Lever action iron sights/pic rail

[SimpleSimon]

I changed the front sight on my 1894 SBL for a Skinner Bear Buster because I wanted to use the irons on targets, but couldn't get on with the big fiber bead. I like the Bear Buster much better, but unfortunately I've now discovered I can't get the SBL ghost ring down low enough to work with it, and my POI is about 10 inches high at 50 yards

I'm now toying with the idea of buying a Skinner Express or Trapper rear sight and ditching the rail altogether. Yay for international shipping costs!

But, before I do I wondered if anyone knows if any of the alternative pic rails with integrated peep sights are inherently lower than the standard one on the SBL? I'm not entirely against losing the rail altogether, but the whole point of getting the SBL was to be able to mount and dismount optics, which I obviously can't do if I fit a Trapper or Express sight.
I'm not going back to the bead front sight, because I hate it

 

[Smellydog]

Any pictures as I don't understand fully. I was going to say get a taller front but it sounds like you don't use one ??

 

[castbullets.co.uk]

Can you raise the front sight rather than lowering the rear? I have seen this issue before and raising the front sight is usually the better/easier fix.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Can you raise the front sight rather than lowering the rear? I have seen this issue before and raising the front sight is usually the better/easier fix.

Nope, it's available in two heights and mine is the taller one. The rear is adjustable for elevation, but I'm right at the bottom of the travel.

Looks like the Skinner rail with integrated peep has the rear sight lower than the original Marlin rail, so that might be the way forward

 

[SimpleSimon]

Any pictures as I don't understand fully. I was going to say get a taller front but it sounds like you don't use one ??

I've swapped the factory front sight, which was a huge fiberoptic bead, for the "Bear Buster" which is effectively just a blade. Unfortunately, it comes in two heights and mine is the tallest one. The rear is a ghost ring integrated with a pic. rail, which is quite high above the action just because of its design.

I'm weighing up whether I actually do ever want/need to mount a scope. If not I'll just get the Skinner rear peep sight and ditch the rail altogether.

 

[rarms]

Could you put a blob of weld on the front sight and then reprofile it to essentially raise it?

 

[Toots]

Mine wears a Ranger Point Precision rear sight (regular peep not cloverleaf). I had to shorten the front Bear Buster sight to suit. Have a look at Marlinspares.com, they stock both and no international postage (no affiliation what so ever).

 

[SimpleSimon]

Bit the bullet and handed some more money to Skinner Sights (and USPS ) for a genuine Marlin Trapper sight. These are the ones that come fitted (along with the Bear Buster front blade) to the 1894/95 Trapper model. I won't be able to use a scope with the rifle, but to be honest it'll be more fun without one, and look prettier.

 

[25 Sharps]

I've swapped the factory front sight, which was a huge fiberoptic bead, for the "Bear Buster" which is effectively just a blade. Unfortunately, it comes in two heights and mine is the tallest one. The rear is a ghost ring integrated with a pic. rail, which is quite high above the action just because of its design.

I'm weighing up whether I actually do ever want/need to mount a scope. If not I'll just get the Skinner rear peep sight and ditch the rail altogether.

Can you mount a scout scope forward of the rear sight?

 

[25 Sharps]

Is this what you’ve ordered?

Skinner Picatinny Rail with Integrated Peep - MarlinSpares.com

For some time now our customers have been requesting a Weaver/Picatinny rail set up with the super rugged, attractive, proven Skinner Peep Sight integral for a backup sighting system. Rails with Peeps available for: (please email if variation isn’t listed) Marlin 1895 / 336 (and variants) (6...

marlinspares.com

 

[SimpleSimon]

Is this what you’ve ordered?

Skinner Picatinny Rail with Integrated Peep - MarlinSpares.com

For some time now our customers have been requesting a Weaver/Picatinny rail set up with the super rugged, attractive, proven Skinner Peep Sight integral for a backup sighting system. Rails with Peeps available for: (please email if variation isn’t listed) Marlin 1895 / 336 (and variants) (6...

marlinspares.com

No, that's a similar set-up to what I've taken off. This is what I've ordered now

 

[25 Sharps]

No, that's a similar set-up to what I've taken off. This is what I've ordered nowView attachment 462398

You may have been ok with the one posted and using a smaller skinner aperture?

Not a fan of the ghost ring on the factory rail, but my eyes also struggle with the skinner aperture on my .357 Rossi in low light.

 

[Heym SR20]

No, that's a similar set-up to what I've taken off. This is what I've ordered nowView attachment 462398

where did you order the above from?

 

[SimpleSimon]

You may have been ok with the one posted and using a smaller skinner aperture?

Not a fan of the ghost ring on the factory rail, but my eyes also struggle with the skinner aperture on my .357 Rossi in low light.

I think the Skinner aperture sights on their rail have a lower height above the action anyway. To be honest, aside from hitting ludicrously high I really enjoyed using the ghost ring and blade so I decided not to bother with a rail. Cheaper too

 

[SimpleSimon]

where did you order the above from?

Directly from Skinner in the US. They're only available as cosmetic seconds in the "Trapper" form, although their normal express aperture sight isn't very much different and wasn't discounted...

 

[25 Sharps]

I think the Skinner aperture sights on their rail have a lower height above the action anyway. To be honest, aside from hitting ludicrously high I really enjoyed using the ghost ring and blade so I decided not to bother with a rail. Cheaper too

Yeah, I stick with the skinners on the .357 and enjoy shooting the on the range, 4x32 on the 30-30 and I did have a PM2 on the 45-70 but it was on loan from a mate and he asked for it back . So will play with the factory sights for a while.

 

[Smellydog]

A peep sight works better when closer to the eye. A tang sight is probably the best solution.