Alternative peep sights to fit Henry?

11847 Views 26 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Flanders, 2 mo ago

bedbugbilly

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2012

I had my Henry H001Y out shooting yesterday. It has the stock sights on it. I was shooting at 25 yards - plain round nose Federal LR (I picked up a brick of them last week to try - really liked the way they shot).

O.K. I'm 60, have to shoot left handed due to eye problems. I've been using a piece of white paper 4 X 6 with a felt pen X corner to corner and a tracing of a quarter in the center of the X. This gives a good contrast for me for the sights. After putting 50 rounds through - I had several dead center and most of the rest about at 7 o'clock maybe an inch away. I don't' attribute this to my sights being off as I discovered that as I'm getting used to shooting the lever gun left handed, I had developed a couple of bad habits. One, when I squeezed the trigger, I could tell that I was "twisting" the rifle just a little bit. I wasn't flinching - it was all in how I was squeezing the trigger. Tjhis lead to me discovering that I did not have the stock firmly seated against my shoulder. I seemed to be ablet to help this by moving my right hand on the fore stock so that my right thumb and under finger were in front of the barrel band and thus I could "pull" it back into my shoulder for a tighter fit/grip.

Now . . . while the stock sights are "so so", I find that i am having trouble concentrating on the front sight and getting it "centered" in the rear sight slot. I'd like to try a peep sight as I think that might be the answer for me. I"ve looked at the Skinner sights and yes they are very nice. However, adding them to my rifle would make it necessary to replace the front "plastic" band/sight. All of these changes add up to $$.

My question is this. Does anyone make a peep sight that will fit the receiver mounting grooves like the skinner does but which is cheaper? I like the H001Y but at some point am going to get the Frontier and on that one, I'd put the extra $$ into a Skinner sight. I'm not interested in the expense of a tang peep. I'd like something that wouldn't require drilling/tapping holes and realize that the front sight would have to be changed anyway.This is just a "knock about" plinking rifle and I'd like to get out of it for the least amount of money. I know "you get what you pay for" but I'd rather put better upgrades into a Frontier when I get it but still want to try a peep and see if it will answer my vision requirements. Does such an animal exist?

Thanks.

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Pete44ru

· #2 · Jul 17, 2012

1) Buy the Skinner peep now

2) Install it on the H001Y until you get the Frontier

3) When you get the Frontier, move it to the Frontier.

.

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jcwit

· #3 · Jul 17, 2012

Get the Skinner Receiver Peep sight. Then JB Weld a piece of 1/8 brazing rod onto the top of the front sight. Works like a charm and not expensive at all.

If you're real handy take a small round die file and make the top of the front sight concave to accept the piece of brazing rod.

Down the road you might wish to get the HiViz sight for the H001M as its made higher than the HiViz sight for the H001.

Fuzzface

· #4 · Jul 17, 2012

In your situation, I would figure out the most I would be willing to spend on the new rifle AND sights for it, keeping in mind that many guys with experience recommend investing as much in sights as in the rifle they are intended for. Then as soon as I had saved enough for the SIGHTS for the new rifle, I'd buy 'em, put 'em on the current rifle, and keep on savin'. When I finally had enough for the new rifle, I'd buy it and migrate the sights.

As for sights themselves, I would never again spend money on anything except cross-hairs in a hood up front and a tang-mounted Creedmoor-type peep in the rear for punchin' paper. For a tromp in the woods, a lighter rifle with factory sights has long satisfied guys who are a whale of a lot better than I am.

Fuzz

nwellons

· #5 · Jul 17, 2012

Everyone who shoots my Golden Boy is amazed at how much they like the Skinner peep that is mounted on the barrel, next to the receiver.

I have not had to do anything with the front sight but that may be a function of the ammo and distance I shoot.

If you get a Skinner, try it with the ammo you like and range you shoot before you decide to modify or change the front sight.

Pet-Rock

· #6 · Jul 17, 2012

This website helped me in a HUGE way in choosing which sights I wanted.

