Help on Contender 30-30 sights

[Clodhopper]

I recently acquired a box of contender parts and pieces.  In the box was a 10" 30-30 barrel and a couple of front and rear sight sets.  The barrel didn't have sights mounted.  I'm trying to put the barrel back together with iron sights and need to know which front sight is correct.  I have two front sights, one with a blade height of .190 and the other with blade height of .253 (measured from the top of the sight ramp).  The rear sights are the same, as near as I can tell.  There is also a large rear sight setup that is screw adjustable (both windage and elevation) kinda like a target sight.  It fits a contender but I don't know what kind.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jack

[Steve P]

The bigger sight, if it is the side saddle, came on the early herrets and 35 remingtons.   The taller front sight blades usually came on the slower guns with heavy bullets.  A 44 magnum will have a higher front sight than a 30-30.   30-30 will have a higher front sight then a 22 hornet.  The rear sights were different in the blade height also.  Easiest way to tell if any different is to look at them side by side from the rear aiming position.  I would go to the range with the 190 front blade on the gun.  shoot a few rounds.  If you are shooting extremely high, put on the taller front sight.  It's only two screws and about 30 second of your time.

Steve 

[Clodhopper]

Thanks, Steve!  The larger sight is a side saddle, I figured that it would probably be used by someone shooting silhouette or targets, etc.  In the box of stuff that I got there was the 30-30 barrel with no sights, a 10" 45/410 with sights installed, a 15" Bullberry 300 savage barrel with scope (not drilled for sights) and a 16 1/4 .223 barrel with scope installed (but no sights).  Also the 2 front sights, the 2 standard rear sights, and the side saddle sight.  Also an old model Contender frame, grips, butt-stocks, fore ends, and various other parts and pieces.  Also included in the deal was a Remington 1100 20 guage.  Seems like some guy ran off with his wife's best friend and she was selling all his gear.  I got one heck of a deal on the package!  Some guy beat me to the punch on a mod 94 30-30 and a mod 70 30-06.