Peep sights have been in use for well over 100 years and are used yet today on every major battle rifle around the world.

Ross Seyfried in his article:PEEP SIGHTS - THE KEY TO BETTER SHOOTING Asks this question..."Is there a way to correct your shooting vision without corrective lenses, without a scope, and with nothing more than a plain iron sight?"His Answer?"Have no fear! There is a “magical sight.” Yes, there is an iron sight with extreme precision, that is extremely fast and...drum roll...one that corrects virtually any vision problem to perfection. And no, it is not some product of the space program, computerized lasers or witch doctors. It is a simple, round, hole!"With the aperture/peep sight, all one needs to do is look through (not at) the rear hole and focus on the front sight.  The human eye is an amazing instrument and will automatically center the post or bead without conscious thought so you can put all your attention on the other fundamentals of the shot.SKINNER SIGHTS are designed to give approx. the same sight picture as the M-16 / AR-15 and many other military rifles.Even our "Barrel Mount" sight uses principles applied to some military bolt action guns used in WW I and WW II.Ross says this about "Buckhorn" and "Notch" open sights..."First they are very skill oriented. Open sights, regardless of opinion to the contrary, are difficult to master." And..."Second, they depend on good eyesight. Regrettably most, mine included, begin to lose open sights somewhere past 40 years of age."In my experience, even beginner shooters hit more targets quicker with less experience using peep sights over buckhorn/notch open sights.If you want to shoot better, hit more targets, make cleaner shots on game, and have the most rugged and dependable sighting system for your firearm possible, consider the PEEP SIGHT to make it possible!

Mounting Your Receiver Mounted Skinner Sight (All Mounting Screws and Hex Wrenches are supplied)
A.  Double check to ensure your gun is unloaded.

B.  Use a small screwdriver to remove any sight filler screws that may be in the threaded holes needed to mount your sight.

C.  Clean and dry the holes if needed.  We do not recommend either oil OR LocTite on the screws used for mounting.

D.  Mount the sight to the firearm using the screws and wrenches supplied.

E.  Check to ensure the screws do not protrude into the receiver far enough to interfere with proper bolt operation. (If they are slightly long, file or carefully grind off a couple threads)

F.  Orient the aperture stem square with the receiver and tighten the right-hand set screw. Do not over tighten, just enough to lock the stem from turning.

G.  Gently tighten the center set screw to hold the dovetail slide in place.Your sight should now be ready to use!

Mounting The Barrel Mount Dovetail Sight (Adjustment hex keys are supplied)

1.   The dovetail may be a few thousandths larger than the slot it should fit.

2.   Check the inner corner relief first.  The sight will have sharp corners and may need to be filed a bit to match the corners of the dovetail slot on the barrel.

3.   If you cannot start the sight by pushing it into the slot it may be necessary to use a small triangular file to remove a small amount of metal before the sight will fit. Remove the metal from ONE of the sloped sides of the sight.  A triangular file has a 60-degree slope which is the same as the slope on the sight. When you can start the sight in the slot by hand go to step 4.

4.   Use a brass punch to tap the sight to the center of the barrel.

5.   The peep is adjusted for elevation by turning it on its threaded shaft.  It is secured by a  set screw on the side of the sight.

6.  The aperture can be removed for a "Ghost Ring" which works well with this sight.

Fitting A Front Sight Remove the front sight from the rifle using a brass punch and a mallet. Drift the sight from left to right (as viewed from the rear sighting down the barrel)Hold the new sight to the right side of the slot and try to start the sight. If it will start then drift it into center position using the brass punch and mallet. If you cannot start it by hand, you will need to use a small triangular file to remove some metal. Very little filing will be necessary. File a couple of strokes then check. File only on the sloped side of the SIGHT dovetail and only file on one of the two surfaces. Never file on the rifle, always on the sight.THE DOVETAIL ON THE SIGHT IS MADE SLIGHTLY OVERSIZE DUE TO VARIATIONS IN WIDTHS OF THE DOVETAIL SLOT ON THE GUN. The goal is a firm friction fit that cannot be moved by hand but can be moved with gentle taps of a punch and mallet.OR...  Figure it yourself with the following equation.

When you are unable to adjust the rear sight to work for your rifle because the rifle shoots high you will need a taller front sight.

To eliminate the guesswork, you can calculate the additional height needed using this SIGHT CORRECTION CALCULATOR or, follow the math procedure below.

1. Shoot your rifle at a known range (say 50 yards). Note the distance you need the impact to change (say 6 inches lower).

2. Measure the sight radius of your rifle (22 inches on most Marlins).

3. The change needed is calculated by changing all measurements to inches then multiply the sight radius by the desired change in impact and divide that product by the range in inches.

