Henry Rifle Forums

Hey, All!

It seems like since I got my H009G .30-30 around a month ago, I've been on a quest for some sights I like. I'm one of those that doesn't get along with the factory Buckhorn back sight, which is strictly personal preference.

My plan was to put a Skinner receiver mount peep sight on my .30-30 like I have on my .22 Golden Boy H004, so when I practiced with the .22, it would make shooting, the sight picture, picking up the target, and such similar for the .30-30.

The problem (for me) is that I'd really like a fiber optic-type sight for the .30-30 like what I have on my .22. I have a Ranger Point Precision front fiber optic sight (.565" high) with the Henry Express (receiver mounted) Rear sight on the .22. I LOVE this setup! For myself, it works really well.

I really like the way this sight is angled downwards towards the muzzle. It's diameter blocks very little of the target at 20-40 yds., and the light green "dot" you see when shooting shows up nicely for my old eyes.

But for my .30-30, I need a MUCH higher front sight than was needed on the .22. My shots from the .30-30 were around 13" high at 25 yards with the Skinner Alaskan peep sight and my factory bead front sight. They were almost that high with the Buckhorn sights. I actually had to remove the elevation adjustment ramp for the Buckhorn sights to get a huntable shot placement lower on paper at 25 yds.. Must be the stackup of tolerances with my particular rifle, I suppose. The gun groups nicely at 25 yds. and at 100 yds. (considering my eyes ), but is set for about a 300 yd. zero with almost any combo of sights I've tried so far.

Rob Olson at Skinner (A TRULY Great Guy to work with!) calculated that I need a front sight right at 1" high for my H009G rifle. So I special ordered a dovetail-mount ramp with a brass post (.700" tall) front sight from Skinner, but I'm not tickled about the sight picture I get with that ramp/post combo, and again, would really like a similar sight picture to what my .22 has. I haven't shot it yet with the Skinner Ramp/brass post, but like I said, I'm kinda "predisposed" to not like it........

I have a Williams Shorty dovetail-mount ramp, 3/8" high, coming from Midway. I'm hoping my Skinner peep will adjust low enough to work with another Ranger Point Precision front sight like the .565" high front sight I have on my .22. That combo should yield a front sight height of around .940", if things work out.

I'm wondering if anyone else who wanted a receiver-mount peep has had to jump through hoops like this to bring their shot placement down on their .30-30?

I've not heard of needing a 1" front sight. That seems extreme. Have you looked at the LoPro Skinner rear peep? It gives the lowest rear sight I know of. Good luck.

I had read that most of the receiver mounted sights will require a higher front sight. If I was to install a peep on my 30-30 I'd have stuck with the barrel mounted peep or change them all to the fiber. I have to be honest, the 357 X was staying black and getting a red dot but after shooting it with the fiber optic sights they will stay and the black will be replaced with walnut.

I had read that most of the receiver mounted sights will require a higher front sight.

Thanks for the response, Luv the Lever, and for confirming what my "SEARCH"es have found. I appreciate that very much. I wish there was a way to get a Skinner Peep on my gun without having a front sight sticking up like a Great White Shark dorsal fin.

I didn't write it above, but I do also have a Ranger Point Precision receiver-mounted peep sight. The RPP's aperture sits a good .100" lower than the Skinner aperture. It also shot a good bit high with my stock .615" tall front sight, but less so than the Skinner peep. I'm hoping maybe one of these combinations of ramp/front sight and peep sight will get me wherre I want to hit, and possibly with some extra adjustabilty for a variety of different ammo. Still a bit surprised with how tall of a front sight the Skinner requires in some cases.

If I was to install a peep on my 30-30 I'd have stuck with the barrel mounted peep or change them all to the fiber.

I see where Hi-Viz makes a 2-dot rear/1 different colored front dot setup (HHVS570 here) that looks like what you were thinking of maybe? I shot a similar setup on my Kimber 1911 when I shot Action Pistol and Steel Plate matches, and loved the way that worked for me. Good fast target acquisition.......

I have to be honest, the 357 X was staying black and getting a red dot but after shooting it with the fiber optic sights they will stay and the black will be replaced with walnut.

Nice. I build solid body electric guitars for a hobby, along with doing woodwork for my wife's antique biz. I've come to really like the look of wood with good interesting figure to it.

I found that a six oclock hold worked to center my groups, rather than center mass. Nice groups with the skinner peep and factory front sight.

Hey, BrokenolMarine!

