Winchester 94 broken front sight

[Beagle333]

I put this in leverguns because it isn't really gunsmithing, as much as a "where and what to buy" sort of thread. My mother has an old beater Winchester Model 94 (serial number dates it at 1972) that she shoots at coyotes, and she has broken the front sight on it. I don't think she's much threat to a coyote, because she didn't even know the sight was broken. But I want to fix it for her anyway. I'm measuring the dovetail at .368 at the widest part and am having trouble knowing what part I need for this. Or maybe just tell me what to ask for, and I'll post in the WTB section...
Here's a pic or two.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94003_zpsc0a9f96d.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94001_zps1f91fd30.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94004_zps2dfa702a.jpg

And here's a couple more pics, just because people like pics.
I'm not really thrilled about the rear sight either.... but I doubt it matters to her.
I may have to buy both just to get the front one though. But I'm hoping one of you will let me know...
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94010_zps8c85c62e.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94011_zpsd5759dce.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94014_zpsf7f51b37.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94015_zps9d33a190.jpg

Thanks for any help you might have on this!! :bigsmyl2:
Chuck.

[Win94ae]

Search MidwayUSA.com for a dovetail sight as tall and as wide.
Most likely you'll have to get one with neon colors or a bronze insert. :/

[fiberoptik]

Why not just take a file to the front sight and file off front 30 degrees?

[ElDorado]

I believe I bought the same item from gunpartscorp.com

It looks like they might be sold out right now, but check the site yourself. You may also check around for a hood for that sight. It snaps into the grooves on the sides of the ramp and will protect the sight.

[fouronesix]

It is a standard 3/8" dovetail. Marbles, Williams and Lyman are the most common types. Available from Midway, Graf, Brownells, etc. Then just estimate the height based on the broken sight. Try to get the height about right so it registers to the rear sight height (like the original)- then pick the bead diameter and style based on taste. Looks like the bead top gotten broken of along with a little bit of the blade.

[fecmech]

Why not just take a file to the front sight and file off front 30 degrees?
+1 to that. All you see is the back side of the sight. File off the front that's damaged , a touch of cold blue or black magic marker and you're done. You have the correct height and correct fir to the dovetail. No muss, no fuss.

[izzyjoe]

i changed one on my 94 year's ago, cause it was mangled like your's. i bought one from MidwayUSA, it was a Marbles that was .340 wide for the barrel ramp,and .450 tall. that was the height of my factory sight, they make them in 1/16,or 3/32 bead in gold, ivory or fiber optic green or orange. i wish now i had bought one in fiber optic orange, you can really see them in low light.

[Beagle333]

Why not just take a file to the front sight and file off front 30 degrees?

+1 to that. All you see is the back side of the sight. File off the front that's damaged , a touch of cold blue or black magic marker and you're done. You have the correct height and correct fir to the dovetail. No muss, no fuss.

I don't know what an original looks like.... but to me... it looks like some of the height is broken off.... 'not sure. Lemme increase the magnification.....

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94019_zpsd24c10da.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94018_zpsd1c4e4bc.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94016_zps3a0cff99.jpg

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It is a standard 3/8" dovetail. Marbles, Williams and Lyman are the most common types. Available from Midway, Graf, Brownells, etc. Then just estimate the height based on the broken sight. Try to get the height about right so it registers to the rear sight height (like the original)- then pick the bead diameter and style based on taste. Looks like the bead top gotten broken of along with a little bit of the blade.


I wondered about that. I guess 3/8 is close enough to .368 for what to order?:coffeecom
Thanks for the great and fast replies! I suppose I might as well get a set, I'm not sure if they just sell front blades. She would probably like fire sights on it anyway. I hope the rear dovetail is a standard size as well.:-D

[Beagle333]

i changed one on my 94 year's ago, cause it was mangled like your's. i bought one from MidwayUSA, it was a Marbles that was .340 wide for the barrel ramp

You know,.... I was thinking about the width of the dovetail only, and didn't even consider there might be other widths to the barrel ramp. Thanks!

