Carbines with barrel peep

[Redthies]

Anybody with a carbine that has put Skinners barrel mounted peep in place of the buck horn care to comment on how they like it? I know it’s been done a bunch of times, but I can’t seem to find anything in the way of a range report. I love the receiver mount on my SGC but if I buy the Express and a round dovetail filler for my BBS it is almost triple the cost of a barrel mount Skinner. I’m curious on how the sight picture and accuracy is with such a short distance between. I would assume it’s fine, but you know what they say about assumptions!

Bonus points if you could post a pic of the barrel mounted peep on your BBS carbine...

[North Country Gal]

Have used the Skinner barrel mount on many guns that didn't have a receiver mount option. Have had no complaints about the barrel mount, though there are a couple of things you need to do to use them, successfully. First and foremost is to NOT try to center the front sight in the aperture of the barrel mount peep. You need to use the barrel mount peep same as you use a receiver mount peep - look through the barrel mount peep aperture and concentrate 100% on the front sight. This may take a little effort to learn, at first because that peep is so far out on the barrel, but it becomes second nature, quickly, with a little practice.

The other issue, especially for hunting is to not go too narrow on the aperture. Skinner ships it with their widest .125 aperture and that's fine for target work in good light, but a lot of folks I know just go ghost ring (removing the aperture, altogether and looking through the open ring) for hunting. Makes for a good, fast handling sight setup that way.

To be honest, I still prefer a receiver sight when possible. Still easier to use in my book. Not sure what other options will fit the Henry, but the Lo Pro is very affordable.Windage adjustment is via the front sight, but if you'll only be using one basic load, still a practical sight setup. Even the basic receiver sight costs a bit more than the barrel mount, though, I'd consider paying a bit more. Hopefully, our Henry owners will chime in, here, and help with what fits on their Henrys.

[Mags]

I'm very much far sighted. Even with glasses I can't see things that are too close to my face. A receiver mounted sight was too close for me to use. Completely fuzzed out useless. Even the front sight was out of focus when targeting down range. For me had to get a scope.

[Redthies]

NCG- good point on windage adjustments on the Lo Pro. The best results would be with a receiver like the Express and a taller front, but that’s going to be $150 +/- with a dovetail filler. Pricey for sure. I’m not afraid of paying for things, but it’s hard to spend on something you’re not sure will work for you!

[PT7]

The first .357 magnum Henry I had, which is gone now, was a BBB 20" octagon barrel model. The pics I'm posting below of this rifle & peep really don't look any different for a 20" model or 16.5" Carbine model. Also here is one of the Range Reports I posted in April 2016 when I shot this BB using the peep sight. http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=463 I liked it a lot, and it really worked well; easy to quickly grab the sight picture, and quite accurate.

I'll make this comment though. My current two Henrys both have receiver-mounted peep sights. The shorter distance from peep to eye does make a difference....easier to get a good sight picture, and I'd say some accuracy improvement. Either way would be a good way to mount a peep sight. Yes, the cost factor does come into play for sure.

Best on making your decision which mount style to use. Both are darn good. I really like using iron sights, so that's a plus for me.
PT7

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Anybody with a carbine that has put Skinners barrel mounted peep in place of the buck horn care to comment on how they like it? I know it’s been done a bunch of times, but I can’t seem to find anything in the way of a range report. I love the receiver mount on my SGC but if I buy the Express and a round dovetail filler for my BBS it is almost triple the cost of a barrel mount Skinner. I’m curious on how the sight picture and accuracy is with such a short distance between. I would assume it’s fine, but you know what they say about assumptions!

Bonus points if you could post a pic of the barrel mounted peep on your BBS carbine...

[Redthies]

Thanks PT7. It seems you and I are going to have the identical offerings from Henry. Great minds think alike? On your new .357 you did the Express and a front sight, or? Do you have pics of your current set up?

[PT7]

All photos are posted in other threads, but these should give you exactly what I have on my BBS .357 Magnum Carbine.

~~Skinner Express receiver-mounted peep.
~~Skinner dovetail slot blank on barrel.
~~Stock Henry front brass bead sight.

For me and my elder eyes, a great iron sight setup!
PT7

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Thanks PT7. It seems you and I are going to have the identical offerings from Henry. Great minds think alike? On your new .357 you did the Express and a front sight, or? Do you have pics of your current set up?

[The Wiz]

I have a peep on the receiver of mine. Works well with these old eyes.

[Redthies]

Thanks PT. It’s hard finding the older photos without going through all the random threads. Good to hear your Express worked with your stock front. I’ve heard it’s 50/50 at best. My SGC needs a taller front, which Henry said would arrive in 7-10 days almost 3 weeks ago. On the note of front sights, yours came with a brass bead, yet I’ve heard a fibre optic one comes from the factory in a video review posted on Henry’s site, but the specs also say brass bead.