Is your Skinner Peep mounted on the barrel, or on the receiver? I think I've read that you can use the factory front sight with a barrel mounted peep......

By any chance do you know how tall your front sight is? Mine (bead) that came with my H009G .30-30 is .615" tall, for reference.

With the LowPro, I actually had to file the front sight down! Don't understand the issue here.

Hey, Cofisher!

Sorry I somehow missed your earlier post.

I've not heard of needing a 1" front sight. That seems extreme. Have you looked at the LoPro Skinner rear peep? It gives the lowest rear sight I know of. Good luck.

I thought that seemed really high myself. There can be any number of reasons for needing a sight this high. Manufacturing tolerances, barrel maybe not being screwed into the receiver at the most optimum angle at the barrel's shoulder/receiver mating point, maybe the taper of the barrel, or a combination of these and other things. When I spoke to Rob Olson at Skinner, he said it wasn't all that unusual, and almost a quarter-inch lower than "The Record". Some poor person needed 1.2" of front sight height to use a receiver mounted Skinner peep! Please bear in mind his calculations include a tiny bit of " elevation adjustment room" to be able to work with different ammo/reloads.

I did look at the LoPro skinner Peep, but was wanting something with some windage adjustment built into the rear sight. I realize I could just drift the front sight over to adjust windage, and may very well still need to do that with whatever setup/combo that I wind up with. I believe the Ranger Point Precision peep may do what I need to, but along with a dovetail mount or screw on ramp for the front. The aperture on that RPP rear peep sits a good bit lower than the Skinner, and has some windage adjustment. But I really prefer the Skinner sight picture, and would like to have one on my .30-30 like I have on my .22 H004.

BrokenolMarine, thanks for the Great Tip on the 6 o'clock hold! Great advice & help! I feel like a real Goober for not thinking of
doing that...... Thanks again!!

Mr. Neutron wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:56 pm

I didn't write it above, but I do also have a Ranger Point Precision receiver-mounted peep sight. The RPP's aperture sits a good .100" lower than the Skinner aperture. It also shot a good bit high with my stock .615" tall front sight, but less so than the Skinner peep. I'm hoping maybe one of these combinations of ramp/front sight and peep sight will get me wherre I want to hit, and possibly with some extra adjustabilty for a variety of different ammo. Still a bit surprised with how tall of a front sight the Skinner requires in some cases.

The setup that I have on my H009 is RPP aperture with factory front post. I like the sight picture. Thought about changing the front post to fiber. But, I haven't gotten there yet. I am not that unhappy with the current setup to move too quickly with the change out. Below is what I have been able to shoot with the setup so far. I am also a fan of the 6 O'clock hold.

Mr. Neutron, great handle. I found no need for windage adjustment. My steel 357 shoots awesome with sights as done. Look for my earlier posts on this set up. Simple and easy. Also gives a rail for scope if desired.

Mr. Neutron wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 12, 2022 7:22 pm

Hey, BrokenolMarine!

Is your Skinner Peep mounted on the barrel, or on the receiver? I think I've read that you can use the factory front sight with a barrel mounted peep......

By any chance do you know how tall your front sight is? Mine (bead) that came with my H009G .30-30 is .615" tall, for reference.

My Skinner is mounted on the Receiver. I got the Brass and Black and love the way it looks and shoots. I don't know the height, and can't measure it now as the house is asleep. It's the factory front sight that comes on the .357 Big Boy Carbine.


As you can see, once I went to the peep, the Carbine shoots pretty good for old eyes with the peep.

What I used to do with Rifles is set the sights for a known distance, then shoot at others and note the hold over/under so I didn't have to mess with adjustments. I didn't hunt so I was just shooting cans or steel and it worked. Competition was a different story. We set battle zero and then counted clicks to the yardage settings EVERY TIME.

GFK, Those are Fantastic Groups!!!!

I hope mine will group like that (with my eyes, and my trigger finger) someday........ I'm glad you get by with the factory front sight for yours!
I can't find my targets I shot over 2 different days at the range, but trust me, they were horrible regarding elevation. Groups weren't too bad; but nowhere near what yours are. On the large sized Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C targets (has a 3" red center, with a black 17"-8 ring) I had to hold at the bottom of the 17" black ring to get shots to hit 13-14 inches higher into the top of the 9-ring, with my Skinner Alaskan peep and factory front sight. The RPP peep/factory front sight yielded a group around 2" lower, all at 25 yards. At least my windage was good......

