Buckhorn rear sight or receiver mounted peep sight?

[USSR]

Title says it all. Which do you like on your lever gun? I've got a new-to-me 1886 which is drilled and tapped, and I am debating whether to install a Lyman 66WB receiver sight to it. What say ye? Thanks in advance for your reply.

Don

[GregLaROCHE]

I put a Lyman peep sight on mine many years ago. The stock sight kept getting screwed up by brush and parts were finally ripped off completely. That peep sight has been through Hell and always held up. Now it depends on how you will be using your gun too. Maybe the buckhorn will work fine for you, but I would go for the peep sight.

[Dimner]

Go with the peep. You will have a much longer sight radius and can swap apertures. It really is the way to go. I have never once wished I did not have an aperture on every rifle I have added it to.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I put a skinner peep sight on my marlin 1894. That buckhorn sight just didn’t do it for me. It wouldn’t have been as bad if it didn’t have that diamond on it. Maybe it was just my old eyes.

[HawkEyeEarl]

I like the semi buck horn rear sight.
I like to be able to see above the sight.
The semi horn rear sight gives some of the advantages of peep sight while being more open.
It is faster to see a target at 100 yards or less, to me.

[NSB]

Skinner for hunting. Not very adjustable "on the run", but once it's set it's great.
255561

[Mk42gunner]

As I age and my eyesight gets worse, my ability to shoot with open sights has drastically reduced. Aperture sights are still useable, at least in good light.

Not appropriate for an 1886, but I find I really like low powered scopes with the fast focus feature. with them it doesn't matter so much if I sight in using my glasses then don't have them on in the field.

Robert

[Kev18]

As I age and my eyesight gets worse, my ability to shoot with open sights has drastically reduced. Aperture sights are still useable, at least in good light.

Not appropriate for an 1886, but I find I really like low powered scopes with the fast focus feature. with them it doesn't matter so much if I sight in using my glasses then don't have them on in the field.

Robert

I wish I could have a period correct scope for my 1886.

[USSR]

I wish I could have a period correct scope for my 1886.

Speaking of scopes, but not period correct of course, the barrel of my Uberti is drilled and tapped for a forward mounted scope. However, I have no idea what scope base it takes.

Don

[surfanarchist]

On my Browning 1886 SRC I have a side mounted peep sight from DW Battle sights. Solid steel like the old Lymans. If interested Google them. No connection, no idea about current costs. But its built like a tank.

[shortlegs]

I put a malcohm scope on my high wall. I couldnt see the sights well enough to shoot it.

[Goldstar225]

Previously I always put a peep sight on my lever guns out of preference. Now I put them on out of need, open sights no longer work for me.

[USSR]

On my Browning 1886 SRC I have a side mounted peep sight from DW Battle sights. Solid steel like the old Lymans. If interested Google them. No connection, no idea about current costs. But its built like a tank.

Checked them out - very nice! But at $250 - $300 it ain't gonna happen.

Don

[Kev18]

Receiver mounted sights are ok, depending what you go for, but tang sights are always a win. I have a lyman and this custom one.
https://i.imgur.com/ZcNo1Z0.jpg

[Texas by God]

Put the Lyman on it, put a nice blank in the barrel dovetail, and enjoy. Tang sights may look cool, but they are fragile and in the way on a hunting rifle. In my humble and experienced opinion, of course. I only have five iron sighted rifles; four have receiver sights. My .22 single shot retains the factory barrel sights.

[stubshaft]

I use the original buckhorns on my Winchesters and peep sights on my Marlins. I usually carry my rifle by gripping around the receiver and the peep sights crowd my hand on my 94's and 64. I find that the buckhorns are more accurate at the range but the peeps win hands down for fast shots when hunting.

[arlon]

Only real lever gun.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Buckhorn looks great and classy.
Peep allows us "older folk" to hit much better.
Just the facts Jack.

[fiberoptik]

5D on my Marlin m39a. Buckhorn does line up with it, but it’s folded out of the way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[indian joe]

Receiver mounted sights are ok, depending what you go for, but tang sights are always a win. I have a lyman and this custom one.
https://i.imgur.com/ZcNo1Z0.jpg

The cool factor is great but that base is right where my thumb goes over the grip - tang sights ok for targets - but hunting - receiver mounted wins my vote by miles - got williams 5D on my71 and my 38/55 model 94 , got good tang sight on my 76 and sharps - normal backsight on my 1886 repro and my other fun guns - I like open rear sights filed dead flat across the top - a big wide groove and a fat front sight - (old eyes)

[gundownunder]

I've got 2 with receiver sights, and one with open sights.
Buckhorns or even semi buckhorns are pretty imprecise to my eyes. My 32-20 has had the top of the rear sight filed flat across the top and then had the U filed out to a square notch, similar to a handgun patridge style sight. That works for me.

[375RUGER]

I vote for the Lyman sight you desire. I have mostly Williams peeps. I have receiver peeps, full buckhorns, semi-buckhorns, and tang. I've always preferred the peep on any field gun. For a field gun, get peep or full buckhorn. For target, get the tang.

[USSR]

Put the Lyman on it, put a nice blank in the barrel dovetail, and enjoy.

Hadn't thought about the buckhorn rear sight being in the way if I install the receiver sight. So, where do they sell dovetail blanks?

Don

[375RUGER]

Hadn't thought about the buckhorn rear sight being in the way if I install the receiver sight. So, where do they sell dovetail blanks?

Don
midway usa and brownells and buffalo arms for sure.

[GregLaROCHE]

I used my 45/70 for bear protection for years when I lived in the Alaska Bush and needed it. I had the peep sight with te largest opening, so I could acquire a target as fast as possible. Now I only use it for targets and plinking. I’ve thought about making it more accurate with a smaller peep sight, but if I do, I will have to modify or change the front sight too. That big blade is too big for real accuracy. Bottom line, you need both front and rear sights to be compatible with what you want to do.

[.45colt]

Several years ago when we had a really nasty winter here the local deer herd was starving , and every evening about eight of them would come out of the woods early before dusk to dig for acorns in the backyard. I was able to lay out all of my lever guns in the back porch to see which sights worked best. (without shooting) . the hands down winner after about a week were the receiver mounted peep sights .five years ago when Ohio had it's first rifle season in many years I used My Marlin 45-70 with the Williams Fool Proof to take a big Whitetail Doe. receiver sights for Me.

[Mk42gunner]

Hadn't thought about the buckhorn rear sight being in the way if I install the receiver sight. So, where do they sell dovetail blanks?

Don


midway usa and brownells and buffalo arms for sure.

In addition to just buying a plain dovetail blank; I have made them from broken dovetail sights, usually the ones with a pointed finial at the front end. Just cut the leaf and file the opposite end to match.

It really does look better than it sounds.

Robert

[kenton]

I have a different situation, but on my .357 Rossi 92 I have a folding dove tail U rear sight and a tang sight. The standard rear sight is faster for me but the tang sight is more precise.

folding dovetail sight
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005904476

tang sight
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005873468

[USSR]

Okay, now you've gone and done it. Just placed an order for the Lyman receiver sight. The dovetail blank will have to wait, as the place where I got the sight for a good price doesn't sell the blanks.

Don