Front sight off center?

[Not_Invented_Here]

While examining the rear sight and preparing to adjust windage and elevation, I noticed that the front sight/post is slightly off center - if you're aiming with the rifle shouldered, it sits just a teeny bit to the right. You can see that one side of the dovetail is mostly flush with the barrel while the other has a bit of a lip from it extending out.

Being new to Henry's and these types of factory sights, is this normal and to be expected? I put it in a bench vise and gave it a few taps with a brass punch, but didn't see much if any movement. Figured I'd throw up a question on here before taking any other action.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to run a very small scope, so it may be a moot point anyway, but I'd like the factory sights to be functional if/when I ever remove the scope.

[North Country Gal]

Not at all uncommon for a sight to be off slightly to one side in a dovetail when it comes from the factory. Not a big deal unless they are way off. Don't do anything, though, till you shoot the gun and see how the sights actually work.

[Not_Invented_Here]

Not at all uncommon for a sight to be off slightly to one side in a dovetail when it comes from the factory. Not a big deal unless they are way off. Don't do anything, though, till you shoot the gun and see how the sights actually work.

Ah yeah should have said that I noticed this during my first outing to the range. I was a bit all over the place but that’s likely as much due to me and my skill lever as it is to any issues with the sights. Just wanted to confirm that’s normal and that it’s fairly standard to set them in even if need be. I’m still likely gonna rock a low power 2.5x scope so it may end up being a moot point for now as I said, wanted to know tho in case I do ever run peeps or the factory sights

[GFK]

Have you tried shooting from a bench using a rest? That may give you an better idea about the sight.

[Not_Invented_Here]

Have you tried shooting from a bench using a rest? That may give you an better idea about the sight.

Yeah, made this post after a trip to the range. Was a bit all over the place but on paper at 25yds at least. I absolutely deserve some of the blame as a novice shooter and someone with practically zero experience using this set-up. That said, biggest issue IMO was that I couldn't reliably see/focus on the brass bead - kept losing it to blurry eyesight and the light conditions indoor. I thought on it last night and decided I'm going to try one of RPP's fiber optic front sights that pop a little more. I don't want to abandon the semi bucks entirely, even if I throw a low/fixed power scope on for the majority of the time.

[GFK]

That is not a bad idea. I have that type of set up on my Marlin 1894 (semi-buckhorn with a fiber front post). I think I got the post from Amazon for around $10. My biggest challenge was finding the right height. The first that I got was too tall. I like the post so much, I thinking about getting one for my Henry H009. Currently, it has a rear peep sight with the factory front post. The peep sight provides a good sight picture. So, I have not been in a hurry to replace the factory front post. Yet, the fiber front post pops (easier to pick up).

[Kissmybrass]

I myself would start with a centered front sight. OCD would not let me leave it alone lol. Brass blade sight on my .357 BB brass is small and rear has a tiny notch so it's accurate on the range, wouldn't be practical for any home defense or truck gun, or hunting but no way that's what I intended it for. It's just a fun Wild West rifle :-)

[leverjc]

I agree with Kissmybrass, centering a new front sight can drive me nuts getting it "perfectly' centered. I would also mount the scope and see how it shoots.

[Not_Invented_Here]

Agreed, absolutely will not be able to let it go. I went the extra mile and spoke to Henry and their take too was to try and center it. Truth be told, in about 24 hours I'll have the Leupold 2.5x mounted and will hopefully get a chance to run to the nearby range to try it out. If I like it, I doubt I'll retain either the front/rear sight and focus on practicing with that instead. I'll plan to update the thread FWIW

[Sir Henry]

Good choice on the Leupold.

[North Country Gal]

For sure on the 2.5x Leupold. Great scope on a lever gun.

[Kissmybrass]

Agreed, absolutely will not be able to let it go. I went the extra mile and spoke to Henry and their take too was to try and center it. Truth be told, in about 24 hours I'll have the Leupold 2.5x mounted and will hopefully get a chance to run to the nearby range to try it out. If I like it, I doubt I'll retain either the front/rear sight and focus on practicing with that instead. I'll plan to update the thread FWIW

What caliber Henry did you get? My scope jumped all over the place with my 45-70 because of the severe kick and my lack of tightening everything down properly. Threadlock fixed that problem.

[GFK]

Scopes have their purpose. But, they are not the answer for all situations. If so, every firearm used in the military or law enforcement would have one, which are intended for the use in defense (defense of others and self). The only firearms that I am aware that are used in the military and law enforcement with scopes are used by a unique group (snipers). More than that, people have used firearms for 100s of years without scopes.

To me, it is good to be able to use open sights. That way, a person is not dependent on using firearms only with a scope. Mentioning scopes, I have not seen RR post in awhile. Hope all is well.

