Rifle Sight Question

Nevada Mark · January 04, 2009, 08:22:23 PM

Howdy Pards,
A question for Ya'll (Southern for "You All") – Has anyone tried or replaced there rifle sights with the XS Cowboy Express Sights. I just purchased a new Marlin Cowboy Limited in 45 Colt and find that the front sight is small and hard to focus on when shooting. Yep! I'm getting old and must be going blind but need some input to get these old eyes to see them sights so I can come close to hitting the target. Any input will help -- To answer one Question already, yes I wear glasses.

Adirondack Jack · January 04, 2009, 10:34:49 PM

I can't focus on the rear sight, and found the front sight small myself.

the answer was to put a Marbles Tang Peep sight on the rear (yer eye automatically centers it, ya never really even see it) and a "grabber" front sight (big bead). Several vendors sell the grabber sights including me. Brownells has the Marbles peep

Ole Man Dan 95 · March 18, 2009, 01:28:39 PM

I put the XS Cowboy sight on my 66 and found I could see it much better. I ordered another and put it on my 73. My rifle times went down, and my hits went up...
(My sights are about .500 high)
I opened up the back sight a little to speed up finding the post's dot...
A couple of my friends put the 3/8" dovetail Marbles fattest brass beads on their rifles with the same success. They too opened the rear sight a little.
I plan to order yet another XS sight and put it on my 1885 45/70. It's difficult to see the origional sight.
(I haven't put a Vernier sight on the 1885)

Jefro · March 18, 2009, 03:28:43 PM

I put the Grabber .130 front sight on my 73 and two Marlins. Then I cut the ears off of the simi-buckhorn rear sight, one Marlin already had flat-top. With a very small round file I opened up the V groove slightly, turning the V into a U. Now when the Grabber sits about half way in the U it's on target. Plus this helps these old eyes see the target bettter. Good luck.

Jefro

Ruidoso · March 19, 2009, 11:44:57 AM

I have added the XS sights on both of my 73's and love them.

Dalion · March 19, 2009, 12:02:39 PM

Here is what I did on my Marlin 94 and my 73. I bought the Marble front sight with the biggest ivory bead they make; I think its 3/16, .500 high. Then I put on a Marble full buckhorn rear sight and took the notch insert out of the rear sight. Now I have one big a$$ rear ghost ring sight and a big front sight bead. It works great for less than $25. Haven't had a rifle miss in my last three shoots.

Blackpowder Burn · March 21, 2009, 11:28:05 PM

I've put the Marbles tang peep sight on all my rifles (5 and countins

). Just as Adirondack Jack says, you never have to concentrate on the rear at all - your eye automatically centers itself and all you do is put the front sight on the target. I rarely miss a rifle target. Buffalo Arms is much less expensive for Marbles sights than Brownells - darn near half the price.

Fairshake · April 02, 2009, 07:15:29 AM

Brownell's sells the Marbles sight for $125 retail and cheaper to qualified smith's. Buffalo Arms sells the sight in two pieces and I think that's where you became confused Aggie Desperado. The base is $60 and the post is $45 for a total of $105. The Brownell's price is much cheaper than that to qualified persons.

Blackpowder Burn · April 05, 2009, 08:24:14 AM

As I recall, the last time I checked Brownells (about 2 months ago) they wanted $180 for a Marbles (for a Marlin 336 Cowboy) that I got from Buffalo Arms for $95. Maybe that comes from not being a gunsmith and getting the discount. Of course, it could be that my eyes slid over and read the wrong column. Anyway, the folks at Buffalo Arms are tremendous to deal with, so you couldn't go wrong.