I appreciate that you occasionally post on this forum. In addition to your firm’s remarkable restoration work and newer rifles, the breath of your big-game hunting experience with Winchester 1886 rifles is impressive. From Alaska to Africa, you seem to do very well afield.

Because of that experience, I wonder if you might share your thoughts on sighting systems for serious big-game hunting today with Winchester 1886 rifles?

I currently have a Winchester 1886 Deluxe Take Down in .45-70 (recent Davidson limited edition rifle) that I’d like to set up properly and I’m already thinking about a Turnbull-worked 1886 in .475 Turnbull for the future.

I have six short questions.

FRONT BEAD SIZE
Bead size seems to be a key question when it comes to front hunting sights (unless one uses a simple non-beaded blade-type front sight). For the most part, I seem to be running into front-sight beads from the likes of Marbles, Lyman and Williams that are either 1/16 or 3/32” in diameter.

1. What would you suggest in terms of front bead size (1/16 or 3/32) for serious hunting today?

FRONT BEAD MATERIAL
Front bead materials seem to fall into three main categories: gold-colored, ivory-colored and the newer fiber-optic beads.

2. Between gold-colored and ivory-colored, what have you found works best in the field today?

3. What about the newer fiber-optic sights (usually red or maybe green)? Fiber-optic front sights do show up in the field amazingly well. Have you tried fiber-optic front sights, and how did they seem to work for you?

REAR SIGHTS
A variety of traditional buckhorn and flat-topped rear sights (like the Marbles), along with quality receiver peep sights are available for today’s hunting 1886 rifles.

4. When hunting with an old or new 1886 rifle, what sort of rear sight blade (buckhorn or flat-topped) do you feel works best for hunting today?

I know that I find quality receiver-mounted peep sights comfortable to shoot with many rifles. 5. What are your thoughts on quality receiver sights for hunting today with 1886 rifles?

SIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TURNBULL BIG BORE CLASSIC RIFLES
6. What front and rear sights do you typically recommend for your Turnbull Big Bore Classic Rifles which are intended for serious hunting today?

Thanks a bunch for sharing your experience and insights into front and rear sights for today’s hunting 1886 rifles.

quote:

FRONT BEAD SIZE
Bead size seems to be a key question when it comes to front hunting sights (unless one uses a simple non-beaded blade-type front sight). For the most part, I seem to be running into front-sight beads from the likes of Marbles, Lyman and Williams that are either 1/16 or 3/32” in diameter.

1. What would you suggest in terms of front bead size (1/16 or 3/32) for serious hunting today?

I like the smaller size as I can shoot it more accuratly at longer ranges like 200 yards. THe smaller size is better for up close as you can find it QUICK.



FRONT BEAD MATERIAL
Front bead materials seem to fall into three main categories: gold-colored, ivory-colored and the newer fiber-optic beads.

I have not tryied the fiber optics so I cannt say one way or another. I like the ivory bead as it is easy ofr me to find. Or try the reversible sight by Lyman that was made years ago. and they have ivory and gold. Works great if you can find them.

2. Between gold-colored and ivory-colored, what have you found works best in the field today?

I like the ivory bead as it is easy ofr me to find. Or try the reversible sight by Lyman that was made years ago. and they have ivory and gold. Works great if you can find them


3. What about the newer fiber-optic sights (usually red or maybe green)? Fiber-optic front sights do show up in the field amazingly well. Have you tried fiber-optic front sights, and how did they seem to work for you?

REAR SIGHTS
A variety of traditional buckhorn and flat-topped rear sights (like the Marbles), along with quality receiver peep sights are available for today’s hunting 1886 rifles.

4. When hunting with an old or new 1886 rifle, what sort of rear sight blade (buckhorn or flat-topped) do you feel works best for hunting today?

I have tried many of them. From full buckhorn to flat top and express. I found that if I take a repo 1886/71 sight and grind it to fit the countour of a 6" grinder and leave the U knotch in place it works really well, fast and accurate. I can put the bead in the U and get pin point accuracy.

I know that I find quality receiver-mounted peep sights comfortable to shoot with many rifles. 5. What are your thoughts on quality receiver sights for hunting today with 1886 rifles?

I have not used one much so not much experience. As my eyes get older I think I may need to look at other options, that said I have bases made for the Trijicon sight that will fit into the rear dovetail and you have a 4 to 13" MOA at 100 yrds that really seems to work well. I have oen that I am using and will let you know how it is working in the near future.

SIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TURNBULL BIG BORE CLASSIC RIFLES
6. What front and rear sights do you typically recommend for your Turnbull Big Bore Classic Rifles which are intended for serious hunting today?

The front sight is a 1/16 ivory bead and the moditied Jap rear. They work out real well, fast, and accurate out to 200 yrds, good for the plains game animals.

Thanks a bunch for sharing your experience and insights into front and rear sights for today’s hunting 1886 rifles.

Doug

Doug, thanks for the straightforward answers. Much apprecaited.

Has anyone else tried the various front bead sizes or the newer fiber-optic front beads?

Good questions and thoughtful answers.

I'm been playing with the shortest Marble's fiber bead I could find http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=444196 and a Lyman receiver sight on Mjolnir, my 45/70 Guide Gun. So far it puts all shots inside the 3/32 bead at 25 and 50. I expect it will do so at 100, maybe even 200, at least with fast 350s.