Widerness survival rifle sites

G

g123

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
329
Hey Guys,

My survival rifle is a Marlin 1894 357/38. My eyes are getting a little old so I wanted to put a new front sight on it to help out. I have a peep site on the rear site already. I have narrowed it down to these 2 choices, a fiber optic front sight or an Ashley front post in this link.

http://www.xssights.com/store/rifle.html

Has anyone used this XS sight? Someone told me that it shows up better than the fiber optic type sight.

Thanks,

Geoff
 
Isn't getting older fun... ;)

Both good choices. The fiber optic sites really 'pop', drawing your eye naturally to it. If there are any gun stores in your area I'm sure you could go find something already mounted (even if it is on a handgun) and see how it works for your eyes.
 
I would go with fiber optic personally. Never used that site specifically though.
 
I've got a FO bead on my Marlin, it's functional. The rear ghost ring big loopy open deal drives me nuts though... the front beads on all my shotguns (Ultra 87, Benelli Nova, Ithaca 37) are all fiber optic as well. Tritium is real nice, I have a set of novaks on a S&W that I really like. It's really all just personal preference, it'd be best if you can get hands on first.
 
G123,

What type of peep sight do you have you marlin already ?? I'm in the same boat brother, kinda sucks especially with my compound bow...:grumpy:

I've been looking at the XS sights for a while but no one I know has them on they're guns so it's hard to judge ..

Tux
 
I would scope it.
4844086312_c9356d8659.jpg
 
Not being a smart alec regarding anyone's sight. I'm almost 64 but still like to get out in the Smokies and hike/camp. Used to carry a pistol for snakes and such, but with my eyes not what they used to be, I have opted for a shotgun with a bead on the front. 18 inch barrel, #4 buck for something dangerous and #8 bird shot for snakes.

Have fun.
 
IMO the XS sights are the way to go. I have them on my 1894 .357 and my 1894 .44. I also have a XS scout rail on my .44 wi th LER scope mounted. I have a Skinner rear peep on my 1894P .44 with 16" barrell and it also works well. My 336T in 30-30 has just a normal scope on it like NoCalMtn2. All work well and I seem to have all my lever action needs covered.
 
could always put on a true red-dot sight. True ones aren't battery operated; they are basically encapsulated fiber optic.

'course then the sight would cost more than the gun did.
 
a short ramble on fiber optic sights... they can be fragile...they do allow quick indexing to target, but for me they loose elevation for distance work as you don't get a good look at the top of the front sight..... "peep" vs. "ghost ring" if you want precision long range the peep is great, but for quick short distance action shooting a .250in or 6mm diameter hole with enough meat around the circumference to actually "ghost" an image is quick...for dangerous game the "express" wide "v" sight is almost universal in Africa. I am 62 with pretty bad asthigmatism and wear bi focals. My optician is a shooter and made me shooting glasses with my near prescription for my dominant eye, moved the bifocal line up a couple of mm in my non dominant eye. I would look towards a reflex fiber optic sight or a low magnification 1.5x, or 2x compact scope with good eye relief. regards Les
 
I have three rifles with the XS/Ashley sights.

I really like their front sight posts as they are easy to see in dim light. They are .100 in width and look a little thick on short barrel guns like your 1894 but don't seem to produce eye strain like some finer sights when you get past middle age.
 
Precision long range on a lever action isn't what you're looking for anyway-quick precise target acquisition for reflexive shooting is. That's why I personally believe scopes (unless scout style) just get in the way for most lever guns. But that's me.
 
Fiber optic sights are great, but a lot (most?) of them are pretty fragile. I'd take a steel aperture sight every time. Some of the old models offered interchangeable apertures. With no aperture insert, it was almost a ghost ring.

My "survival rifle" has an aperture sight with two different sized flip-up rear rings (ARMS #40L).

Good shooting,
desmobob
 
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