Its a quick, must read man. It discusses EVERYTHING

http://paddedwall.org/guns/henry_sights.aspx

Fuzzface

· #7 · Jul 17, 2012

There are three common places for rear sights: 1. up front on the barrel where most gun makers put them. 2. back on the receiver, such as on the grooves provided by Henry. 3. back farther yet, on the tang, a mere inch or two in front of the shooter's eye. The most accurate place is #3 simply because it is farthest from the front sight. The tang position has been popular for marksmen for at least as long as shooters have engaged in competition with each other. WHY has it become the "Oh, yeah, some guys do that." choice???" I "tried" one, the Creedmoor type, a couple years ago, and have never looked back. Folded forward when not in use it is totally out of harm's way, yet flips up to shooting position before I've even got the rifle in position to aim. Why is it not more widely used? It is certainly historically correct.
Fuzz

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bedbugbilly

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 17, 2012

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions - it's greatly appreciated.

Pet-Rock - that is a great link - thanks for posting it.

I know a lot of folks like the tang peeps and I'm not opposed to them - but - my rifle is a H001Y (youth model). I bought it off of a friend as it was an older NIB and the price was too good to pass up. For general shooting, I can get along with it but I'm also a bigger guy - 6'1" - 225 lbs. and I find the youth stock a tad short for me. My eye would be too close to the aperture. For general plinking though, I can get by with it. If I purchase an adult sized butt stock for it, it will be $65. Add on the price of a good peep and upgrading to a metal front band/sight and I just don't want to put that much into it - not if I'm going to get a Frontier down the road.

I thought that with all of the 22s with grooved receivers that someone out there may be making a "cheap" peep that would mount on the receiver. Maybe there just isn't the market for one. (I mean you can buy a cheap 22 scope at Wally World for 9.99). Don't get me wrong on the H001Y - it's a nice compact little package and handy to put in the boot of the SUV for trips to the range, etc.

I'll probably just wait until I get the Frintier and then do an upgrade on the sights on it - more than likely a tang sight. I like the extra weight of the octagon barrels on the Frontiers that I've hefted and that model is more suited for me for getting more serious on the paper punching. I thought I was coming home with one last week but the LGS that I deal with had everything but the 22 LR model.

Thanks also for the tip of using a piece of 1/8" brazing rod to add to the top of the H001 sights to raise it for use with a peep - a great idea! I hadn't thought of that and it would work out well and probably be a lot easier for me to see.

Thanks again fellas! :bthumb:

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Fotheringill

· #9 · Jul 17, 2012

Billy-

"...9.99...." Actually $6.97 with scope 4x somthing low, I think 15, already mounted on rings.

Rick-F

· #10 · Jul 18, 2012 (Edited)

bedbugbilly, I recently traded an "adult" for a youth stock to put on an H001L-- now is is an H001LY. I really like the short rifle and the short stock. (I'm 6'0") I like my Frontier, but for walking in the woods the short barrel and stock on the very light rifle is a joy.

A lot of guys like the shorter youth stock, someone might offer to trade with you. I traded with one of the members here-- all it cost was the postage to ship it. I'm happy, and I assume he was too.:t

After the factory sights on my Frontier, it wore rear and front fiber optic sight. Very visible-- but did not improve my shooting or vision.

\

I then went to a receiver mounted aperture sight and a Lyman globe up front. This helped a lot; the apeature helped with my depth of field and focus-- but I did not like how it looked on the lever gun-- but it was an accurate combo.

After I tried a tang sight, I was hooked. Now every lever gun (even the center fire Puma) and rimfire pump I own sports a tang sight. With my tired old eyes I can actually see the front sight and my target at the same time- clearly! I find the tang sight to just as accurate as a scope out to maybe 50 yards.

For a front sight I use the red fiber and the Lyman globe with Lee Shaver inserts. I change 'em out every so often. I can decide which I like best. For killing cans, the red fiber optic is very good; but the light pipe is .060 dia. and at longer range, it covers the target. The fine shaver inserts in the Lyman globe are great for longer range target shooting.

