Skinner Peep Sight on Receiver

[MadCityJack]

Hi All,
Just got my BB 357 all steel carbine a few weeks ago. I shot with open sights at the indoor range and decided to set up with a Skinner Express Peep Sight. Installation was a snap; did need to clean out the receiver screw holes because some oil was present. I am planning to install the Skinner fiber optic front sight as soon as my brass punch arrives from Skinner. I also purchased the tall blade as a back-up or incase I don't like the fiber optic. Any suggestions for install based on experience.

BTW: I love the way the lever handles; there is a slight learning curve as I think an operator error (me) didn't cycle the lever well and a cartridge got stuck in the receiver--only once! I got it out but having a live round in the barrel and one in the receiver was a bit harry. The lever was stuck until I freed the round in the receiver. I was shooting 357 158g MagTech rounds. Suggestions here?

I bought a Marlin 336s at the same time and put a Vortex Razor HD LH (1-8x32) but have not sighted it in yet. The optics are incredibly bright. I thought about putting a 1-4 scope on the Henry but I really enjoy the freedom of not having a scope--it's light and fast to bring up to the shoulder. I hope to use the Henry for range shooting and perhaps, with confidence, close range hunting. I do have a 1-4 Vortex Crossfire that I can borrow from a Marlin 980s 22 caliber. Of interest, I purchased a Picatinny rail from Henry and it was .03" narrow, making for a loose scope mount (Vortex Viper mounts). They confirmed the problem and are sending out a new one. So, I have options...

[North Country Gal]

Sounds like a great plan to cover all your shooting.

As for changing out the front sight, be sure to check out the Skinner website on Fitting a Front Sight, down at the bottom of the front sight page. Otherwise, usually a petty simple operation. Good luck.

[ditto1958]

My Henry 30-30 came with XS Ghostring sights. Those things are really easy to use, and I can shoot accurately with it out to 100 yards.

[MadCityJack]

Peep sight with fiber optic front installed! Plus, took off open sight and installed the aperture slug from Skinner.

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[North Country Gal]

Upside, down shooting? And I thought offhand shooting was a challenge.

Seriously, though, that is a very nice rig with the Skinner Express.

[MadCityJack]

I really liked the sight picture, but unfortunately with bore sighting at 25 yards it was high at what seemed a couple of inches, but I was using a tree, so it could have been more or less. I was able to turn the brass aperture down one 1/2 turn by cranking on it with a hex wrench through the aperture, but no more. Unfortunately that did not help to lower the elevation sufficiently. It is still shooting high. Screwing in the black aperture that allows a tighter sight picture suggested I may have smashed some of the screw rings by cranking on the brass aperture ring, but the insert went in OK.

I will go to the range tomorrow and see what I get on paper at 50 yards. If unacceptable, the next step is to use the .70 blade sight I purchased and file it down. On my setup, the fiber optic is not tall enough to allow any lowering of the windage. I wonder if others have tried this setup and to what outcome.

[MadCityJack]

Range: On Paper at 50 yards sights shot high at about 4" with the fiber optics, which seem the same height as the factory sights. Wish I had read Skinner sight more carefully: says 50% success rate with factory sight and the Skinner optic sight appears to be the same height. Unfortunately, there is no room for elevation lowering of the Skinner rear sight, so I will install higher blade sight.

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[tractortad]

Range: On Paper at 50 yards sights shot high at about 4" with the fiber optics, which seem the same height as the factory sights. Wish I had read Skinner sight more carefully: says 50% success rate with factory sight and the Skinner optic sight appears to be the same height. Unfortunately, there is no room for elevation lowering of the Skinner rear sight, so I will install higher blade sight.

If you are going to replace the front sight again you may want to consider installing a Lyman Globe instead of a blade...

[North Country Gal]

Jack, if you're planning to do range work, switching to a six o'clock hold would but you right where you need to be at 50 yards with the present setup, but, yeah, for the sake of versatility, I'd just switch out to the higher front sight. I do prefer a blade to a fiber optic for range and target work, anyway. Thanks for the update. Keep us posted.

[MadCityJack]

NGC, I actually tried a six o'clock hold for four rounds and one hit the 10 circle and the rest suggested I needed more consistency. What is your experience with the Lyman Globe? I have the blade so I will try that first. If it's high, I can unscrew the Skinner rear sight a bit. You said, "I do prefer a blade to a fiber optic for range and target work..." What are you comparing?

Thank you.

[North Country Gal]

I use globe sights almost exclusively on my air rifles that are setup with iron sights, using either a peep or open sight for the rear sight. The interchangeable inserts give you all kinds of options for the front sight, everything from a blade, aperture and so on. You get just about any kind of front sight you want, just by changing the insert. The only issue with going with a globe front is that globe front sights usually sit higher off the barrel than what usually comes for a factory front sight, so you may need a rear peep sight with plenty of elevation adjustment. Haven't tried the peep/globe setup on a Henry, but I'm sure others have and will give you all the help you need on that one.

For precision target work, I prefer a blade for its sharper outline against the target, compared to a fiber optic. That sharp top on a blade allows for a more precise hold. The top of fiber optic sights tend to be a little less sharp. On the other hand, for hunting back in the timber, a fiber optic sight's visibility is awesome in those lowlight hunting periods. They really do work. I don't hunt, anymore, but have specifically tested them with other sights in lowlight periods, just out of curiosity.

