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Old eyes

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:09 pm
by Cheswil
Love the h010cc rifle, but have old eyes and have trouble with the buckhorn sights. I've been looking at the skinner sights but I wonder if anybody has tried to use weaver foolproof fp336 sights? I know it is for the marlin 336 but it also uses the weaver 63b scope mounts.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 6:56 pm
by JEBar
you'd be far more likely to get exact info calling Weaver and/or Henry .... that said and please don't take it to the bank, its my understanding if it will fit a Marlin, it will fit your Henry .... we have an H010CC and really like it .... I well understand the eye issues, we mounted a 3 X 9 Nikon on ours

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:38 pm
by bandit1250
Cheswil wrote:Love the h010cc rifle, but have old eyes and have trouble with the buckhorn sights. I've been looking at the skinner sights but I wonder if anybody has tried to use weaver foolproof fp336 sights? I know it is for the marlin 336 but it also uses the weaver 63b scope mounts.
I have Williams FP sights on quite a few Marlin center fire levers and 39A's. The FP in the Williams is far superior to the 5D Williams sight. I have both the screw type click adjuster models along with some target knob models called FP-TK. Target knobs are not needed for hunting but are nice for quick adjustments when changing to different ammo especially different weights. I also change the elevation lock down screw to a knurled screw like the TK adjusters are and then you don't need a screw driver on the FP sight unless it has the flush screw type adjusters. I prefer the Williams peep because it has the screw on the side to hold the elevation plate from having any play in it like my Lymans and Redfields have. Skinners look nice and clean on a lever action but I am a Williams sight guy and will not change and I have had zero problems with them and that is more than I can say for Redfield or Lyman. Peep sights are far more accurate for me than regular open sights and I really don't like buck horns as there just seems to be to much room in there for error with them. Hope you get the sights you are happy with.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 10:07 pm
by DWD445
FWIW, Not your question, but I'm VERY happy with my Skinner barrel mounted peep on my H012S ;) My close vision sucks, but with light readers, I can see sights and target.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 10:21 pm
by Tape
yes Marlin mounts and peep sites fit on our GB's. I have a 336 Williams firesite on my 22 magnum. I personally find if the buckhorns are hard to see the peeps will be and are as well. The solution for me is a regular riflescope. Even the 1X scope gives a better picture because it is abled to be focused in. I do not like a riflescope on a lever action rifle, it does ruin the intended look of the lever action but if you want to hit your target I have no option.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:57 am
by Gregorsway
Having the same trouble with my eyes and the buckhorn sight picture. My first day at the range with my Golden Boy 45-70 was a pleasure, but there were several errant groups that left me scratching my balding head. Some of the reason was trying to determine the correct site window of the buckhorn sights. I'm pretty good at 25 yards, but beyond that is a crap shoot.
I really don't want to put a scope on my Golden Boy because I think it ruins the nostalgic look, but until I get a handle on using the open sights I refuse to hunt with it. I hate wounding an animal and tracking it. Perhaps I'll go with the Williams peep sights.Other than that, I really, really like my new Henry! It's a man's gun this is for sure!

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 9:05 am
by Tape
Don't worry about the look Gregorsway, everyone including those that say "I will never put a scope on my lever action rifle" do end up installing a scope on their lever action rifle if they want to hit their intended target. 99% of those saying this is our younger ones.

btw welcome to the forum

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 9:37 am
by tractortad
I have four Henrys and ended up putting Skinner rear peeps and Lyman Globe/Shaver insert fronts on all of them. I also use bi-focal safety goggles (about $10 from Lowes) with 2.5 pwr bottom reader lens when I shoot. This combo greatly improved the sight picture over the original buckhorn sights for my old eyes and gives me consistant "one minute of pepsi can" accuracy at 25 yds.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:46 am
by Gregorsway
Great information! Thanks guys!

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:42 am
by RanchRoper
I turn 60 in 2017 and still not too bad with the open sights. At least I think so, of course there could be a reason nobody is at the range when I go...

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:26 pm
by Sir Henry
Nothing wrong with putting a scope on a lever rifle. Scopes have been around longer than levers.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:57 pm
by 1911ly
I love the Skinner sights. I use the Merit apertures. I am blind as a bat too. I can't hit the broad side of a barn with buckhorns.

