Skinner front sight experience.

[PonyKiller]

Hello, I have a 1961 model 94 20" barrel and Williams receiver peep sight that has a silver bead front sight. I have trouble with the front bead on this rifle. Had it for years love it except the front sight. I was taught with post/partridge sights and just can't bring myself to cover the target and expect it so hit what I can't see. I have trouble with the round bead sight at 100yds.
I have two real options install a fiber optic sight, or a flat top blade. I have the fiber optic on my muzzle loader and it's nice and visible but again In-precise.
I saw the skinner sights with a flattop blade/partridge sight that I'm used to. I will have to file it to fit, the front sight is in a ramp and short. Any thoughts on these? The addition of a white stripe, "xs style" seems easy to do or undo.

Any opinions on these?

Btw I have "scout scopes" on other rifles and use them just fine but have no real desire to add one to this, other than my eyes, the rifle is about perfect.

Thanks

 

[doubleh]

I have a Skinner front sight on a Henry rifle. They are well made.

 

[DMW1116]

I installed and tested one today. I ordered the Skinner Blue and the safe face triangular file they recommend. It took a few minutes to fit but I also fitted a dovetail filler at the same time. In typical me fashion, I installed them too soon and should have blued and filed it shorter before installing. So I took it out and filed it down and blued it and re-installed. File a single stroke at a time when fitting as you get close. You can’t go back.

My old front sight was 0.300” tall from the bottom of the dovetail to the top. I filed the new sight down to 0.35” from 0.400”, which is the shortest one they offered. I debated on replacing the old bead front sight and it is a significant improvement. It’s a pretty thin blade but shows up well in my rear peep sight. I colored the front orange, but where I typically shoot it’s too dark to see the color. I now want a thinner post for my AR front sight.

 

[PonyKiller]

Thanks for the first hand insight.im I'm still up in the air on this. I believe my front sight is the same size. Right about .3" at the range last trip I shot well 3 out of 4 groups inside 2" on that bead front with the best at 1 3/8" at 100 yds. So the rifle shoots real well, i'm leaning heavily toward a fiber optic now... But still on the fence. This may sway me back a bit.

 

[DMW1116]

I was going to test some more loads today using this sight but ran out of time. The range got crowded too. I have had a couple groups as low as 3/4” with this sight, but I cannot repeat them, so I’m calling them luck. That said, I never got groups like that at all with the bead sight.

With the loads I have and the way I shoot my 336, about 3” is normal. However, with this front sight I can hold where I want on a 12” target from 100 yards. With the bead I couldn’t be that picky.

I have not hunted with this sight, but I would likely remove the insert in my rear sight and use it as a ghost ring if I did. Even with it painted orange, it might be tough to find in the woods with fur as the background.

 

[JDeere]

I have the Skinner Peep and one of his front sights on my Henry. It's a very nice sight setup and easy to install. I filed my front down to make adjustments to the rear easy. Touched it up with some cold blue after I got it where I wanted. I also used one of the dove tail blanks to fill in the buckhorn slot...