[725]

Any way to smooth out the broken piece and lay in a fiber optic on top? Would give you back some height and a bright front sight.

[Beagle333]

I suppose I could file it off flat and superglue a fiber optic on top. I think I've got some plastic shotgun sights around here that I could steal from. I'm not sure how much height was lost.
But that would be an option..... 8-)

[jh45gun]

Get a Williams Fire sight to fit it they will sell a replacement for Winchester 94s with the fiberoptic sight she will be able to see it better in dim light too.

[fouronesix]

The width you are talking about is purely cosmetic. There are flat sided sights that are of all widths for different ramp widths. Some were designed for dovetailing into a round barrel and they are usually rounded on the sides. The most universal and common types are rounded on the sides. Again- purely cosmetic. It's the dovetail dimension, front to back, that is critical. Almost all the common US factory types for the last 100 years or so are 3/8". Lyman and Marbles among others regularly supplied manufacturers like Winchester, Remington, etc for fitting to their factory guns. If it is a little tight or the taper isn't exactly right then CAREFULLY file down the width and/or taper of the sight to fit tight but not too tight. If the sight is a little loose in the dovetail, simply put a small dab of epoxy like JB Weld on the bottom and slide it in to center. The rear sight dovetail will handle slight, needed windage adjustments.

[Beagle333]

I picked up a green fiber optic sight offa Fleabay that is 3/8 and says it is for a Win 94 with a ramp.
We shall see.......
I'll check back in here when I get it.
Thanks for all the replies!!:popcorn:
Chuck.

[Beagle333]

And here it is..... $27 later. Its certainly not going anywhere, it just barely fit in there, and that's tapping it in expertly with a claw hammer. [smilie=1: But I think it looks more like it belongs there now, since it got some added "aging" from the hammer. There is a LOT of room to move the back sight up and down, so I'm sure I can sight it in tomorrow.

I'll give her a week to break it off again..... but she'll appreciate that I fixed it.... once. :mrgreen: Thanks for helping me determine the size to get.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94021_zpse325bf96.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/winchester%2094/win94023_zps24ae88d3.jpg

[pietro]

.

FWIW

Almost ALL modern replacement front sight blades have a 3/8" wide male dovetail which sometimes need fitting (filing) to mate with variously-sized female dovetails.

What's variable, when ordering a front sight are:

The sight's base width: "W" / wide, for direct barrel mounting; "M" / medium, for most ramp mounts; and "N" / narrow for some very narrow ramps (like the Williams Shorty Ramp).

The sight's height (measured from the top, to the bottom of the male dovetail), which varies, depending upon rifle & sight mounting (ramp or directly in bbl, or with a receiver peep sight)

The sight's aiming point, aka: bead, blade, etc - Ivory and.or Gold Beads; squared-off Patridge blades, w or w/o a brass square aimpoint; or fibre-optic beads.

The sight beads (Ivory, Gold or FO) are also available in the same two sizes: 1/16" (fine), or 3/32" (coarse), with the FO beads also available in various colors (red, green, amber, etc) to fit different folk's color perception.


Anyone changing a ramp-mounted bead should ensure the ramp's supported against and drifting/hammer blows to avoid ramp & ramp mounting screw (if applicable) damage - besides using a non-marring drift pin or a sight pusher tool ( best practice).


.

[fouronesix]

Good deal! Just eyeballing the height of the fiber optic to the original, it should be close enough to work with the rear. Also, a bonus is that the new sight width matches the ramp width :)

Set up target at "normal coyote range" and do a little sight-in. Finish off with some bore solvent with brushes and patches. Follow with a light coat of oil and Mom will be in business!

[flint_knapper]

Nice sight, them 'yotes better watch out now!

[rondog]

Need photos of Mom and coyote carnage now!

[jh45gun]

Glad ya got it looks good she should be able to see that front sight good now.