Sighting in Marlin 1894??

[Blue Steel Traveller]

We took it to the range today for the first time (slicked it up before hand though).  The ammo was Back Hills, 158gr CNL.  We started out at 50 yards and didn't even hit the paper the target was on. It appeared to be shooting very high and to the left.  We then sighted in with the bulls eye in the notch of the rear sight and the front sight below the rear sight notch. This at least got us in the black but still left.  I figured out that the left was caused by the rear sight not being in alignment which I can figure out, the real problem is getting the shots down. So if I have this figured out correctly, I need to raise the front sight?  If this is the case, anyone got any feedback on how to do this? Also, what should the correct sight alignment be? I was always taught the top of the rear site in alignment with the bead of the front site at the bottom of the bullseye. 

Thanks 

[Guage Rod]

Sounds like you are shooting a 357 or 38 special round from the grains of lead you are dispening.  I would recommend you are shooting a little far out to paper test your gun (Sight it in).  I would go out about 25 yards.  I agree with you on where the sight picture should be.  Are you shooting from a rest or a bench?  I would recommend it.  Shoot 5 shots, get a grouping, mark then with a felt tip or change targes and try another type of ammo, until you achieve a best POA combination.  If you can not or are not reloading, beg, buy or borrow some varrious load combinations changing such things as slug whts, and powder charges or different makes of ammo.   Might be none will work and then the gun get some attention.

The differece in slug whts will chage your results on paper.  Lighter slugs in the 125 to 130 gr. range will shoot lower.  Also different bullets will have differing powder and primer charges and will change your results.  If the gun is shooting to the left of the target you need to move rear sight to the left if you have the ability so the gun will line up accruately. If the rear sight has no adjustment then try moving the front sight to right  To get the gun to shoot lower with the ammo you mentioned,  you need to lower the rear sight if you have adjustment left on the adjustable wedge on your buck horn.  Most front signts are only adjustable to the side. If you are out of adjustment on the rear sight, I would recommend a different front sight, they come in varrious heights.  They are not overly expensive and can be found at most major supply houses on line or at a good sporting good store.  If this is a Marlin CB, 94 the front sight is dove tailed.  The usualy drive to the left to remove if I am not mistaken (Use a brass puch our a dovetail vise and go slowly just .001 at a time). Just make certain the dovetail sight is the same width as the one in your gun if purchase another one.  Since you slicked the gun up, you should be able to do this work.  If a GS did the work might take it back to him and tell him to re tweek it.  

I also recommend that you read the owners manual on the gun if you bought it new, might tell you a lot about the characteristics of shooting the gun, where to aim etc.  If you did not get the gun owners manual, then go to Marlins web site and down load the Instructions. 

Consider the advice given on this post, worth about what you paid for it.   YMMV (Your milage may varry).

Vaya Con Dios.

[Three Fingered Fred]

If the bullet impact is high and left:

1. Move the rear sight down and right.----OR-----
2. Move the front sight up and left.

[Blue Steel Traveller]

Thanks for the advice.  Yes we're shooting 38 special.  The good news is that I called Marlin this morning and they said they could fix problem and sending me a new site.  We'll see when it gets here and I get it installed. 


I knew my eyes were getting bad, but not that bad, so bad that I missed the whole target.

Thanks again

[Driftwood Johnson]

I agree, 50 yards is too far to start out with a rifle that you have never tried before. With a new gun, I like to set the target REALLY close, for the first couple of shots, until I have some idea of where it's shooting. I even think 25 yards is too far for the first few shots. If you start out close, you can always move the targets out once you have some idea of where you are hitting. You will still be hitting in the same quadrant of the target, but the error is greater the farther out you go. The other trick I always try is to staple up a bunch of targets for the first few shots, with their edges overlapping touching. That way, if you miss the target you are aiming at, hopefully there will be holes in paper somewhere to tell you where you are hitting. Or else staple a big sheet of paper behind your target.

The technique of aiming you are describing is called a 6 O:Clock hold, where you center the sights at the bottom of the bullseye. Many Bulls Eye shooters use this hold. For CAS, I prefer to hold the sights right where I want the bullet to hit. So I will line up my sights at the center of the bullseye for my CAS guns. If you have your sights set so your Point of Impact is the same as your Point of Aim, you don't have to do any compensating to keep your hits on the center of the target.

The rule of thumb for adjusting sights is to always move the rear sight in the direction you want your hits to go. If you want to shoot to the right, move the rear sight to the right. If you want to shoot lower, lower the rear sight. Movement of the front sight is the opposite of movement of the rear sight. If your rear sight is already as low as you can go and you want to lower your hits, you may need a taller front sight.