really don't want to have to drill and tap the barrel of that rifle if I don't have to. I would like to keep it as original as possible.

I'm aware of the need for a taller front sight, and I have several other much taller front sights, that will fit in the dove tail available to me, here in my parts drawer.

 

[Hookeye]

http://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/gun_services/Peep_Sights.asp

 

[loose noose]

Hookeye, that is the place where I figured I'd get the peep sight, it has been on order, along with the #85 Weaver mount.