Skinner Winged/Tactical Peep On BBS .357 Carbine

[-db-]

Copying a post I made on the S&W forum last year, might be helpful for some here. Link to thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-k ... 357-a.html

Skinner Winged/Tactical sight for Henry Big Boy Steel is a Go

As mentioned above, I was interested in a winged sight for this gun and found that RPP is currently the only manufacturer to offer this. However, I contacted RPP to find out that their sight is of proprietary design inasmuch as the only apertures that work with the sight are theirs, whereas I wanted the ability to use different apertures of standard threading, which Skinner allows. The problem is that Skinner doesn't list a winged sight for the Henry Big Boy Steel at their site. Thus, for a short while I was stumped. Until...

I did some research online and found that others have discovered that sights for Marlin's 336 rifles are of the same hole spacing found atop the Henry BBS receiver. The problem is that due to the location of the pair of holes, which are located further forward than on the Henry, Marlin sights overhang the rear of the Henry receiver, placing the sight too near the hammer. Photos illustrate:

Henry BBS receiver:



Marlin 336 (at top):



But what about that rifle below the 336? Those appear to be of the same spacing and very close to the same location of those on the Henry. Well, it's a Marlin 1894. Confirming the 336 and 1894 share the same spacing, with only the location differing, I went back to Skinner and found they offer their Winged/Tactical Sight for the Marlin 1894. Got it today and it fits the Henry BBS perfectly. So, even though Skinner doesn't currently list the sight for the Henry, I can confirm the Marlin 1894 sight does indeed fit and work.

In other words, the factory drilled and tapped rearmost scope mounting holes location and spacing on the Marlin 1894 and Henry Big Boy Steel receivers is virtually identical, including the thread size/pitch. Skinner's Marlin 1894 Winged/Tactical Sight on my Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine .357:




The great thing about this is the Skinner sight is a nice heavy duty unit, it offers great adjustability, provides 5 additional inches of sight radius and allows for the use of standard thread apertures of your choice. Not only that, unlike most other options, it sits low enough on the receiver to where it works with the factory front sight, co-witnessing the factory buckhorn sight on the barrel perfectly.

So, now owners of these newer Henrys have a previously unknown option for peep sights.

[ESquared]

Well, that's a fascinating tale, thank you for sharing! Looks very nice and the benefits of additional sight radius and not having to mess with/worry about the front sight are the whipped cream and cherry on top!

Will have to research further, but thanks for the tip!

[Ojaileveraction]

Good info, great documentation.
I've known Henry's and Marlin 94s share issues with some Williams sights.
This makes sense.

[JEBar]

-db-

welcome to our forum, delighted to have you join us .... thanks for the very interesting info, I'm sure it will prove to be helpful to many of our members .... please take a look at our How Many ? thread, link below and add your Henry to our community's total ... after you get to 10 or more valid post, please take a look at our current Giveaway thread noted in the banner above


http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 696#p90696

[Redthies]

Anyone want to buy a like new Skinner Express??? Wish I had known this fit the Henry 6 months ago. My only dislike with the Skinner Express is the lack of protection for the actual peep!

I’m presuming windage is adjusted with the ovalized screw slots, and elevation is the standard spin aperture up/down with set screw lock?

[-db-]

I’m presuming windage is adjusted with the ovalized screw slots, and elevation is the standard spin aperture up/down with set screw lock?

Yes, correct.

[-db-]

I should have included an updated photo of the full rifle, er...carbine, with the sight attached:

[The Wiz]

I am assuming it would work on BBB .357 after looking at my rifle. I have a low pro on mine. Wonder if they make it in brass. Will have to check it out.

[Redthies]

I should have included an updated photo of the full rifle, er...carbine, with the sight attached:

I was just looking for that pic, and then you added it. Thank you. How tall overall is the sight? Looks like the wings are 3/4” or so at the highest point? Also appears as if you will need a person with tiny fingers to change the aperture?

I looked again (for the 20th time or so) at Andy’s website, and while I understand that he is not a web designer, I for one find it far more difficult than it needs to be to find things. It would be so much simpler if he just showed all the different sight options like Lo-Pro, Reliable, Express, Alaskan, Tactical etc and then just had 2 drop down menus for finish and rifle model. Maybe I’m nit picking, but every time I go there I seem to find another cool thing tucked away in a dusty corner...

[-db-]

The flat across the top of the wings measures only 1/2" tall. It looks taller but it's actually quite a low profile sight, which is a good thing. As for the aperture, a pair of needle nose pliers helps get it started until you can grasp the knurling most apertures have to finish screwing it in. An extended shank aperture also makes this easier:

[Redthies]

Thanks for answering all my questions -db- Is your last name Cooper by any chance?

[Bubbas4570]

Does the hole spacing on the big boy Steel frame coincide with the hole spacing on the big boy brass frame? Because if it does this would make a very nice little wing site to put on my brass frame in 357.

[Mags]

.
According to the specs at HenryUSA.com, Big Boy Classic (Brass) and Big Boy (Steel) the Scope Mount Type: BB-RSM is for both.

Does the hole spacing on the big boy Steel frame coincide with the hole spacing on the big boy brass frame? Because if it does this would make a very nice little wing site to put on my brass frame in 357.

[PT7]

-db-,

Good research on this "hidden" peep sight Skinner has available. I've had a number of Skinner peeps, and this looks like another option for my Henry Big Boy .357 All-Weather stainless. Still, I have some questions.

