wanting a peep sight for a marlin 1894C .357 mag rifle

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shrewd

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I understand quite a few of you guys out there, especially marlin owners (and i'm pleased to be part of THAT group...gotta love a proper marlin) will reccomend Skinner Sights. I've browsed Skinner's page and i really like their sights but I'm really put off by the whole "we design our front sights purposefully higher so you must file them down" thing. I've never done that before and i suppose i'm worried about messing it up. Also, i don't want to have to reblue the area i file.

I've found a nice looking, but expensive, brockman rear sight that is adjustable for elevation, but I'd rather that be a last resort.

Really, I guess, should I go with skinner, I suppose the real question is what front sight height do i need? I have a 16 inch barrel and shoot mostly 357 mags over 38s. I'd reallllly prefer not to have to file anything myself. Also, i don't even own a file, so, there's that.

I turn to you, possessors of wisdom!
 
you can call the guy at skinner. I did. he's nice and helpful. I ended up getting a williams 5d though. it was around 30 bucks and I figured I'd use it as a test to see if I like a peep on a marlin. I did, but now can't really see why I need to give up the williams. The skinner is sleeker, but functionally no different, and the williams gives me more adjustment.
 
i have a 2008 marlin, it is not drilled and tapped for anything that mounts on the side of the receiver.

if only it was the decision would be so much easier.
 
You might not need the front sight. Need to shoot it first. Mine shot high, so I purchased the 1/2" blade. Was a five minute job to install. It was to high, so I had to file it down at the range. It is mild steel and easily cut down with a standard fine cut file. I protected the barrel with a layer of duct tape. When I was satisfied with fit, I wiped it down with alcohal pad and touched up the sight with cold blue. Looks perfect now. I had installed the Skinner on a friends rifle and his stock front sight was on the money. The skinner web site has a formula to figure out your sight highth. Marty
 
I would go with a Williams FP. Solid, quality built, different apertures available, and click adjustable for windage and elevation... what's not to like?
 
shoot it first, might not need to file anything.....I wouldnt hesitate to go with a skinner sight, besides, the guy at skinners will be more than happy to give you all the instruction you need.....cant go wrong
 
Go with the Skinner sights. He recently sold the business to a partner, but he is still involved. I have Skinner peep sights on my Marlin .444 and my Marlin 1894c. Works well, but you may need to get a new front sight and may also need to adjust that front sight. My Marlin .444 shouts 3 inches low at 100 yards. I am going to shave off a small amount per calculations from the Skinner website. Nice looking and nice sight picture. I can put a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards. Not bad for an old man like me.

http://www.skinnersights.com/
 
I have a Marlin in .444 with XS ghost ring rear, and the XS front sight that came with it. My dad has a model 1894 in .357 magnum, with the same setup. When I first mounted the XS, I looked at it and thought, that won't hit a barn, but both are very accurate. I just picked up a 39A, and I think I will go with a Skinner on it, because it looks like it is made to perfectly mount on top of the frame. I would look at the XS sight for your .357, it works great on ours. Either way, I am a firm believer now in peep sights over barrel mounted sights.
 
Why worry about filing down your front sight? Just get a Williams FP, and it will work fine with your factory front sight or any other front sight you want to use. I also like it because it is click-adjustable, unlike XS or Skinner sights.
 
the tang sight doesnt interfere with your grip?


interesting i didn't realize williams made a top receiver friendly peep...must investigate!!
 
Apparently the top mount does mount the apature far enough off the back of the reciever to require the hammer extension to be installed.
 
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XS Sights are on my Marlin 1894c .357, and my WIN MDL 94 Trapper. After having an unfortunate occurrence with a Williams sight (probably my own fault) I've gone exclusively with XS. I have zero complaints with them. They are engineered to go in pre-drilled holes on your rifle, including the front sight if required.
 
I put the Skinner Low-Pro peep sight on my Marlin 1894C, didn't need to change out the front sight, hits spot on at 50 yards with Federal 158 gr softpoints in .357 Mag. I like the Skinner sights, have them also on a 336C in .30-30, and also the Express sight on a 1895 .45-70, all Marlins.
The Low-Pro peep is not windage adjustable, FYI but works as is for my rifle.
 
I put a Lyman 57 on my 1894CP.It mounted on the existing screw holes and the factory front sight was the right height.Very simple and accurate setup.
 
attachment.php
 
Yeah, the Lyman is excellent too, and has the same advantages of a Williams -- click adjustable windage and elevation. I forgot about it because they don't make one for my specific model (Win 94 AE).

I find that the tang sights do indeed interfere with my grip, so I don't use them. You might want to at least shoulder a rifle that has one on it before you buy. I'm glad I did.

And as for having to get a hammer extension, consider it a good thing, because you want the aperture as close to your eye as you can get it. That's how an aperture sight works.
 
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