Henry Rifle Forums

I just installed a new Skinner peep sight on my new Big Boy that I picked up last Saturday. Removal of the factory semi buck horn was easily done using a wooden dowel and a hammer. Two light taps and the sight was off. The Skinner peep sight required minor filing on one edge (maybe .002), and it went in tightly with several taps using the dowel and hammer. Overall, it took maybe 15 minutes, and I'm very satisfied with the quality of the Skinner sight and the installation instructions. Here's a couple pics of the finished product:

Have used those Skinner barrel mount peeps on several rifles and like them. Find them easy to use with the right size aperture. Great option for guns that don't offer a way to mount a peep on the receiver and I like the way they leave the receiver uncluttered. Look good, too. Have had a couple guys at our range who had never seen such a setup and wanted to try them on some vintage lever guns.

Did you have to do anything to the front sight?

steelersfan97 wrote:Did you have to do anything to the front sight?

+1.

I haven't fired the Henry yet, but the Skinner barrel mount should work fine with the factory front sight since it's the same height as the buckhorn, unlike a receiver mount sight.

I agree. In the half dozen guns I've setup with the barrel mount Skinner, I did not have to change out the front sight. Doesn't guarantee that it will be the same with every gun, but the typical factory open sights on lever guns, as Ralph mentions, tend to be fairly large, anyway.

Is it quite easy to get a good sight picture, with the aperture being so far away from the eyes? My mind is telling me that I would have the same problem trying to focus with that as I do with the Buckhorn sight.

You have to remember to look though the barrel mount peep and forget it, same as any other peep. It's a little more distracting out there on the barrel, but once you get used to it and learn to focus 100% on the front sight, not a problem.

Thanks, NCG .... I think I'm just going to have to, er, bite the bullet (sorry!) and order one. If the worst comes to the worst, I can always sell it on to somebody with better peepers than I've got.

I installed mine on the receive .357 r but have not been to the range yet. I hope the front does not need to be changed as I have no idea of how or the way to go with the front site.

Good Stuff!

I used the barrel mount Skinner sights on my .357 steel and my .44 Big Boy. I did have to swap out my front sights for shorter ones. I also went to a smaller gold bead. I personally like the 1/16" bead so it doesn't cover the target as much. I think your ammo choices will largely affect the need to swap front sights. I only shoot magnum loads in these rifles. With light loads or specials, front sight change may not necessary.

I'm looking forward to hearing how well these work. This is something I am very interested in for my future Henry and maybe my Marlin .22 I have now.

BB357 wrote:I installed mine on the receive .357 r but have not been to the range yet. I hope the front does not need to be changed as I have no idea of how or the way to go with the front site.

Assuming your .357 is no different silhouette than my .45LC, then you may find that your POI is about 2" high at 25 yds. What I did to correct it, was to replace the front bead sight with a Lyman Globe sight, which comes with a good selection of decent insert patterns. But I went first class and also bought the Lee Shaver inserts which give you the cat's meow. It's only money and boy do I have a nice setup. Not as good as a scope or red dot, but the next best thing.

Wished I had seen this post first.

[url]http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... p40368/url]

I've added barrel-mounted Skinner peeps to a .357 BBB, a steel .357 BB, and a .22 Magnum lever action. All were easy changes to do. Nary a problem with front sight height, easy to sight in, and all rifles ended up shooting accurately. For my elder eyes, the Skinner peep definitely clears up the sight picture compared to the buckhorns. It's been a good way to go for me, and I think the quality of the Skinner products and CS is spot on!

This is the second time firing the Henry .357 with the Skinner barrel mounted peep sight. I made slight adjustments for elevation and windage. There is plenty of adjusting room utilizing the factory front sight. This was outdoor shooting at a country home in Indiana. Standing two hand hold from 33 yards. My sixty something year old eyes really like this peep sight so far.

Ralph-I recently got a little .22LR Golden Boy and before giving in to scoping it I might try a barrel mounted Skinner. Just wondering what size aperture you're using and if you needed to replace the front sight. Thanks for your time!

Ed
Btw, yer just a youngster. Old fart here, in my 70's!

Final update on the Skinner barrel mounted peep sight. This was the third indoor range visit shooting at 25 yards from a standing position with ~2 second intervals. I had to move the peep sight more to the left again, and it's probably ~.090 off centered to the left. After I got home from the range, I raised the sight another 1/2 turn. This should be the last adjustment, Overall, my old eyes are happy with this barrel mounted peep sight.

Old Corps wrote:Ralph-I recently got a little .22LR Golden Boy and before giving in to scoping it I might try a barrel mounted Skinner. Just wondering what size aperture you're using and if you needed to replace the front sight. Thanks for your time!

Ed
Btw, yer just a youngster. Old fart here, in my 70's!

Standard aperture that came with the Skinner barrel mounted sight. On mine, the front factory sight works fine.