Sights for a Ted Williams (Sears/Winchester) Lever rifle?

[gunnutbs]

I just bought a Sears Roebuck Ted Williams model 100 (winchester 94) rifle. I am thinking about some way to replace the sights, or to fix them more securely in place once I get the rifle zeroed.

If I go for replacement, What should I use for a front sight? The problem I'm encountering is that most of the aftermarket winchester 94 front sights seem to be intended for barrels with a ramp installed. My rifle just has a dovetail cut into the top of the barrel, no ramp.

If I don't replace them, how can I fix them in place better so they won't move during firing? My armorer instinct is to stake them (peen them) with a pointed punch, but I'm hesitant to do that with dovetails that are cut into the barrel itself. I don't want to introduce stress into the metal of the barrel, nor do I care to mar it.

who has a suggestion? Thanks in advance.

-Brian-

 

[Abel]

Look at Skinner sights, Williams peeps, Marbles, and XS.

 

[Dr.Rob]

If you mess up the barrel Numrich still has them in stock for $44.

 

[goon]

I think the dovetails will be 3/8" for both front and rear on that rifle. To fix sights that slide in the dovetails, you can take the sights clear out and turn them upside down, then peen them with a center punch six or so times on the bottom of the sight where it fits into the dovetail.
Do the same thing inside the dovetail in the barrel on the surface that will be against the sight. The peening will raise enough steel to make a tighter fit and keep the sights from moving unless you move them.

I've done this before and it usually works. You shouldn't have to make any marks on any visible surfaces. It also works great on load lever latches on a Uberti 1858 Remington.

 

[rcmodel]

A new sight should not be loose in the first place, unless somebody has already screwed up the dovetails in the barrel.

A new sight will probably be too tight to drive in until you fit it by filing a very small amount off the bottom of it to allow it to set deeper in the barrel dovetail.

Once fitted, put a drop of BLUE Lock-Tight on the dovetail and center or sight it in.

Once the Lock-Tight cures overnight, the sights will no move till the cows come home.

rc

 

[gunnutbs]

awesome guys, good info. thanks for the tips.

 

[Leanwolf]

GUNNUTBS - "... I am thinking about some way to replace the sights, or to fix them more securely in place once I get the rifle zeroed."

If you zero your rifle and then replace the sights, or even move them around, you will have to zero again. Why not do the work first, then zero? Why waste ammo??

L.W.

 

[Clipper]

Sight in and THEN put a drop of Locktite YELLOW 'assembled fastener' at the edge of the sight and let it wick in...It won't move, period.

To a lesser degree, super glue will do the same thing.

 

[goon]

Although Loctite or some other thread lock will stop the sight from moving around and may even need to be broken loose with heat if you ever need to remove it, I wouldn't apply any until after you've got the sights zeroed with your chosen load.

I included the bit about peening the sights and dovetail because it can either save the OP from buying new sights if his existing ones are adquate and just a little loose, or if he takes too much off the bottom of a new sight, or if the dovetails are worn or loose. It usually doesn't take raising much steel to really tighten up a dovetail.