[Not_Invented_Here]

Agreed, absolutely will not be able to let it go. I went the extra mile and spoke to Henry and their take too was to try and center it. Truth be told, in about 24 hours I'll have the Leupold 2.5x mounted and will hopefully get a chance to run to the nearby range to try it out. If I like it, I doubt I'll retain either the front/rear sight and focus on practicing with that instead. I'll plan to update the thread FWIW

What caliber Henry did you get? My scope jumped all over the place with my 45-70 because of the severe kick and my lack of tightening everything down properly. Threadlock fixed that problem.

357/38, so that hopefully shouldn't be an issue

[Not_Invented_Here]

wanted to share an update here. I ended up receiving and installing the 2.5x Leupold Ultralight using the one-piece Talley base/scope rings sold on the Henry website. While we'd all love a bit more magnification, I think this is going to be the right set-up, as it seems to provide best of both worlds. I can still shoot with both eyes open, and it seems like it'll still be relatively fast handling - a perk I don't need but would like to have. I went ahead and removed both the rear and front sights for the time being - if I ever go back to irons, it'll be with RPP or Skinners and that'll include a front post as well. No need for them at this time. Looking forward to sighting it in.

[leverjc]

Looking forward to a range report.













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[Not_Invented_Here]

Scopes have their purpose. But, they are not the answer for all situations. If so, every firearm used in the military or law enforcement would have one, which are intended for the use in defense (defense of others and self). The only firearms that I am aware that are used in the military and law enforcement with scopes are used by a unique group (snipers). More than that, people have used firearms for 100s of years without scopes.

To me, it is good to be able to use open sights. That way, a person is not dependent on using firearms only with a scope. Mentioning scopes, I have not seen RR post in awhile. Hope all is well.

for sure - don't disagree. I think I would have probably been OK with peeps like the RPPs or Skinners, but I had the option to return if the scope didn't work out so I went with that first. Hoping I'm right that the 2.5x is the best of both worlds in terms of offering most of the same perks that open sights allow while taking advantage of a small bit of magnification and the clear FOV. I will say, there's no cheek weld happening with the Talley base/ring setup and this scope, but the chin weld is pretty comfortable/natural feeling and my sense is that with practice, it will be just fine the way it is. Really my only hangup is the parallax setting, as most of the time I'll be shooting between 25-75 yards.

Headed to the outdoor range tomorrow morning so I'll update when I get home.

[Kissmybrass]

Scopes have their purpose. But, they are not the answer for all situations. If so, every firearm used in the military or law enforcement would have one, which are intended for the use in defense (defense of others and self). The only firearms that I am aware that are used in the military and law enforcement with scopes are used by a unique group (snipers). More than that, people have used firearms for 100s of years without scopes.

To me, it is good to be able to use open sights. That way, a person is not dependent on using firearms only with a scope. Mentioning scopes, I have not seen RR post in awhile. Hope all is well.

for sure - don't disagree. I think I would have probably been OK with peeps like the RPPs or Skinners, but I had the option to return if the scope didn't work out so I went with that first. Hoping I'm right that the 2.5x is the best of both worlds in terms of offering most of the same perks that open sights allow while taking advantage of a small bit of magnification and the clear FOV. I will say, there's no cheek weld happening with the Talley base/ring setup and this scope, but the chin weld is pretty comfortable/natural feeling and my sense is that with practice, it will be just fine the way it is. Really my only hangup is the parallax setting, as most of the time I'll be shooting between 25-75 yards.

Headed to the outdoor range tomorrow morning so I'll update when I get home.

And this is why you need more than one rifle lolol - you'll come to learn there are a lot of enablers on this site. Great members on this forum!
Can't wait to see the results!

[Not_Invented_Here]

Just got back from a beautiful day at the range! Overall, quite happy with how it went. Sighted in at 25 yards for day. Went with my dad and a friend, so split time between my Ruger American rimfire and his Ruger American .243

With my dad wanting to push out further right away and us sharing targets, I made a mistake with the Henry trying to jump to 50 yards a before I had dialed it in at 25, so I immediately was struggling to even get on paper. After reverting back to 25 and taking turns, we were getting some pretty solid groups, certainly plenty good for my skill level. I'd like to spend a bit of time with it at 25 and then start working on 50, but I need to practice more first.

Gotta say, loving the Leupold 2.5x w/ the Talley base/scope unit. It sits at just the perfect level for my eye line with a solid chin, so I'm likely going to continue running with that for a while I imagine.

Appreciate the input from the earlier posts in the thread. Very happy to own this rifle and I think it complements the Ruger rimfire nicely, depending on what I want to shoot (or can afford to shoot) on a given day ha.