Similar to Bubbas4570's question, I'm wondering if the tapped hole spacing on my All-Weather is the same, including thread size/pitch as you noted? Via an email chat I had with Jeff Post at Henry, I wanted to verify the correct picatinny rail mount for my rifle, and got this response. Post's answer aligns with the match up Mags talked about, too:

On Monday, January 14, 2019 12:47 PM, Jeff Post <jeff@henryusa.com> wrote:
The BB-RSMP is the correct rail for those needing to use Picatinny rings on any Big Boy rifle (H006 and H012 series). Most hunters and target shooters use Weaver-style rings, and so would use the standard BB-RSM rail.

So bringing these "side trails" together, the Skinner Marlin 1894 tactical peep appears to be doable for an All-Weather Big Boy, along with the brass or steel BB models. It would be a bummer, and $$ loss, if I decided to try this low-profile peep and it isn't able to be mounted in the tapped holes on the AW receiver. That would be the only risk I could envision.

BTW, I also emailed owner Andy Larsson at Skinner with your research and findings. I asked him if he can verify specs based on your findings. Will be interesting to see his response (hope he answers). Thanks, -db-.

PT7

...Confirming the 336 and 1894 share the same spacing, with only the location differing, I went back to Skinner and found they offer their Winged/Tactical Sight for the Marlin 1894. Got it today and it fits the Henry BBS perfectly. So, even though Skinner doesn't currently list the sight for the Henry, I can confirm the Marlin 1894 sight does indeed fit and work.

In other words, the factory drilled and tapped rearmost scope mounting holes location and spacing on the Marlin 1894 and Henry Big Boy Steel receivers is virtually identical, including the thread size/pitch.

The great thing about this is the Skinner sight is a nice heavy duty unit, it offers great adjustability, provides 5 additional inches of sight radius and allows for the use of standard thread apertures of your choice. Not only that, unlike most other options, it sits low enough on the receiver to where it works with the factory front sight, co-witnessing the factory buckhorn sight on the barrel perfectly.

So, now owners of these newer Henrys have a previously unknown option for peep sights.

Does the hole spacing on the big boy Steel frame coincide with the hole spacing on the big boy brass frame? Because if it does this would make a very nice little wing site to put on my brass frame in 357.

.
According to the specs at HenryUSA.com, Big Boy Classic (Brass) and Big Boy (Steel) the Scope Mount Type: BB-RSM is for both.

[Bubbas4570]

If one thinks about it, it only makes sense to manufacture these receivers to the same specs on hole spacing and mounting options. It wouldn't make sense to do a bunch of different things for the same style of rifles. Your supply chain of parts grows exponentially, and gets way more expensive.

[PT7]

After going through the somewhat circuitous research info already posted, I thought I'd write directly to Skinner to see if I could get some specs to finalize (for myself) a review of this peep site. What Rob O. wrote back was helpful.

PT7

From: "andy@skinnersights.com" <andy@skinnersights.com>
To: 'Bob'
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2019, 05:45:33 PM CDT
Subject: RE: Winged tactical sight for Henry All-Weather Big Boy

The rearmost two mounting holes on the Henry Big Boy, Henry 30-30/45-70 Levers, Marlin 1894, and Marlin 1895/336 are spaced .500” apart center to center on all four models. (The Marlins 336/1895 and 1894 do not “share the same spacing” because the spacings between all four holes on both of those models are not identical, however….) These four models all use the 8-40 thread size holes/mounting screws.

The Skinner Winged Sight for the Marlin 1894 will indeed fit the receiver on the rear two mounting holes of any Henry Big Boy…including the All Weather, BBS, and the Big Boy brass frame as well.

However, you should know that the Winged Sight has an outer width measurement of .635” or so, and so may overhang the top rear side bevel/arc of the Big Boy frame on either side when adjusted for windage (the entire Winged Sight body slides sideways on the flat receiver top surface for windage adjustment, using the mounting screws in slotted screw mounting holes to lock in place afterwards. Measure the width of the rear flat portion of your Big Boy receiver to get an idea of the relative widths involved. The Skinner Winged 1895/336 Sight will also fit the .500” spaced rear mounting holes, but due to the placement of the mounting screw slots further forward in the sight body, the rear of the 1895/336 model Winged Sight will protrude back beyond the rear edge of the Big Boy receiver…making the 1894 model Winged Sight the best choice of the two on the Big Boy by far.

We have sold a number of 1894 Winged Sights to customers installing them on Henry Big Boys with satisfaction.

Thank You for your interest in Skinner Sights!
Rob O.

[Bubbas4570]

Good info PT7! It is always nice to know these kind of thungs.

[Rifletom]

A bit late to this, but, that was a very good report regarding the 1894 Winged sight and the fit to a Henry BBS receiver.
Thank you very much db.

[pvq]

I have a Skinner LoPro sight that I removed upon selling my 1894CS. Are you saying that the threading is the same on the 1894 and the Henry BBS? I have a BBS on order. Perhaps I can use the LoPro?

[CT_Shooter]

Welcome to the forum from CT. Glad you joined us and congratulations on your soon-to-be BBS rifle!

According to the owner of Skinner Sights, the answer is yes. Please read his email to our member PT7 in which he writes that the threads ( 8-40) are the same on the two rifles. Let us know how it works out for you.

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 287#p95529

I have a Skinner LoPro sight that I removed upon selling my 1894CS. Are you saying that the threading is the same on the 1894 and the Henry BBS? I have a BBS on order. Perhaps I can use the LoPro?