[MadCityJack]

Punched out the Skinner fiber optic, punched in the Skinner front blade sight. Sits high (and not so aesthetically pleasing), but affords the opportunity to file it down, as necessary. The goal is to get POI a bit higher and with the fiber optic (seeming the same size as factory, there was no room to lower the Skinner Express sight for adequate adjustment, so that's why I am now putting in the taller sight). I used Skinner's three sided file with one side smoothed so that only the sloped part of the dove tail is removed. The file works well. I then put on Skinner's blueing and after a couple of minutes, some lubricating oil, which shined up the otherwise fairly flat black sight. On the second image from top you can see some brass marring on the barrel--I did tape it off with duct tape, but still it broke through. Ballistol will hopefully take it off or I'll use a copper solvent. Didn't see it with the naked eye. BTW, I painted the front of the sight white, it doesn't come that way.

This process of substituting sights is a bit tedious; hopefully, it will be worth it! Next step--bore sighting. I used a neighbor's bore sight last time, recommendations for purchase of my own?

[MadCityJack]

I use globe sights almost exclusively on my air rifles that are setup with iron sights, using either a peep or open sight for the rear sight. The interchangeable inserts give you all kinds of options for the front sight, everything from a blade, aperture and so on. You get just about any kind of front sight you want, just by changing the insert. The only issue with going with a globe front is that globe front sights usually sit higher off the barrel than what usually comes for a factory front sight, so you may need a rear peep sight with plenty of elevation adjustment. Haven't tried the peep/globe setup on a Henry, but I'm sure others have and will give you all the help you need on that one.

For precision target work, I prefer a blade for its sharper outline against the target, compared to a fiber optic. That sharp top on a blade allows for a more precise hold. The top of fiber optic sights tend to be a little less sharp. On the other hand, for hunting back in the timber, a fiber optic sight's visibility is awesome in those lowlight hunting periods. They really do work. I don't hunt, anymore, but have specifically tested them with other sights in lowlight periods, just out of curiosity.

Thank you. I may try the Lyman Globe if the blade sight doesn't work.

[MadCityJack]

As mentioned above, I swapped the fiber optic for the Skinner blade front sight and painted the front white.

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I then unscrewed the Skinner short-stemmed aperture about 1/2 way out and tightened it down and went to the range today. I have room with the Skinner Express Sight now to raise and lower shots.

At 25 yards this is what I shot with my first seven rounds:

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At 25 yards, my wife who has very little rifle shooting experience shot the following:

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I couldn't get on the 50 yard firing range because shooters were out to 100 yards and would have been behind us. I tried a few shots at 100 yards but did not have a spotting scope/binoculars to know what I was doing, so I let it go and later inspection of the target suggests that was well advised. If I can learn to shoot reasonably accurately at 50 to 75 yards I will keep it as is.

I want to thank Andy Larsson at Skinner Sights for providing support during the process and sending me a complimentary short-stemmed brass aperture to replace the original; I damaged the threads on the original as a result of turning it down too far with a thin hex wrench inserted into the aperture. As noted in a previous post here, I was trying to lower the rear sight to compensate for a short-fiber optic front sight.

In summary, I like the Skinner Express Peep Sight mounted on the receiver, but finding the right front sight was a bit of a challenge. A blade that has a vertical adjustment would be challenging to engineer but would solve the problem (Tech Sights has one for 22 caliber rifles and I put his set on my Marlin 795; have not shot it yet!). I found the Skinner tall blade, I believe it was .70", worked with the Skinner Express Sight and so far, no issues at 25 yards. When I get it out to 50-75 yards and working fine, I will call it a success! One follow-up to come.

[Whaler17]

Like those vice's, did you make them,??????? if so, what did you use for jaws, to keep from marking the weapon, thank Mike

[CT_Shooter]

Like those vice's...

Whaler17, welcome to the forum from CT.

[PT7]

Been following your work on your steel .357 BB carbine. Looks to be a good job to me. I have the Henry Small Game carbine, and I shoot well with the receiver-mounted Skinner peep and front bead. But I've always liked a front blade, so think I'll check out what Skinner might have for my rifle in a blade. BTW, I really like the clarity and close-up photos of your Skinner front blade...very nice stuff. Aesthetics are not my top priority; I think the front blade looks cool on your rifle -- simple and solid.

Not least, both yours and your wife's targets show great POIs. That .357 Henry is a fine rifle. Enjoy!
Thanks for your posts.

Punched out the Skinner fiber optic, punched in the Skinner front blade sight. Sits high (and not so aesthetically pleasing), but affords the opportunity to file it down, as necessary. The goal is to get POI a bit higher and with the fiber optic (seeming the same size as factory, there was no room to lower the Skinner Express sight for adequate adjustment, so that's why I am now putting in the taller sight). I used Skinner's three sided file with one side smoothed so that only the sloped part of the dove tail is removed. The file works well. [etc.]

[North Country Gal]

From what I can see on the POI at 25 yards, looks like the current combination is where you will need to be in terms of elevation adjustment available to you for other distances. Good work. Also, I think it's great the way you have shared. I'm sure it will help others.

[MadCityJack]

Like those vice's, did you make them,??????? if so, what did you use for jaws, to keep from marking the weapon, thank Mike

I wish I had the skill to make vices. I purchased them on Amazon, along with protective inserts on the vices (see below). I also used felt, floor protectors on the vices for added protection--bought a package awhile ago. I hope that is helpful.

[urlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001LQY44/re ... UTF8&psc=1[/url]
[url]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018Q ... &psc=1/url]

[CT_Shooter]

...I purchased them on Amazon, along with protective inserts on the vices (see below). I also used felt, floor protectors on the vices for added protection--bought a package awhile ago. I hope that is helpful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001 ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018Q ... UTF8&psc=1

Thanks.