Henry Rifle Forums

I took my new Skinner peep sight to the range for the first time today, mounted on my Henry BBS. Here are the results for 20 rounds at 50 yards, shooting PMC 158gr JSP 357 magnum. First 4 shots were left, so I moved the peep to the right to adjust windage. The elevation was all the way down, so I had no more adjustment vertically. The group is about 2 inches high, using a 6 o'clock hold on the red bullseye. Not sure that I want to go to the trouble of mounting a taller front sight, I may just shoot it as is. What would you folks do?

If it were me I'd leave the sights alone and adjust to it accordingly. It all depends on what range you will typically be shooting at though. If you are going to be at 50 yards at a range all the time then I might make some changes. Nice shooting.

If it were mine I'd change out the front sight.

I prefer to get lever action rifles sighted in at 50y with the adjustment in the center of the range.....if possible

Change the front sight. Pretty much a necessity when switching to a receiver sight since they sit higher.

Two inches high at 50 will give you a zero out around 125 yards or so with that one load, if that works for your shooting. I'm with Leonardo, though, I'm much more comfortable with a rear sight setup with some adjustment remaining, both high and low, all the more so if you plan to be switching loads a lot.

Nice shooting. I think I'd just adjust but I'm not one for changing things around either.

Changing front sights is so easy with Henrys and relatively inexpensive, so that's what I'd do.

I'd recommend the Lyman globe front sight, probably in .494" Height, but TractorTad would know for sure! He's been my Skinner/Lyman Obi-Wan.

Thanks everybody for your input. The consensus seems to be install a taller front sight. So, for a 22 inch sight radius, 2 inches high at 50 yards, the Skinner website says I need a taller front sight by …

2"x22"/(50x3x12)= 0.024 inch.

That sure seems like a small number to me. Less than 1/32 inch !?
Can somebody check my math on this calculation?

Assuming my calc is correct, now I just need to remove and measure the height of my factory front sight to figure the necessary height of the new sight.

That sure seems like a small number to me. Less than 1/32 inch !?

Yes it does. I did NOT check your calculations but I did measure my original Henry sight (which is now on one of my Winchesters) but when I installed the Williams sight on my BBB .357 I put a blade sight I had on it to replace the original and it measures right at 1/8" taller that the original front and with my rifle 'dialed in' at 50 yards the rear is right at the halfway point for elevation.
IF your elevation was OK with the original buckhorn you might want to slide it back in the dovetail and measure it at the halfway point for elevation in the V grove of the blade, then measure the Skinner at about the same halfway point for elevation to the center of the aperture.
The difference should be how much taller the front will need to be.
Height measurement for your front sight will be from the top of the barrel to the center of the bead, or to the top if you sight at '6 O'clock'.