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TrblShtr

· #11 · Jul 18, 2012

bedbugbilly, one thing to consider is if you were to mount a tang sight on the H001Y you currently own, it would be a simple matter to swap the receiver cover/tang sight combo to your new H001T once you purchase that.

Food for thought...

Steve

bedbugbilly

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 19, 2012

Rick-F - thanks for the photos. What is the make/model of the receiver mounted peep that you show on yours in the second photo? Is that one made to mount in the receiver slots? Thanks.

Rick-F

· #13 · Jul 19, 2012

bedbugbilly said:
Rick-F - thanks for the photos. What is the make/model of the receiver mounted peep that you show on yours in the second photo? Is that one made to mount in the receiver slots? Thanks.

That's a Williams WGRS-54. As you can see, it sits quite high and requires a much taller front sight. It shot well; it's a good sight-- but I did not like the looks of it on the lever gun.

http://www.williamsgunsight.com/gunsights/wgrs.htm

It will require a bit work with a small file to get the proper fit.

johnhickmanlc

· #14 · 5 mo ago

Fuzzface said:
In your situation, I would figure out the most I would be willing to spend on the new rifle AND sights for it, keeping in mind that many guys with experience recommend investing as much in sights as in the rifle they are intended for. Then as soon as I had saved enough for the SIGHTS for the new rifle, I'd buy 'em, put 'em on the current rifle, and keep on savin'. When I finally had enough for the new rifle, I'd buy it and migrate the sights. As for sights themselves, I would never again spend money on anything except cross-hairs in a hood up front and a tang-mounted Creedmoor-type peep in the rear for punchin' paper. For a tromp in the woods, a lighter rifle with factory sights has long satisfied guys who are a whale of a lot better than I am. Fuzz

Who makes a cross hair front and tang peep for a Henry H001?

Reactions: 1

systemdesigner

· #15 · 5 mo ago

johnhickmanlc said:
Who makes a cross hair front and tang peep for a Henry H001?

WIlliams FP-AG Receiver Peep Sight
Lyman 17AUG - several front options

Tool Wood Rectangle Metal Air gun

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TrblShtr

· #16 · 5 mo ago

johnhickmanlc said:
Who makes a cross hair front and tang peep for a Henry H001?

I have a Marbles tang sight on my H001TLB, works great. I believe I've seen crosshair inserts for Lyman 17 globe sights. I just use the post inserts so I'm not sure.

jac54

· #17 · 5 mo ago

Lyman 17 does come with a cross hair insert. What type of Marbles tang sight are you using?

Pete44ru

· #18 · 5 mo ago

.
I opted for the K.I.S.S. principle.

Williams WM-96 replacement peepsight, originally intended for replacing the open rear sight leaf of military Mauser 93/94/95/96/98 rifles.

$25 (when I bought it, probably $30 now), not a clip-on for the Henry - I d/t'd one 6-48 hole in the receiver cover to mount.

It zeroed in less than 5 shots.using the issue front sight (which I painted)

Hood Automotive lighting Plant Grass Bumper

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TrblShtr

· #19 · 5 mo ago

jac54 said:
Lyman 17 does come with a cross hair insert. What type of Marbles tang sight are you using?

I've had that Marbles for a pretty long time so can't remember the specific model. I originally went to the Marbles' web site and they were listed by rifle make and model. Note that you would also need to order the appropriate screw set. I actually ended up getting them from Brownells. You'd need to drill and tap a #10x32 screw hole in the tang. Honestly, mounting a Williams slght is easier but once done I have never regretted taking the time to do the tang sight.

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jac54

· #20 · 5 mo ago

TrblShtr said:
I've had that Marbles for a pretty long time so can't remember the specific model. I originally went to the Marbles' web site and they were listed by rifle make and model. Note that you would also need to order the appropriate screw set. I actually ended up getting them from Brownells. You'd need to drill and tap a #10x32 screw hole in the tang. Honestly, mounting a Williams slght is easier but once done I have never regretted taking the time to do the tang sight.

Thanks

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