Cofisher, my last name is Newton. I raced the Pro class in local motocross races in the '70s and '80s. My riding buddies and myself all watched Monte Python's Flying Circus regularly. For a few weeks, that show had skits with a character played by Graham Chapman named "Mr. Neutron" ("The most powerful man on earth", if I recall correctly). My riding buddies tagged me with that nickname in the mid-to-late '70s, and it just kinda stuck. I've just kinda "owned it" ever since then.......

BrokenolMarine, another Great Grouping!!! If that's "The Alaskan" peep, that's what I have (and really like!). I badly want mine to work......

Thanks for putting up with me here, and for all the help on this!

You'll find that we have a good group here. I tell newbies when they join, when I get the time and feel up to it, that it's a family. Jump in and post, ask questions and share pictures. It's a family, so we might pick on yah, but all in good fun, you know... like family. The mods won't let folks be mean and it's not in most folks nature anyway, here.

I joined a few forums in the past where you ask a question and the only answer you get is "Search Feature is there for a reason." I usually cancelled my membership there, even if the comment wasn't addressed to me. That is not the attitude I need to be around. In most cases, people have tried to search and seen what was pulled up, and would rather ask a specific question and get NEW information.

Or they aren't comfortable with the information they got by searching.

Family. And... some family members are Grumpy. (That's what my grandkids call me.)

Mr. Neutron wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 12, 2022 11:21 pm

I can't find my targets I shot over 2 different days at the range, but trust me, they were horrible regarding elevation. Groups weren't too bad; but nowhere near what yours are. On the large sized Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C targets (has a 3" red center, with a black 17"-8 ring) I had to hold at the bottom of the 17" black ring to get shots to hit 13-14 inches higher into the top of the 9-ring, with my Skinner Alaskan peep and factory front sight. The RPP peep/factory front sight yielded a group around 2" lower, all at 25 yards. At least my windage was good......

Are you trying different brands of ammo? Mine seems to shoot closer to POA with Federal 150 gr. Also, are you using a sand bag or other soft rest when shooting from a bench? A soft rest seems to have a more consistent POI for me. And, breathing, or lack of, helps me to be more consistent. When I exhale, I hold for no more than 10 seconds, while squeezing the trigger. If I don’t fire within the 10 seconds, I start the process over again.

Mr. Neutron... this is what I came up with on all my Henry rifles. Was easy for me to make out of old hacksaw blade ends and slips right in Henry rear sight mount. Works great for me and cheap! Sight hole is .150 diameter and works great with factory front sight.

Fortyshooter,
I love your idea you came up with! I saw your thread about this. I've used old hacksaw blades myself for a variety of little "projects" I've needed to engineer. Its pretty good steel. On my gun however, my groups were still really high with the factory buckhorn rear sight. Holding the front bead at the very bottom of the rear notch still shot high, even with the elevation ramp removed.

I began shooting Federal Fusion 150 grainers at first, and began to run low on those. Next tried a box of Winchester 150 grn. rounds, which were all that was available to me at the local gun shop at the time. These moved the group down a tiny (1/2" maybe) bit. Both brands grouped at around 1.5"-2" for 3 shot groups at 25 yds., but always several inches high. And windage was great with both brands.

Now, I'm soon going to be at the mercy of just whatever brand(s) of ammo I can find. For whatever reason, .30-30 ammo is really tough to find anywhere close to where I Iive.

For reloading, I don't really have what seems like a great .30-30 powder (some H335), no bullets, and very few large rifle primers left. Never dreamed we'd see the shortages of reloading stuff we have now. So I pretty much will be shooting factory stuff for the future. I guess that I got spoiled years ago shooting around 1000 rnds. of .45ACP ammo a month, for practice & matches. All cranked out of my Dillon XL650. Reloading components were all easily available, and much cheaper.

Have been shooting off of sandbags at the fore end of the rifle. I read that on rifles with separate wood stocks like our lever guns have, to use your shoulder as the back "rest". Something about potentially inducing "pressure" on the stock that's different from shooting in the field? Seems somewhat "wrong" and different to me. With my scoped .30-06, I sandbagged the front and back in an effort to reduce any sort of operator caused error. All I do on that gun is basically just lightly press the trigger, once the crosshairs are set.

GFK, that written description of your shooting process, along with the diagrams, is one of THE BEST I've seen. Very helpful! I will try to use these as best as I'm able to next range day. Thank you for that!

