Changing sights to help older eyes

[Ojaileveraction]

Using a smaller aperture will also sharpen your focus on the target.
Even with your glasses on.

[Nitetrain40]

So I bought the Skinner express receiver set up for my henry big boy steel, in .357. It seems like therecis,never a definitive answer on the front post. Will the stock post work?? Skinner says 50/50 chance! Well that makes no sense to me at all. Either it works or does not. So I looked into the Lyman front globe set up. Commentscsre they work great...However, I'm reading conflicting posts on the size to use...i read that the .494 Lyman works great, then I read the. 584 sight height works great! To me thats a big difference in front post height to say they both work great. So I'm stuck decided on which one is REALLY THE BEST HEIGHT, to use. Help please!!!

[Mistered]

Google ''rifle sight height calculator' and
See what you come up with.

[North Country Gal]

Nitetrain, I know it can be frustrating, but hang in, there. We've all had to deal with this issue first time out when changing sights. There's just no way anyone can give you a 100% guaranteed answer.

Let's start just with the gun. Some factory guns shoot higher and some shoot lower than the average for the same exact model, right out of the box with the sights set the same. That can't be avoided with mass produced guns. The factory sight combos the manufacturers supply on their guns when they leave the factory are designed to cover this range in variation and, for the most part, they do, but even on a factory gun, you can get an individual gun that shoots too high to too low for even the factory sights to handle. It's rare, but I've had several of these, right out of the box. Even with guns that fall in that average range for where they shoot, however, there is still going to be some variation, one gun to the next. One may shoot a touch higher, one a touch lower. And that's just the guns.

When you add in all the different types of ammo that shooters will use in a gun and then add in all the various distances the guns will be shot, the correct height sight calculations get even more fuzzy. When Skinner or another shooter says you'll have to try and see what works for your individual gun, they are not being evasive, then. Just a fact of life when you deviate from the factory sights.

Since a receiver peep sight will typically sit higher over the bore than factory open sight, you'll most likely encounter a problem with the gun still shooting too high with the peep at it's lowest setting. The cure for this is a taller front sight. One option I would suggest is to shoot your gun with the load you want, using your preferred sight picture, at the typical distance you'll be shooting, using the Skinner peep and the factory front sight. That will give you some good feedback, right away. Two or three shots is all you'll need. Can save you a ton of guessing and ordering the wrong size on a front sight. For instance, if you're still shooting a couple inches high with the Skinner at its lowest setting, then order a globe sight a couple sizes up over the height of the factory front. A more precise option is to replace the factory front with an extra tall blade front and file down as needed till you get the right height. That's the height to get, then, for your globe sight.

Lot's of folks here to help, so shoot a few with the Skinner/factory front combo and let us know.

[Les]

If you're really not sure, it's usually safer to go with the higher front sight. You can always file it down if it's too high, but you can't easily raise it if it's too low.

[tractortad]

We have the Skinner "Express" receiver peep paired with a .494" Lyman 17A Globe front on our BBB 357Mag and our BBB 44Mag Henry and they work well with both rifles sighted in at 25 yds, but I don't know for sure if your BBS357 has the same receiver/front barrel height difference as a BBB357. You might want to try a temporary height addition (i.e. folded black electrician tape over the brass bead) to sight the rifle in at the distance you want (with the skinner peep in its lowest position), measure the front sight height with that temporary addition, and then match that with the next highest Lyman Globe to get the proper Lyman Globe for your application.

[Mistered]

You can always file it down if it's too high,

Providing it’s a blade style front and not a gold or white bead.

[Cofisher]

Yeah, I filed the bead right off of the original Henry sight. It is now a blade site that works well with my low pro receiver peep

[Nitetrain40]

We have the Skinner "Express" receiver peep paired with a .494" Lyman 17A Globe front on our BBB 357Mag and our BBB 44Mag Henry and they work well with both rifles sighted in at 25 yds, but I don't know for sure if your BBS357 has the same receiver/front barrel height difference as a BBB357. You might want to try a temporary height addition (i.e. folded black electrician tape over the brass bead) to sight the rifle in at the distance you want (with the skinner peep in its lowest position), measure the front sight height with that temporary addition, and then match that with the next highest Lyman Globe to get the proper Lyman Globe for your application.

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna try some rounds this weekend. See how it goes

[Nitetrain40]

If you're really not sure, it's usually safer to go with the higher front sight. You can always file it down if it's too high, but you can't easily raise it if it's too low.

Can't file down the Lymann globe front post....

[Nitetrain40]

We have the Skinner "Express" receiver peep paired with a .494" Lyman 17A Globe front on our BBB 357Mag and our BBB 44Mag Henry and they work well with both rifles sighted in at 25 yds, but I don't know for sure if your BBS357 has the same receiver/front barrel height difference as a BBB357. You might want to try a temporary height addition (i.e. folded black electrician tape over the brass bead) to sight the rifle in at the distance you want (with the skinner peep in its lowest position), measure the front sight height with that temporary addition, and then match that with the next highest Lyman Globe to get the proper Lyman Globe for your application.

Thanks shipmate!!

[Nitetrain40]

Well I finally made it to the range to try out the Skinner express receiver mount sight. Well I'm here to say, I'm not a fan what so ever!! It looks nice on the henry, but that's about it. First, it did shoot high at 25 yards. Both using .357 and .38 special, in 158 grain. Secondly, after about 30 rounds, the peep sight insert walked it's way out of the thread post! Luckily I caught it, before it fell off! Try finding that on a range floor!! Thirdly, the Allen head screw came loose on the small plate, and slid almost all the way off to the right of the gun!!! So am I a Happy camper, no sir!!!!! 30 rounds and that happens!!! I'm sure Skinner will not take a return!!!!

[CT_Shooter]

Well I finally made it to the range to try out the Skinner express receiver mount sight. Well I'm here to say, I'm not a fan what so ever!!

The aperture does need to be strong finger-tight. I check it each time I use the rifle. I also have a second aperture on the barrel in a dovetail blank that I also check each time -- just to be sure. I never had one loosen. I also didn't want to rely on the allen wrench for windage adjustment, so I bought the adjusting knob that's available for the Express. I like it much better.

That said, you should contact Andy and include the comments you made here. I'm sure he'd like to hear from you. Let us know how you make out.

andy@skinnersights.com

[tractortad]

Just tighten things up and keep on shooting....

[Nitetrain40]

I also bought the adjustment knob, all Allen screws were nice and tight. Should not worry about bolts.....

[Nitetrain40]

Update:
I communicated with Andy at Skinner, and we are working on a resolution to the issue..i can say Andy is more than helpful and kind on this matter..I just wanted to post a quick update, and will post my final thoughts, once everything is done.

[Nitetrain40]

So I wanted to post my final thoughts...Andy and I communicated back and forth on a solution, but I decided to abandon the use of the Skinner express on my Henry. Andy refunded the cost of the part with no questions asked. No sense in going into great detail on the issues, but maybe the experience I had was isolated. Again, Andy was very responsive in communicating his concerns, and for that I may return in the future for another look into his products.

[Mags]

Friend of mine bought a Vortex Striker 1-6x24 for his older eyes. Says he loves it. I've been an open sight shooter, but I also can't see well enough for that anymore. I also have the VS on order, it should arrive tomorrow.