1894 Winchester - Tang or Receiver Peep Sight?

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Brentwood

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The original sights on my Dad's model 94 1930's 25-35 never worked, always shot high and to the left with maximum correction of sights.

I would like to get the gun shooting well and on target.

Should I be looking for a receiver sight or a tang sight for best results?

You thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks, Brentwood.
 
It's very hard to beat a good, click adjustable receiver sight. I've used them on several rifles with great results. To my eye they are easier to shoot.



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If you want to keep the rifle original, I would go with a tang sight. Your rifle is not drilled and tapped for receiver sights. They started drilling and tapping in the mid 50's. If that is not an issue with you then a nice Williams FP works great.
 
Marbles makes a tang sight with click adjustments. Very nice, and easy to use. Different post hights are availible for different distances.

R.
 
Thanks for your comments and suggestions, they are much appreciated.

I think the receiver sight may be the way to go, possibly a bit more practical when it comes to carrying the gun in the bush.

Regards,

Brentwood
 
I've got three receiver sights on levers and one on a Ruger 10-22. I've considered a tang but the ones I've shouldered were a tight fit for my hand on the grip as I wrap my thumb up against the sight base. I also have a heavy recoiler in a 444 and felt the tang was a safety issue. The sight on that rifle has survived decades of use with no problems, POI movement, or damage.

The closer peep does have its advantages. A real long sight radius, the peep seems to sharpen vision better close to the eye (the main reason I would try one), and a smaller aperture gives a wider field of view than a receiver sight. Historically they were very popular and those folks knew a lot about lever actions and iron sight shooting.
 
With a tang sight, you don't wrap your thumb around the grip, you sort of lay your thumb along the side of the grip to prevent getting bit by the sight.
 
I have 2 M94 Winchesters with Williams receiver sights and firesight fronts.
Even my tired old eyes find them easy to use, and surprisingly accurate.
My 38-55 has favored me with several groups at 100 that are right around 1"
The 30-30, is slightly less accurate, but 1½ moa is doable with a couple of loads.
I also find them easy to acquire a hold on game in the field.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
I have both...Williams Foolproof on a '94 and a Lyman tang on a Win 1905 .35 and prefer the Williams. Having said that...that works for me...what works for you may be entirely different...try both out if you can and figure out what will work best for your style.
Let us know and pics would be great...

Cheers, Will
 
Brentwood said:
...always shot high and to the left with maximum correction of sights.
Click to expand...

I would determine the cause of these issues first. While the sights might be a problem, there might also be an issue with the rifle itself.

If you use the existing front sight, then the rear sight will need to be adjusted lower than what you have now to correct for the elevation error.

The rear sight aperture will need to be able to move farther to the right than what you have now.

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You will probably need a new front sight as well. I prefer receiver sights over the tang sights.
 
I have 3 leverguns with tang sights, 1 with a receiver sight, and one with a ghost ring. All 3 with tangs are tack drivers and the other two I just cant seem to get accurate shooting out of. Actually makes some sense as there is a longer run between the bead and the tang site than the receiver sight. I am going to change the 2 others to tang sights I think and the Marbles is the one that came on my Davidson Special Highwall 45/70. First time out to the range first 3 shots at 100m within an inch of each other with LeverEvolution ammo. Trouble is not many shoot both for comparison sake and this was just buzzard luck but my old BSA Martini will cloverleaf at 25m all day long if I hold steady. Not bad for a 1938 vintage 22.
 
Bogie, tang sight shooters do report great accuracy a lot. It is interesting that you use both styles. Do you hunt with the tang sights?

I've been tempted to put one on my Winchester 92 32-20. The serious black powder cartridge shooters all use the tang mounted peep sight.
 
I have a Marlin 336 in 35Rem from the early 50s and have the Redfield on that.
I boresighted it in the shop and still do not find it easy to use. The tang sights just seem easier to use as well as providing a better field of view. Nice that they fold down. They are more expensive than a receiver sight so I figure thats why there are more out there. Then again I dont recall seeing a tang sight for sale in the EE either. Planning to hunt the Marlin once I get some LeverEvolution bullets for it. I have recently sold the Highwall since a saddle ring carbine fell into my lap a short time after I got it and do not have need of 2 45/70s. Expect I will remove the ghost ring and put a tang site on it too. Just looks better on a levergun too I think and they fold down so you can use the regular irons too. Marbles makes a very decent selection of rear irons and a fold down rear sight is a perfect match for the tang sight I think. The old girl just would not look good with a scope. Better in brush too-you can fold down the tang so it does not get hung up.
 
Canuck Bob said:
Bogie, tang sight shooters do report great accuracy a lot. It is interesting that you use both styles. Do you hunt with the tang sights?

I've been tempted to put one on my Winchester 92 32-20. The serious black powder cartridge shooters all use the tang mounted peep sight.
Click to expand...

There some accuracy to be gained from a tang over a reciever peep, but I found tang peeps on Winchester levers to be very much in the way. Made handling the gun clumsy. Just grasp your 94 & see where your thumb & palm lay naturally over the tang itself. I much prefer sidemounts on 94s, now 99 Savs are a diff animal :)
 
I have a 94 in 32 special, with a factory Tang sight. It is a 26" octogon barrel made in 1909 and I would not change that sight.Easy to see thru, and acurate. I don't find it gets in the way at all for shooting or carying the rifle.

Pete
 
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