Sights for a Win 94

[joed]

I have an old Win 94 that was acquired from a mounted Police unit near where I live. It's kind of a unique gun because it has a steel butt plate and other things you wouldn't expect on a 1966 model.

It does have one problem though. Something happened to the rear sight and it was relocated on the barrel slightly off center to the right. I can see where the original screw holes were filled in and new ones drilled off center. I can't get it to adjust enough and was wondering what options I have to put a different sight on the rifle. Any suggestions?

 

[Jessesky]

If it’s a police issued 94 I wouldn’t mess with it as it has collectibility. Could we se pics of the rifle?

 

[cheygriz]

you could install a Lyman 66 aperture sight without modifying the rifle.

/www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/sights/lyman-66-receiver-peep-sights.html

 

[joed]

If it’s a police issued 94 I wouldn’t mess with it as it has collectibility. Could we se pics of the rifle?

Looks like I broke one of my rules, always leave pictures. So, here they are. Bought this rifle in 2004 off of a gunsmith that worked for a shop that supplied many of the police depts around here guns and ammo.

The receiver is stamped with CHP (Cleveland Heights Police) when they had a mounted unit. After the unit was disbanded 4 of these rifles were traded in on AR's. The gunsmith bought 2 of them and I purchased this one from him. It's vintage is 1966 but it has a steel butt plate and a few other items that weren't standard at the time. I just can't remember what else it has besides the butt plate.

The picture of the rear sight shows how it is off center.

 

[mustanger98]

Just me... I'd take the rear sight off and fill the holes. The Lyman #66 I rate as a good idea, or maybe a #2 tang sight. However, a Williams 5D can be had a good bit less expensive... set it and forget it.

 

[Jessesky]

I love good shooters, but I also know I’d be willing to pay a good deal more than a regular 94 for an all original police issue. My 2€

 

[HB]

Just put a peep on it, my Lyman didnt require drilling and made the rifle much more accurate.

For what its worth my 1966 Winchester has a steel butt as well.

HB

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Is it the rifle or is it a carbine?
Also, the "newer" versions of the 94, ( I say "newer" cause mine is a 1947 carbine..) were usually drilled and tapped on the left side of the receiver for peep sights.

 

[SwampWolf]

However, a Williams 5D can be had a good bit less expensive... set it and forget it.

If you plan on "fiddling" with the sights much, the pricier Williams "FoolProof" is an excellent alternative to the 5D receiver sight. I'm old enough to remember that the 5D model cost five bucks back in the day-a great deal then and a great deal now (though five dollars has put a little weight on over the years ).

 

[mustanger98]

If you plan on "fiddling" with the sights much, the pricier Williams "FoolProof" is an excellent alternative to the 5D receiver sight. I'm old enough to remember that the 5D model cost five bucks back in the day-a great deal then and a great deal now (though five dollars has put a little weight on over the years ).

I'm not disagreeing with the comment, but rather observing that the Foolproof will usually, in my experience, cost about twice what the 5D usually costs. Just a matter of being prepared to spend the amount it takes to do what you intend.

If you intend to shoot one load to one zero, 5D will work, but I agree that the Foolproof (or Lyman #66 for that matter) makes it a bit more flexible.

Edited... I just looked back at this and we're saying the same thing.

 

[joed]

This is not a carbine but a 20" barrel. I'm thinking it's going to get a lyman #66 as long as I don't have to modify anything.

 

[joed]

It's a nice rifle and with its history I don't want to modify anything. I own 3 lever rifles and I enjoy shooting the every chance I get but the 94 has been my favorite. If the Lyman works well I may add one to the 336 C that I also have.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

This is not a carbine but a 20" barrel. I'm thinking it's going to get a lyman #66 as long as I don't have to modify anything.

The 20" barrel is the carbine version. Without the "rattle ring' it's known, in some circles, as the Eastern Carbine.

 

[joed]

I've learned something about lever actions, I thought the Trapper was the carbine.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

just a thought http://www.skinnersights.com/winchester_26.html

 

[earplug]

Take a look at Marbles Bullseye rear sights. They offer two adjustable versions and a fixed version. They are made of steel and work really well with a front fiber optic.

 

[SwampWolf]

I thought the Trapper was the carbine.

The Trapper is the shorter of the two carbines, but they're both "carbines" (short rifles).

 

[joed]

Seems like I'm always learning when it comes to Lever guns. I like them but have never really used them other then the 9422 I have in the safe. I've owned the 94 since 2004 and fired it last summer for the first time.

I also have a 336C vintage 1968 in .35 Rem that I've owned since 2012 and have yet to fire it.

May do the Lyman sights on both the 94 and 336, they just look to be a better option.

 

[bearman49709]

The 20" barrel is the carbine version. Without the "rattle ring' it's known, in some circles, as the Eastern Carbine.

With Winchester the length of the barrel has nothing to do with it being a carbine or rifle.
If it has a end cap it's a rifle, if it has a barrel band it's a carbine. A rifle can have a shorter barrel than a carbine and a carbine can have a longer barrel than a rifle.

 

[frankmako]

The rear sight on the 94 is mounted on the barrel. The rear sight is mounted in a dove tail in the barrel. It looks like the sight was moved to the right because the rifle was hitting left. Then they drilled a hole in the sight to put a set screw in to keep the sight in place.

 

[robhof]

The rear sight on the 94 is mounted on the barrel. The rear sight is mounted in a dove tail in the barrel. It looks like the sight was moved to the right because the rifle was hitting left. Then they drilled a hole in the sight to put a set screw in to keep the sight in place.

That's what I was going to say after pulling out my 1952 model 94 and seeing the rear sight was dove tailed in, some LE depts. have their own in house gunsmiths, not necessarily degreed, but a fellow officer with some skills, some more than others...

 

[mustanger98]

The set screw and the small screw in the top of the barrel along with what is obviously a dovetail sight... I thought it looked odd. I'd still recommend removing the barrel-mounted rear sight and installing a dovetail blank... MidwayUSA and Brownell's both have those... while changing to the reciever sight. And hang onto the old rear sight.

With the reciever sight, I'd bore-sight it for windage... it'll make it close to begin with, then it's just a matter of finding your elevation zero.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

With Winchester the length of the barrel has nothing to do with it being a carbine or rifle.
If it has a end cap it's a rifle, if it has a barrel band it's a carbine. A rifle can have a shorter barrel than a carbine and a carbine can have a longer barrel than a rifle.

Huh, well there ya go, now I learned something...

 

[joed]

As a followup to this I ordered a Williams 5D and blank for the dovetail. It came today, hopefully will have it on the rifle this weekend.

Originally was going to go with a Lyman 66 but when I read the reviews I was turned off. Complaints were it's made of aluminum and can be bent, also the screws constantly come loose.

Saw no bad reviews on the 5D so went that route.

 

[SwampWolf]

Complaints were it's made of aluminum and can be bent, also the screws constantly come loose.

I'm a big fan of Williams receiver sights but they too are made from aluminum and can be "bent"-though you'd really be trying hard to bend them if you did. The set screws on the "FoolProof" models keep the screws from moving, ergo the the moniker FoolProof.