And thank you to all that have replied here. I very much appreciate all your help & advice. I will try to report back & get some pics after I get my taller sight ramp on, and get some range time in. Thanks again!

Mr. Neutron wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 13, 2022 4:30 pm

On my gun however, my groups were still really high with the factory buckhorn rear sight. Holding the front bead at the very bottom of the rear notch still shot high, even with the elevation ramp removed.

I began shooting Federal Fusion 150 grainers at first, and began to run low on those. Next tried a box of Winchester 150 grn. rounds, which were all that was available to me at the local gun shop at the time. These moved the group down a tiny (1/2" maybe) bit. Both brands grouped at around 1.5"-2" for 3 shot groups at 25 yds., but always several inches high. And windage was great with both brands.

Now, I'm soon going to be at the mercy of just whatever brand(s) of ammo I can find. For whatever reason, .30-30 ammo is really tough to find anywhere close to where I Iive.

Have been shooting off of sandbags at the fore end of the rifle. I read that on rifles with separate wood stocks like our lever guns have, to use your shoulder as the back "rest". Something about potentially inducing "pressure" on the stock that's different from shooting in the field? Seems somewhat "wrong" and different to me. With my scoped .30-06, I sandbagged the front and back in an effort to reduce any sort of operator caused error. All I do on that gun is basically just lightly press the trigger, once the crosshairs are set.

Mr. Neutron,

I was shooting high while using buckhorn as well. After contacting Henry and re-reading the owner manual, I realized that the white diamond insert was adjustable. After adjusting it down some, I was shooting closer to POA. I wanted a tighter group yet still using an open sight. So, I ended up with a RPP peep.

When I shoot using a rest, I do try and set the receiver on the sandbag. Also, I rest the butt against shoulder as support. With my free hand, I use it to support the rear stock and adjust POA, if required. The trigger is not too light. So, the rifle may move some, as I squeeze the trigger.

Yes, 30-30 seems to be harder to find. I find a few boxes at Wal-mart, from time to time. However, I stocked up during the last dry up of ammo. So, I have a few boxes. I have not tried Federal Fusion though. I just been using the blue box. Below is what I was shooting using buckhorn.

Man, thanks, GFK!!! You're giving me lotsa help and stuff to try here......

When I shoot using a rest, I do try and set the receiver on the sandbag.

I hadn't even thought about doing that. I'm gonna try that tomorrow at the range. I have my RPP rear peep on, along with the .700" tall brass post (stock bead height is around .615" high.....) I got from Skinner. It's a combo I haven't tried yet, and I'm hoping it might be close with a 6 o'clock hold. I'm kinda hamstrung a bit with the range I'm a member of ( along with my old eyes ). The range is only 10 minutes away, so it's handy. But they only let us shoot at either 25 yds. or 100 yds.. I'd really prefer to sight in at 75 yds., but will have to try going up to some nearby NF areas for that.

I have some (2 boxes) Winchester 150 grn. Power Point rounds, 2 boxes of the Federal Fusion 150 grainers, and 3 boxes of the 160 grn. Hornady Leverevolution rounds. Will try to use my Winchester ammo for sighting in tomorrow, as it and the Federal rounds shot almost identical 25 yrd. groups at nearly the same windage and elevation. Not much of a stockpile, fer shure, unless some of the local places get some .30-30 ammo in. I have an Elk hunt coming up in 3 weeks, and I'd like to shoot the Hornadys for that, if possible.

Here's my rifle and my ammo stockpile:



Here's the Skinner Brass sight. To use this with my Skinner peep a .312" high ramp is needed (according to the calculations), making a total 1" high front sight setup. But the ramp I was sent from Skinner doesn't really fit tight, and has some side-to-side movement. I got my Williams .375" high dovetail lock Shorty ramp in the mail today, but it has the same movement issue as the Skinner.

Here's a closer look at the Skinner Brass front sight:



Here's the RPP peep sight:



FWIW, I tried adjusting the diamond lower, flipping the diamond upside down (for a sorta peep sight), then removing the diamond insert. I wound up filing the notch for the buckhorn sight down lower and removing the ramp to get the rifle to hit closer to point of aim. Hoping to get *something* working before I leave to go hunting in a few weeks. //and to find some more ammo, hee hee......

Added in EDIT: I don't know how I butchered up the order of the photos & such. Hopefully, you still get the gist of it......

Nice looking setup! I suspect that you will find something that will work. Persistence is the key. Frustration will probably come along. Yet, things seem to work out in the end.

Happy hunting!