[PT7]

Yes, I heard the 50/50 number also, and it actually states that on the Skinner web site. I came really close on bottoming out the Express aperture when I did my install, but got it sighted in okay. I was in the correct 50 group!

Also heard about the alternative fibre optic front sight. Bottom line, I'll be interested to hear how well you're able to finalize your BBS Carbine. I know it will work out okay, and just hope your costs stay low.

Best!
PT7

Thanks PT. It’s hard finding the older photos without going through all the random threads. Good to hear your Express worked with your stock front. I’ve heard it’s 50/50 at best. My SGC needs a taller front, which Henry said would arrive in 7-10 days almost 3 weeks ago. On the note of front sights, yours came with a brass bead, yet I’ve heard a fibre optic one comes from the factory in a video review posted on Henry’s site, but the specs also say brass bead.

[Mistered]

but if I buy the Express and a round dovetail filler for my BBS it is almost triple the cost of a barrel mount Skinner

Don't forget the $39.95 option of the Williams WGRS-336 mounted backwards on the Henry receiver with the windage slide simply flipped around. Works very well.

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[Redthies]

but if I buy the Express and a round dovetail filler for my BBS it is almost triple the cost of a barrel mount Skinner

Don't forget the $39.95 option of the Williams WGRS-336 mounted backwards on the Henry receiver with the windage slide simply flipped around. Works very well.
IMG_0954[1].JPG

Williams needs to make their website a little (lot) better. It’s hard to find any info on their products unless you know what you want before you head there. I’ve gone on it twice to look for options for Henryrifles and they only show one item with no image. Not very helpful. What are you using for a front sight?

[Mistered]

I’ve gone on it twice to look for options for Henryrifles and they only show one item

That one item is all they have, and then just for the Henry SGC. They essentially have nothing else for Henry. The WGRS-336 you see in the picture on my BBB is intended for a Marlin 336 but works well on the Henry retrofitted as such.

What are you using for a front sight?

A .490 standard blade off of a Winchester.

[Redthies]

I was chatting with the folks at Rangerpoint Precision down Tejas way yesterday while ordering my dovetail filler and mentioned I ended up ordering a Skinner Express. He said “what, you didn’t order ours?”, which led to me checking out their sight offerings. They do a barrel mount which is similar to Skinners, and then their new “Cloverleaf” receiver mount. It is pretty darn cool, but the price tag (justified for sure) is a bit steeper than I’m willing to go. It has a pair of “wings” cast into the main mount that protect the aperture, which I really like the idea of. Maybe in a few months after the dust has settled on my latest spending spree I’ll get one for my 1895GS Marlin. It’s sights are horrible too. Even worse than the Henry buckhorn.

[Mistered]

Rangerpoint Precision

I was checking their site out this morning and I am impressed with their sights - especially the barrel mounted 'peep' sight along with their unique front sights.
I think I have a new problem... (well not terrible anyway!)
After only two range trips with my new Ruger PCC I am essentially shooting it better than any of my levers.
Close for sure but last Sunday I was grouping with it on the average tighter than any of my Winchesters or Henry and and think I might know why.
The barre mounted rear peep on the Ruger is in much sharper focus due to it being a bit further from my right eye (the one I had surgery on) and the sight picture is much clearer.
So after all my years with receiver peeps should I look into going with a barrel peep on one of my rifles and see if anything changes?
Probably what i will do is take the rear off my Henry and work a temporary mount forward on the barrel and give that a try and see if anything changes.
While I am NOT dissatisfied with my shooting with the receiver mounts I find the sight acquisition with the Ruger MUCH faster due to the shorter distance and the clearer view.
I don't know yet and may have to give this a little more thought HOWEVER I think I will order their rear peep and front sight combo,
http://www.rangerpointstore.com/peep-si ... er-savage/
And install it on my 1899 Winchester as my only option for a peep with it is a tang sight since it is not drilled and tapped for a Williams.
Anyone with a BARREL mounted peep please jump in anytime!

[ESquared]

Just beginning to look at the Ranger Point sights, and what's initially pretty impressive is that they actually tell you which rear sight/front sight combo works with which Henry model. VERY helpful, unlike Skinner, which, as noted elsewhere, kind of gives you the "maybe it will, maybe it won't" story.
Really like the one Ed is pointing out above, but still not so sure about barrel mount vs. receiver mount. I like my Skinner back there closer to my eyeball...

[Mags]

.
a similar observation I made in another topic recently when we were going round about rear or barrel mounted peeps.

... The barrel mounted rear peep on the Ruger is in much sharper focus due to it being a bit further from my right eye (the one I had surgery on) and the sight picture is much clearer....