My 45-70 is the early version with the XS rear sight. I ordered a threaded stem from them (XS) and screwed the Merit in. The new 45-70 has the barrel mounted sight. if you have the newer version you can still use the receiver mount sight but i am pretty sure you would have to change the front sight blade to a taller one. But I think it would be worth the change to have the sight closer to your eye. JMO though. YMMV

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:46 pm
by Smoke4320
RanchRoper wrote:I turn 60 in 2017 and still not too bad with the open sights. At least I think so, of course there could be a reason nobody is at the range when I go...
I'm betting you hit every berm you shoot at too :) :)

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:55 pm
by SloopJohnB
tractortad wrote:I have four Henrys and ended up putting Skinner rear peeps and Lyman Globe/Shaver insert fronts on all of them. I also use bi-focal safety goggles (about $10 from Lowes) with 2.5 pwr bottom reader lens when I shoot. This combo greatly improved the sight picture over the original buckhorn sights for my old eyes and gives me consistant "one minute of pepsi can" accuracy at 25 yds.
I've been looking at information on the Lyman Globe front sights and have a couple of questions. Are the inserts some kind of clear plastic with the different targets? Is the plastic clear enough to see through it?
One of the inserts seems to have a bright yellow dot in the center -- is that true?

As I may have to get a slightly taller front sight (I'll know tomorrow when I am back at the range), does the Lyman Globe come in variable heights?

I think (if memory serves me correct) that the Lyman measures the height from the bottom of the dovetail. Why do they do that?

Thanks for your help TractorTad

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 8:38 am
by tractortad
The Lyman 17A Front Globes come with 8 inserts - 7 of the inserts are metal and one is a yellow plastic disc with a hole in the middle (anti-glare?). The 17As come in different heights (.404/.494/.584/.852). I don't know why they measure from the bottom - probably industry standard. If you go with a Skinner rear receiver peep, you would probably want the .494" Lyman Globe front - that's what I have on my 357 and 44 Brass Bigboys. If you go with a Skinner barrel-mounted peep, you may have to experiment - might have to go with the .404". Additionally, I use Lee Shaver inserts in all my Lymans. The Lee Shaver inserts are much more "finer" - kind of like looking thru a scope with crosshairs. I think this is the best iron sight setup you can put on a Henry - almost as good as a low power scope...

I think Midway has Lyman Globes for about $31 each. The Lee Shaver inserts run about $20 for a metal card with 10 different inserts.

Hope this helps - Tad

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:41 am
by Les
Thanks Tad - that's very useful information. Image

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:05 pm
by North Country Gal
Got you beat on the age thing, Ranch, and I, too, still like open sights. I still get great accuracy with them, under the right conditions. That's the rub, though. They are so dependent on good lighting conditions and, up here, we have more cloudy days than sunny days and once you step into the woods, it's always dark.

In my tests, made by stepping outside our yard and into the surrounding coniferous forest, open sights with a standard blade or bead were last, a peep with a standard blade or bead wasn't much better, because still had trouble picking up the front sight. A good peep with a fiber optic front scored third and was quite useable, with a red dot and a low power scope with a medium to coarse crosshair fighting it out for first, the edge going to the scope for its ability to see back in the shadows, something the red dot could not do. The red dot was the fastest for sight acquisition and tops for ease of use, though. Both make for great choices for woods work. Be tough to pick.

Bottom line for me is that if I ever decided to go hunting, again, I'd swallow my "traditional" preference and use either a scope or a red dot on a lever gun or single shot, then maybe take it off and go back to traditional sights for fun use after hunting season ... or maybe not. :)

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:25 pm
by RanchRoper
Once I can't hit the target with the open sights anymore, it's time for that pretty 10-gauge Cimarron Coach gun.... :)

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:48 pm
by CT_Shooter
tractortad wrote: Hope this helps - Tad
I own a receiver mounted Skinner peep on an H006M and I just saved your size recommendation for a Lyman Globe front sight to my computer for future reference. Thanks.

Re: Old eyes

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:03 am
by SloopJohnB
tractortad wrote:The Lyman 17A Front Globes come with 8 inserts - 7 of the inserts are metal and one is a yellow plastic disc with a hole in the middle (anti-glare?). The 17As come in different heights (.404/.494/.584/.852). I don't know why they measure from the bottom - probably industry standard. If you go with a Skinner rear receiver peep, you would probably want the .494" Lyman Globe front - that's what I have on my 357 and 44 Brass Bigboys. If you go with a Skinner barrel-mounted peep, you may have to experiment - might have to go with the .404". Additionally, I use Lee Shaver inserts in all my Lymans. The Lee Shaver inserts are much more "finer" - kind of like looking thru a scope with crosshairs. I think this is the best iron sight setup you can put on a Henry - almost as good as a low power scope...

I think Midway has Lyman Globes for about $31 each. The Lee Shaver inserts run about $20 for a metal card with 10 different inserts.

Hope this helps - Tad
Good stuff -- thanks

I went to the range today, and determined that my error is right at 2.0" high at 25 yds. Using the Brownells calculator, that computes to needing an additional 0.050" on the front sight. My sight, measuring from the bottom of the dovetail, is right at .494. So, I think I will be buying the .584 Globe. That will allow me to get the rear peep off of the bottom. Thanks also for the tip on the Lee shaver inserts.