Best sight to retrofit on pre-64 Winchester 94?
hunterdan67
Member Posts: 6 ✭
I have my late father’s Winchester model 94 in 30-30. My goal is to fill a tag (deer or black bear) with this rifle in the next year or so, and to that end I’ve been shooting it with its traditional iron sights. I’m shooting ok groups, but think I could get a much better sight picture by either installing a Williams peep or some sort of fiber optic sight (Truglo, etc.) It’s pre-64 and doesn’t have screws to attach a peep on the side of the receiver like more recent models. Given that fact, I’m leaning towards some combination of fiber optic front and rear sights or fiber optic front and “ghost ring” rear sight. I’d like to know what the best option is to get a better sight picture for my aging eyes while keeping the rifle’s integrity as a vintage firearm??? Any suggestions, links, etc. are greatly appreciated!
Comments
Does your 94 have the extra screw on the top tang for a peep sight? That is the best way to do it. If you drill a hole in the gun you will reduce the guns value. It will go from a collector grade gun to a shooter grade assuming its in original condition right now.
Bob
Cody Firearms Member
Winchester Arms Collectors Association Life member
Fiber optic sights really do give you a sharp, highly visible sight picture. Should be good out to 100 yards. That would be the least altering option. Good luck.
I have both Williams Fire Sights, and Skinner rear peep and front F/Osights, and love them both.
I have a 1954 Model 94 with screws/holes that allow for mounting a peep. I'm pretty sure this one would bolt right on...
That should fit yours, too. The two smaller screws high and towards the back on the left side of the receiver are where it would mount.
Not sure so I attached pics:
Yup. Now if I could only find one . . .
Found this one - but it says "not for carbine barrels" . . . (Edit to remove link to competing site).
That's interesting... Yours doesn't have the two holes I thought would be there to mount the sight. What year was it built?
Maybe you need to go to a tang mounted sight?
ETA; After a little research I learned that they didn't start drilling/tapping the 94's until around '52 but the Model 64's were tapped as far back as '33.
Yeah - perhaps it's older than I thought! Also, I was researching the Truglo option but the only product I can find from them says "not for carbine barrels" right on the product. Did they make the notches different sizes in the carbines than the longer barreled versions? That's the only difference I could see that would make the Truglo "Winchester Model 94" fiber optic rifle sight set unusable on my carbine. Back to the drawing board I guess.
The hole for the tang peep would be on the top tang behind the hammer. The tang peep would attach using the rear screw that holds the stock on and one hole forward of it 2 3/16" plugged with a flush filler screw. You have a real nice 94 so don't drill a hole in it.
Cody Firearms Member
Winchester Arms Collectors Association Life member
I only see one screw on my tang . . . back near the stock:
You don't have the screw you need to put one one. On my early 94's they have them for the tang peep which would of been the ideal sight since it gives you a longer sighting radius and when you look though the peep it makes the front sight easier to see with old eyes. here is a upper tang with the peep sight hole. You don't want to drill your gun unless you don't care about its value so your only alternative is to use the dovetails in the barrel to attach a new sight.
Cody Firearms Member
Winchester Arms Collectors Association Life member