Peep sights and/or optics.

[First Sergeant Dan]

At 58 my eyesight focus isn't what it used to be. The iron sights on my Big Boy 357 magnum just don't yield good results so I'm looking for options. I'd like to keep traditional looks if possible. Is there a rear tang mounted adjustable peep sight on the market for this rifle? I've seen the models that mount on top of the receiver but it requires the removal of the rear buckhorn sight which leaves the empty dovetail slot exposed. If I must mount an optic I'd like to see if you kind folks could give some recommendations. My primary use is ringing steel but I do plan on some close range whitetail hunting as well.

[Sir Henry]

Check out Skinner's website for some ideas. But don't forget that Lyman and Marbles both make a tang sight that would look perfect on them. And I would suggest a front globe sight.

http://www.skinnersights.com/henry_rifles_18.html

[First Sergeant Dan]

I can't find a Lyman or Marbles that state for Henry Big Boy....any leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the reply.

[Sir Henry]

Check Buffalo Arms out.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/marbles_stan ... x?CAT=4069

[tractortad]

Dan -
I put a .494" Lyman 17A front sight(3/8" dovetail) and Skinner "Express" rear sight on my brass 357 Big Boy. This combo works great for me and my 62 yr old eyes. It really improved the sight picture of the Henry short of putting on a scope. I took off the old marble buckhorn, so right now I have an open dovetail slot, but I plan on filling it with a brass insert. To me, it was more important to get effective sights than keep the classic "buckhorn/front bead sight" look of the rifle.

I also recommend you check out the archives in the "sights and scopes" section of this forum. Read Squatch's "The Process" post - it is an excellent source of info on how to go about upgrading sights on Henry rifles.

[DWD445]

Ordered me a Skinner barrel mount peep sight today for my BBS 44 Mag, looks real nice, it does have windage adj. correct ?

[tractortad]

DWD445 -
I have never used a barrel mount skinner (have two recvr mounts), but from the looks of the ad on Skinner's website, it looks like you adjust the windage by moving the entire sight back and forth in the barrel dovetail. It looks like there is an allen head hold down screw to hold it in place after you adjust for windage.

[White Squirrel]

DWD445 -
I have never used a barrel mount skinner (have two recvr mounts), but from the looks of the ad on Skinner's website, it looks like you adjust the windage by moving the entire sight back and forth in the barrel dovetail. It looks like there is an allen head hold down screw to hold it in place after you adjust for windage.

That is exactly how mine works. Once you get it lined up, there really should not be any need to move it again. Of course, I haven't gotten mine lined up yet because the last two time I have taken it to the range I forgot to take the little allen wrench and I don't have any that small.

[Sir Henry]

That is the way you adjust it. I have four Small Game Carbines which all came with a receiver peep but they were factory installed and came already zeroed in. But if not they are an easy adjustment.

[Hack]

A rear peep and front Lyman is a great combination. Squatch and I have them on our Henrys. I also have the combination on my Hawkens muzzle loader. The key is to match them. When you go from the stock buckhorn to a peep you raise the rear sight. To compensate you also have to raise the front sight. So it is best to get both at the same time. I purchased my Lyman on Amazon. The Henry uses a standard 3/8" dovetail. The height depends upon which type of peep sight you use. Skinner provides some instructions as to how to determine the height of the replacement sight.

[rwortman]

I had a Skinner on my BBS and used it twice before I took it off and put a low powered lightweight scope on it. I also just took of the rather high Henry scope mount and replaced it with a lower one. Both are now surplus. If you are interested in putting the Skinner on your .357 PM me. BTW I have the dovetail filler with the parking spot from the extra smaller aperture I bought for finer aiming. I played with it and decided to put a scope on. I also have a higher front sight. It takes some fooling around to end up with a still good looking rifle that is easier to use than the open sights but still is no where near as easy to use as a scope. The other thing you can do with the dovetail is put a folding notch sight in there. They are cheap.

[DWD445]

Got my Skinner Peep barrel mount sight today. Very little filing to make it fit. Looks awesome and seems to line up w/front sight pretty well.
Can't wait to try it out. Nice quality piece and shipped fast Came w/adj. wrenches also !

[Hack]

I'll bet you will be shooting high. The peep is higher than the buckhorn, so when you line up the front sight you tilt the barrel up. According to the Skinner site "This sight generally requires a taller front sight. No promises (please see our FAQ page) but our 3/8"X.600" Front Sight or .570" Fiber Optic are good places to start."

[tractortad]

That Skinner sight looks good on that steel Big Boy - looks like it belongs. I think the receiver mounted Skinner peep sights tend to shoot high with the factory front bead, but the barrel mounted Skinner peep "usually works with factory front sight". Hope it works for you...

[DWD445]

That Skinner sight looks good on that steel Big Boy - looks like it belongs. I think the receiver mounted Skinner peep sights tend to shoot high with the factory front bead, but the barrel mounted Skinner peep "usually works with factory front sight". Hope it works for you...

I think it will, being the barrel mount style, does look like it was made with the gun too !!
Also the sight can be mounted w/peep in front or rear of dove tail. Hopefully Sat. I will try it out
Wish I could blow a couple rounds off here, but city/law would be here for sure, a 22 is one thing...

[footchase]

Recently purchased a Big Boy in 357cal, also affixed a Skinner Express sight on it.. Couldn't believe how well this gun grouped rounds, only it's shooting high ... Thread I read here suggested trying a higher front sight, so I ordered a Marble's .570 Fiber Optic Green, hoping these older eyes will pickup the front sight much better...Secondly, hoping this will lower my grouping to a more zeroed center.. Any feedback from others would be appreciated in steering me in the right direction on my selection...thanks

[DWD445]

I would have to assume w/the receiver mounted sight, the front sight would be too low.
My Skinner barrel mount sight is awesome, I'm at 4 turns up on peep and was hitting 8" metal targets every time at 50 yrds
Still looks "old school", unlike a scope would, I'm happy and barrel mount is a little farther away than stock.
With my eyes, the farther away the better !!

[Hack]

I put a Lyman 17Ahb .404 High Target Front Sight on my .44 cal BB. It comes with several inserts. I like the one with a small circle in the center. I line up the aperture in the Skinner with the outer circle of the Lyman. Once the distance is sighted in by spinning the post of the Skinner, what I see in the inner circle of the Lyman is what I hit.

[wailer1]

I made a copy of the Skinner peep rear sight. When installed, it was too far from my eye to be any good. I then searched for plans for a tang-mounted peep, but couldn't find anything useful. So, I broke down and bought the Marble's tang-mounted peep sight. Excellent! Puts the orifice nice and close to my eye.

[Mistered]

As soon as I get off my lazy butt I will be machining a mounting base for my Big Boy to allow a Winchester 94 AE Williams Receiver Sight to mount on it. If it works well (which it should) I could probably be talked into making a few for 'beta testing' !