4. The result is the additional height needed for the front sight. To get the height of the new front sight add the current height and the calculated number from (3).

Example:

I need to shoot 6 inches lower at 50 yards with my 1894, 44 Mag. With a 22-inch sight radius. My current front sight is .350” tall from the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the sight.

50 yards = 50X36=1800 inches

Desired height change is = 22 (sight radius)X6 (desired change)/1800(range)=.073 inches. My new front sight needs to be .350+.073 or .423 inches tall. 

OR...   MAKE IT SIMPLE

To move the impact at 100 yards on a Marlin rifle with a 20" barrel requires .006" of sight change.  (front or rear)  

For example:  

If you are shooting 6" low at 100 yards, your front sight needs to be "Trimmed" .036" shorter or the rear stem turned up  1 1/2 turns.

If you are shooting 6" high at 100 yards your front sight needs to be .036" taller or the rear stem turned down 1 1/2 turns.  (If your stem is already at the lowest position a taller front sight is required)

If you are shooting at a shorter range than 100 yards adjust accordingly.

50 yards = 2 times the change needed.  (.012" for 1" correction)
25 yards = 4 times the change needed.  (.024" for 1" correction)

FOR MARLIN LEVER ACTION RIFLES              

THESE ARE OUR SUGGESTED FRONT SIGHT HEIGHTS (ramp mount) FOR  SKINNER APERTURE RECEIVER SIGHTS:

Due to variables beyond our control, we cannot guarantee these to be correct for your specific rifle.  These are averages based on measurements and customer experiences.

These heights are on the TALL end and will allow you room to trim with a file to an exact fit.

ALL HEIGHTS ARE MEASURED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DOVETAIL TO THE TOP OF THE SIGHT.

After trimming use SKINNER BLUE to touch up the top of your sight.

39 .22lr  = .400"
1894 .44 Magnum w/20" Barrel = .450"
1894 .357 Magnum w/18" Barrel = .500"
1895 Guide Gun and 20" 45-70 = .400" - .500"   (wide variations in loads)
1895 45-70 W/ 22" Barrel = .400 - .500" 
336 30-30 w/20" barrel = .500"  (LeverEvolution Ammo tends to impact higher)
336 35 Rem w/20" barrel = .500"
444 Marlin w/20" barrel = .450 - .500"
MXLR Series (same rear sights as 1895/336) = .500" 

FOR HENRY LEVER ACTION RIFLES PLEASE SEE THE NOTES INCLUDED WITH THE SIGHT DESCRIPTIONS ON OUR HENRY RIFLES PAGE.  

IF WE DO NOT HAVE A SUGGESTION LISTED, INSTALL THE NEW SKINNER REAR SIGHT AND SHOOT ON PAPER PRIOR TO MAKING FRONT SIGHT CHANGES.

For Octagon Barrel Rifles (and guns with the front sight dovetailed directly into the barrel):

Centerfire Calibers ~  .650" tall 1/2 inch wide base front sight.
Rimfire Rifles ~  .600" tall, 3/8" wide base front sight.

For Ramp Mounted Front Sights

(Ramps are 1/4 or 3/8" wide at the top, order accordingly)
(Measure right to left as looking down the barrel from the receiver)

About Marlin Ramps

These are typically (almost always) held on with two screws.  One of those screws may be under the front sight dovetail.  Early production hole spacing was .700" and later production (2000 and after) are 1.00".  There are some recent guns being made with one screw ramps.  (336W)  Some recent manufacture 1894 Marlins have .700" spacing.  Please measure!

FOR OTHER FIREARMS USING SKINNER APERTURES

Our BARREL MOUNT sits approx. .300" above the top of the barrel and is .400" from the bottom of the dovetail to center of the aperture. Our barrel mount sight usually works with the factory installed front sight.

The LO-Pro is about .275" from the mounting surface (wherever you have installed it) and you can make some measurements on YOUR RIFLE to determine how high it will be above the center of the bore and choose a front sight that will be approx. the same height above the centerline of your bore.

(Customers report good success with the LO-Pro using the Factory Front Sight)

Gun Manufactures have used many many different ramp/sight height combinations over the years. (Even for the same model rifles)

There is no "standard" front sight height.  

It will help immeasurably if you have shot your rifle on paper with the new SKINNER rear sight and the factory front sight. Front sights are made with a slightly oversize dovetail. It will be necessary to use a Small Triangular File to fit the new sight to the dovetail slot.  Do not file the dovetail on your rifle. This is a 10-minute job if you follow the directions.Use SKINNER BLUE to touch up your work for that perfect finished look!