OK -- I am a newbie to this 45/70 thing. Just purchased a Marlin 1895GS and I am looking at the appropriate mods that need to be installed. I am looking at the WWG winged ghost ring sights although esthetically that sight looks a bit over the top structurally--- would use the XS systems sight but really like the WWG fiber optic front. I am also changing out the recoil pad to a Decelerator pad -- now do I need to change out the ejector? Is this an issue on the Marlin rifles that I should be aware of and correct? I see that WWG has one they call the BEAR PROOF EXTRACTOR. The trigger is about 5 ½ lbs, which is a bit heavier than I would prefer but may live with if for the moment although the WWG trigger replacement is fairly inexpensive. The one thing I have not found a satisfactory item for is a thumb spur for the hammer – have ordered one from Cabela’s and one from Midway – neither fit worth a dang.

I've got the WWG ghost ring on my GG and I helped a friend put an XS on his GG. Wish I'd have saved the $ and gotten the better sight.
The WWG sight uses a couple of tiny set screws to hold zero as the sight slides on dovetails for windage and elevation. The XS sight uses screws to adjust and if you take careful note of the 'oclock positions of your screw driver it's a cinch.

My wife and I each have GG's and we have never had a jam that wasn't user error. The ejector looks rinkydink with that little spur of spring steel stuck in the side of the milled ejector but it works. If I were going to live somewhere remote I'd just get an extra Marlin for bunches cheaper.

Can't help you with the thumb spur.

Enjoy these are great rifles

Rick -- thanks for the advice on the sights --have the XS setting here on my desk -- based on your input I will go with the XS and save the $-- question-- what about the protective "wings" do you think they are necessary or is the XS strong enough to stand alone?-- I see that XS has a "winged" version -
TKS
G

The wings lend an air of ruggedness, ready to jump out of airplanes and swim ashore whacking enemy noggins with your rifle.

I'd just go with the normal sight and once again if you are going to spend long periods of time where UPS don't deliver get an extra aperture from XS, a Marlin ejector and what ever other parts look like they'll break if you are prone to banging stuff against rocks or dropping it. You will have to change the front sight which ever ghost ring you go to. A lot of people like the XS style with the white line, I like a big white bead and some like the fiber optic front sights ( I did till I broke the one and only one I've tried BEFORE I got it to the range )

I'd suggest you change recoil pads (though we still have the stock brick, I mean pad on both our rifles) and go shoot a couple hundred rounds thru the rifle before you make too many modifications, it's pretty shootable the way they roll off the assembly line.

Yup, bear proof ejectors! The big Bears like to steal the ejectors and use them for tooth picks! The Wild west ones are harder to remove. This makes the bears frustrated and they just give up!
Seriously though, one other thing you may want to do, is put a dab of blue loc-tite on the reciever screws. If the one on the bottom front backs out, the gun will jamb up tight when loaded. And with heavier loads, they will all loosen over time. Not a great deal if you have to defend yourself. And the XS Ghost rings are plenty strong unless you use the gun as jack handle. Good shootin'

ANOTHER vote for loc-tite on those receiver screws...I don't "hot-rod" my 45/70 at all...but those screws still seem to want to loosen up on me. Otherwise...try a Pachmayer "de-celerator" pad, and shoot it a while before spending a lot of money.

I use the Brockman Generation III Front & rear Sight. Alittle pricy but I love it so much I got one for my son.