So I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the gun was ready yesterday and I picked it up today.

Now for the bad news, and hopefully someone can help me out here. The sight does not appear to be wide enough. The sight mounts on the left side of the reciever. If I adjust the peep so that it's centered in the top of the reciever it's completely out of windage, i.e. I have to move it as far as it will go to the right, just to get it centered. I ordered the 66WB per some suggestions from the good folks here and the other research I could dig up, but it just doesn't look like the thing is wide enough.

Do I need to return the sight for a wider model? Is there a wider model?!?

I have a 66WB on my 1895, and I do not have that problem at all. Something is not right. Make sure they sent you the 66WB, or that the sight in the box was a 66WB. I have this sight on my 1895 AND 1886. They fit fine and the sight centers beautifully. Maybe the gun shop put the wrong sight on. Not out of the relm of possibilities.

Call Buffalo Arms, they are great folks and I am sure they will make it right. Please keep us informed.. Good luck!

The sight is in fact the WB, it's stamped on. Turns out it's just TIGHT TIGHT. With the aperature centered, it's still cranked probably 2/3 of the way (atleast) to the right. It was so tight before that I thought it was out of adjustment but I was actually able to crank it all the way over hard against the stop. It's just super hard to do. Hopefully with any luck it wont need any adjustment, and if it does, hopefully it'll be to the left! As soon as I can get my POS camera working, I'll post a pic of the finished work.

Pics added - Sorry the overhead view is so blurry, my little point & shoot camera has trouble with close up shots on occasion. This is basically where the right adjustment was stopping before. I have since been able to run it hard over to the stop. I did notice however that on the muzzle edge of adjustment recess the paint has now been scraped off (after I cranked it over). Oh well, I don't care what the reason is as long as it works.

They are very hard to turn at first. In order to adjust the L-R, I Raised the sight by pushing the button on the lrear of the sight.make the adjustment then lower it again. I'll take some pics of mine for comaprison.

Have you shot it yet?

Not with the new sight. Just picked it up today right before dark. I'll try it out in the next day or two, or at the latest, this weekend.

Looking at your sight, even though it may be cranked to the right it is centered over your slide. I think mine is the same way.

I figured as long as it is centerd and I'm on target everything is okay. I'll try to take some pics of mine and post them for comparison tonight when I get off work.

Much appreciated. I've got 3 loads that I've already tried with the open sights, hopefully one of those will work. After checking a Hornady manual though, one of them is really hot, specifically a 10x load. They're quoting about 5 grains less than what I extrapolated. I shot several of them however and had no problems with brass, extraction, etc. Just the same I'll be pulling them in short order. The loads I was using when I originally got the gun were with IMR-3031 but that stuff meters like matchsticks, so I have since loaded RL10x, Benchmark, and AA2230 again though data for the AA powders and Alliant powders have been scarce.

If one of you guys has a Hornady manual handy, can you check the numbers for 10x and AA2230 (if listed) for me? The Hodgdon data is easy enough.

quote:

Originally posted by kev5000:
HI,

I have a browning 1895,it use to be in 3006,I sent it to Z-Hat customs and it is now a 9.3x62mm.I really like this gun. I have a scout scope,quick release and gost ring back up irons sights,20 inch barrel.It shoots extremly well and is the most relieable leveraction I have owned,not to mention is good to 250-290 yards and hits hard,Kev

Years ago I considered buying one of these rifles, but didn't...darn.
Anyway, my idea was a scout style scope mount.
That's what I would've done.

Do you have pix of your conversion?
Nice choice in cartridge for that, too!

You can still get'em all day long on Gunbroker, Gunsamerica.com, etc.

To somewhat close the chapter on this saga, I finally got to test out the sight last weekend. It definitely shot better, but can still use some tweaking. I was shooting about 3" at 100 yards with a load that I put together using AA2230 and the 300 gr. Hornady Flat Points. Unfortunately I didn't really think it through and was using a target that has a green print on it, then put a shoot-n-c dot on that. I should have just put up an all white target and put the dot on that.

The other problem is my eye dominance. I've known that I was left eye dominant for who knows how many years but I never noticed it being a problem with open sites on rifles until I tried to use the peep. The amount of concentration it takes for me to sight the gun using my right eye while keeping the left eye open is extreme. If I close my left eye, I lose some of the focus (depth perception I suppose) that I have when both eyes are open. Nonetheless, it's an improvement. In the near future I'll try some of the pointed Hornady's and maybe even some Barnes X's and see what I can do. In the meantime I should be able to take it deer hunting this season as long as I keep the shots reasonable.

Thanks Kingfisher for starting this thread. I too, am trying to make a decision on what style of sights to replace the factory ones on my '95 Win, albeit in .30-'06 caliber. The rub is, I have the hi-grade, 1 of 1000, 100th anniversary edition. I'd hate to drill that pretty receiver, then stick on a plain-jane, blued sight.

Has anyone else given the thought of replacing the rear sight with one of those 2 ounce red dot sights? Not the kind with the big diameter barrel, but one smaller and less obtrusive. Seeing it, Ol' Teddy would turn over in his grave for sure, but it wouldn't leave permanent scars as it would just slide into the dovetail slot. Any thoughts? Would it help to tighten up groups at 100 yards? Those buckhorn type sights are for a young man, which I am not.

quote:

as anyone else given the thought of replacing the rear sight with one of those 2 ounce red dot sights? Not the kind with the big diameter barrel, but one smaller and less obtrusive. Seeing it, Ol' Teddy would turn over in his grave for sure, but it wouldn't leave permanent scars as it would just slide into the dovetail slot. Any thoughts? Would it help to tighten up groups at 100 yards? Those buckhorn type sights are for a young man, which I am not.

You might try a company called MO JO. They make a diopter(peep) sight to replace the rear sight on many mil surp models. They may may make a dovetail model, don't know for sure. Another option is Skinner sights http://www.skinnersights.com/, He does make one for 3/8" dovetails in brass and blued steel. at $45, and on the Marlinownersforum.com all I here are good comments.

tried the Skinner sight.......screen states "page not found"

Thats strange I copied the address and it does not work. Just try typing in the address, www.skinnersights.com and it works.

The high grades are beautiful rifles, and I can definitely identify with what you're saying. I'd also hate to go drilling & tapping holes in that thing. If I had the high grade personally (and I've thought about picking one up in 405) I'd probably stick with the buckhorns. Now, that being said, if this is going to be a gun that you're going to USE, engraving be damned, then I'd have a gunsmith tap it and install a peep.

What are the options for the carbine, seems the handguard and ladder sight complicate things.

I'd like to purchase the 30-40, but my old tired eyes don't work so hot with iron sights, though I can still work receiver sights okay.

I finally got out to shoot my 1895 with the new Providence Tool receiver sight. I was using a 300gr NEI cast bullet and only had to make a minor elevation adjustment. Windage was right on. Starting at 25 yards I had about a 3/4" group. When I got to 50 it increased a quite a bit to about 3 " but the sun had come out and I was seeing reflections in the peep hole. Next time I am going to try some jacketed Horndays and smoke the rear sight as the blueing is shiny in the peep hole causing a reflection and a fuzzy appearance in the bottom portion of the apeature. This probably was a result of the direction the range is oriented in.

I like the sight and just need to get used to it. Jacketed bullets will probably do better also but will have to try. I would be comfortable using this now as a hunting rifle, but will add that in 405 it is not the ideal rifle to shoot off a bench.