which sights for 1895 guide gun?

[back40]

i just picked up a marlin 1895g tonight. it's a 2005 mfr., and checks out quite well. i'm headed to the range tomorrow.

what sights do you guys like on your guide guns? i really prefer peeps, and there seems to be a plethora of sight set-ups for the guide gun these days.

aside from that i may spring for a WWG happy trigger. the factory trigger breaks nice and clean but is on the heavy side at ~6lb.+.

any other suggestions are welcome, as this is my first .45-70.

 

[redbullitt]

Big fan of the XS ghost ring sights. Easy install and comes with 2 apertures, a large and small.

Front sight is big and easy to see. Fast and well suited for the rifle. Rear sight is adjustable and both front and rear are quite solid.

 

[MRH]

+1. The XS sights are on my gun.

 

[jgiehl]

Check out skinner sights

 

[AK103K]

I was in the same boat as you, and looked at what was available, and wasnt real happy with what I saw.

Pretty much all of them are bulky and require you to switch out the front sight, both of which take the profile of the gun in the reverse direction than I wanted to go.

I normally like the XS sights, but in this case, no. If they made something like their ghost ring I have on my Winchester Trapper, Id be all over it. Small, robust, and unassuming. Very functional with no bulk.

I tried the Skinner "Lo Pro", which was close to the XS ghost ring, but it needed a different front sight as well, and I also felt it seemed a little fragile, especially with only one lock ring. I emailed them to see if I could get another ring, which would have added some strength/protection, but they never got back to me.

Anymore, with most of my lever guns, Ive been liking the factory leaf type sights the best. I replaced the Skinner pretty quick on my Guide gun, and I dont find it was a mistake at all.

My only real compliant with my 1895 is the action is kind of klunky and rough. Ive tried to smooth it up some, and it did a little, but theres no changing the bolt to hammer set up that I can see will fix it. A Winchester it aint.

My trigger isnt bad, and it does shoot well.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I gave up on receiver sights. Too fragile, too much in the way for carrying. I swap the buckhorns for a flat top rear sight with the dual elevator slide, file the notch a little deeper, making it a rectangular slot instead of a half moon. Then a green fiber optic front from Marbles.
The only receiver sights I've really liked were the Lyman side mount (#66?), but nobody drill and taps for them anymore.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have had XS on mine for about 17 years with no problems. I think they are great.

 

[DPris]

XS with visible white-line front blade on mine for several years.
Good combo.
Denis

 

[back40]

thanks for the thoughts and recommendations.

ak103k, the action on mine is actually pretty nice. the trigger isn't bad, just heavy. i actually don't do too bad with the factory rear. i was able to make a quick trip to the range today just before dusk and sight it in. this was at 100 yds with my range bag as a rest. i figure that's not bad considering it's my first trip out. i fired the first two at 50 yds and then this 3 shot group at 100 yds.


anyone have experience with installing wild west guns "trigger happy"kits?

i'll have to give the xs sights another look. haven't given them much though because i don't think i want the full rail, but i see you can get just the sights themselves.

what accuracy have you guys seen? the above was with leverevolution 325gr. have any of you guys scoped yours and worked up a good accurate handload?

 

[DPris]

Have not installed the WWG triggers, but had them done on two Marlins.
Denis

 

[JohnKSa]

...anyone have experience with installing wild west guns "trigger happy"kits?

Yes. They're a drop-in part in spite of WWG's disclaimer that it may require fitting. I'm very happy with mine, I ordered the part to eliminate the "floppy" Marlin trigger, but ended up being more impressed with how much the trigger pull was improved.

Here are my notes on disassembling the Marlin 336 & 1895.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=802660&postcount=9

By the way in keeping with the thread title, WWG also sells receiver sights. They thread the aperture to allow the purchaser to use any of the various screw-in apertures on the market. Williams makes a number of different apertures that will fit, Merit does as well.

 

[rodinal220]

I like the Brockmans front/rear set up.

http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?avs|Manufacturer_1=BROCKMANS

 

[MCMXI]

I installed WW triggers in all three of my Marlins (and two that I sold) and they're a huge improvement over the factory trigger. I put together a "how to" with photos a few years ago which you can dowload from post #27 in the link below.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=410991

As for sights, XS or Skinner are good and I have both but prefer a low power scope in the 1-5 range on my 1895 SBL. I shot the group below late last year and feel that such an accurate rifle deserves decent optics. I have no plans to scope either of my '94s.

 

[greyling22]

personally I like the williams rear sight a lot. Fairly cheap, very adjustable, and you can keep your front sight. Same with the lo-pro, but not very adjustable laterally.

If you just want a lighter trigger you could try lightening the hammer spring by taking a coil or 2 off it. On about 80% of the 1894's and 60% of the 336/1895's that does wonders. The other precentages get light strikes and need the chopped spring to be shimmed or replaced.

AK103K, have you tried taking the nose off the hammer so you are not overcocking the hammer when you cycle the action? That helps the marlin action a ton. Lighten the springs, take down the nose, polish the wear points and you've got a whole different gun. Takes about an hour tops and requires a screwdriver, belt sander, and a little bit of fine grit sandpaper.

 

[AK103K]

I took it down some with a file and some emery, but I didnt want to get to carried away.

It is a little better, but still clunky.

 

[Water-Man]

I used Marble Tang Sights.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

I love my Skinner sights on my 336 and 1894.

 

[REWTEX]

Another vote for Skinner sights.

 

[Armored farmer]

I've been kicking around the possibility of a red-dot on my 336. I know it's blasphemy but I just cant see the sights like I used to.

 

[Rick R]

+1 for the XS sight setup.

 

[back40]

1858, nice shooting! that makes me want to scope mine just to see what it's capable of. what optics set-up are you using?

i'll likely spring for the wwg trigger at some point, so thanks for the tutorial.

i'm still considering all the options but the xs sights seem to get great reviews from users. i
m not a huge fan of the rear. can you buy just the front? would an xs front work the wwg rear?

 

[Asherdan]

I've used a Williams 5D on both my Marlin 1895G and 1894 44RM. Was able to keep the stock front sight and hood with both. I like the 5D because you can screw lock your settings, if you want to have click adjustment the FP model is your option. I'd recommend you buy a 'Twilight' aperture for hunting. It's larger (.125) and has a brass ring to help you get on site quickly.

If I scope them I use low rings with a Weaver V3 1-3x. I also have a Weaver fixed K2.5 that, in my opinion, is just about perfect for scoping a lever rifle with.

 

[MCMXI]

1858, nice shooting! that makes me want to scope mine just to see what it's capable of. what optics set-up are you using?

Thanks!. That group was shot using Barnes 300gr VOR-TX ammunition. I have a Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm (SPR) on my SBL. I use Warne QD rings and have XS sights front and rear. I carry the rear ghost ring sight and a small screwdriver in the field so that I can switch to iron sights but I've never had an optic fail catastrophically in almost 23 years of owning and using a wide variety of products.

 

[rugerman]

Mine's not a guide gun (older straight stock) I started out with factory, then I went to a peep (receiver sight) which I liked except for late evening hunts where I needed some light gathering for shots at dusk. Now it wears a 4 power scope.