Help with Skinner sight selection - update, installed

[GunnyGene]

Since I don't hunt anymore I've decided to remove the scope I've had on my BigBoy .41mag (H012MR41). I'm considering a Skinner rear sight, but have a question regarding the the factory front sight, namely will I have to (or should I) replace that as well, and if so what height/style would be optimal? Factory front site is mounted in the standard dovetail. What I've looked at on the Skinner site is the fiber optic to go with the Skinner Express receiver mount since it's already factory drilled/tapped for the scope mount that's currently on the gun.

If anyone already has this kind of setup on an H012 I'd sure like to hear from them.

Here's the links to the applicable Skinner pages.

https://skinnersights.com/collections/p ... 34ff&_ss=c

https://skinnersights.com/collections/f ... ront-sight

[North Country Gal]

First of all, let me say I am a big fan of Skinner sights. In fact, I just bought a few, recently.

As to their peep sights that mount to the top of a receiver, I have never been able to use the factory supplied front sight. I've always had to go with a taller front sight. How much taller will depend on what load you are shooting and at what distances. You can do some fancy math to determine the "correct" height, but since you still have to go to the range and shoot, I just order one of the extra tall blade sights and then file down as needed. Once this is done, I have the correct height and can order other types of front sights that I might want.

Since you are not hunting, only doing target work and plinking, my preference for accuracy work is a blade front sight. A blade front allows a more precise sight picture than a fiber optics front sight. FO sights are great back in the dark woods - they really work - but I find them annoying to use when shooting for smallest group size. That's me, though. If you like FO sights, go for it.

[GunnyGene]

First of all, let me say I am a big fan of Skinner sights. In fact, I just bought a few, recently.

As to their peep sights that mount to the top of a receiver, I have never been able to use the factory supplied front sight. I've always had to go with a taller front sight. How much taller will depend on what load you are shooting and at what distances. You can do some fancy math to determine the "correct" height, but since you still have to go to the range and shoot, I just order one of the extra tall blade sights and then file down as needed. Once this is done, I have the correct height and can order other types of front sights that I might want.

Since you are not hunting, only doing target work and plinking, my preference for accuracy work is a blade front sight. A blade front allows a more precise sight picture than a fiber optics front sight. FO sights are great back in the dark woods - they really work - but I find them annoying to use when shooting for smallest group size. That's me, though. If you like FO sights, go for it.

Thank you. I had thought about a blade front, since I shot peep with front post for 20 years in the Corps. Appreciate your experience with blade height. I've also considered getting another Holosun (which I really like on a couple other guns), but can't justify the cost since I don't shoot the Henry much -- .41mag ammo is over a dollar/rnd and I don't reload.

[Mags]

Since I don't hunt anymore I've decided to remove the scope I've had on my BigBoy .41mag (H012MR41). I'm considering a Skinner rear sight, ...

Maybe before spending money on a aperture sight, test your eyes with a something like a small piece of cardboard, taped on the receiver, with an aperture sized hole in it to get an idea if such a sight would work for you with your current eye health. Just a thought.

[flat_topp]

I’ve got the skinner express rear peep sight mounted on my 357 BBS. I needed a taller front sight, and ended up with a skinner front blade sight at 0.650 inch tall. My factory front sight measures 0.556 inch. I notice that the tallest skinner front sight on the page you linked is only 0.57 inch, so that may not be tall enough for your situation.

[GunnyGene]

I’ve got the skinner express rear peep sight mounted on my 357 BBS. I needed a taller front sight, and ended up with a skinner front blade sight at 0.650 inch tall. My factory front sight measures 0.556 inch. I notice that the tallest skinner front sight on the page you linked is only 0.57 inch, so that may not be tall enough for your situation.

I took NCG's advise on the front, and ordered a plain blade front (Guide Series) .625, which was the tallest available they had listed. It should do given the elevation adjustment of the rear peep I ordered with it. If not, I expect taller ones are available from other vendors.

[GunnyGene]

Skinner sights arrived this morning. Easy installation. Put the rear on and took a look, and the factory front sight lined up perfectly with the rear peep, so I won't need the tall front. That said, I haven't taken it out back to see where it hits. Might do that later today. I hope it's on target, since there is no way I know of to easily adjust rear sight elevation. I did see the tiny little set screw on the side of the peep and I understand that the peep is screwed in to the base, but I was unable to rotate the peep with the set screw backed out without risking damage. So I reckon I'm stuck with it where it is. If I'm not happy with things this afternoon I'll just go back to the Nikon Buckmaster, and put the Skinners in the useless parts box and write off what I paid for them.

[GunnyGene]

Later at 25yds with the Skinner, from my Caldwell rest. Nice tight group of 3. Unfortunately about 3" high and 2 inches right. I'm not inclined to spend any more time and money on non-adjustable sights playing that Kentucky guessing game, so it's back to the Nikon.

[Mags]

Later at 25yds with the Skinner, from my Caldwell rest. Nice tight group of 3. Unfortunately about 3" high and 2 inches right. I'm not inclined to spend any more time and money on non-adjustable sights playing that Kentucky guessing game, so it's back to the Nikon.

If the elevation adjustment is screwed all the way in so tight that it is jammed in the dovetail bottom, you may need to also loosen the windage dovetail setscrew before the elevation adjustment can be turned.

[GunnyGene]

Later at 25yds with the Skinner, from my Caldwell rest. Nice tight group of 3. Unfortunately about 3" high and 2 inches right. I'm not inclined to spend any more time and money on non-adjustable sights playing that Kentucky guessing game, so it's back to the Nikon.

If the elevation adjustment is screwed all the way in so tight that it is jammed in the dovetail bottom, you may need to also loosen the windage dovetail setscrew before the elevation adjustment can be turned.

Thanks, but I'm not going to mess around with it. It's already in the box. It was a nice experiment, but I'm too old for any more experiments - with guns or anything else.