Author Topic: Question about Williams peep on Marlin 39a (Read 819 times)

Jason · « **on:** May 31, 2004, 08:49:21 PM »

I have a Marlin 39a on the way to me that isn't drilled and tapped on the side of the receiver for a peep sight since it was made after they stopped doing that at the factory. I also have the Williams FP-39 sight on the way, and it requires those two drilled and tapped holes. I was just planning on drilling and tapping the holes myself since I got a great deal on the gun and it's in beautiful condition. An idea occurred to me tonight as I was looking around at pistol cartridge lever action guns, though, and I'm been wondering something ever since. Is it possible to get a Williams FP sight and mount it in the rear set of scope mount holes that are already in the gun like is done for some of the centerfire rifles? That would save me having to track down a 6-48 drill and tap and the effort of doing the job. It might also have the sight mounted just a bit higher than the standard side mount, and I've heard that getting enough height is sometimes a problem with the side mount sight and the Lyman 17A front sights even if you use the shortest 17A model. Anyone got any idea if this is possible? Should I just call up Williams and/or Marlin to see if they know?

Thanks, as always..

Jason

nomad · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2004, 02:49:56 AM »

There's a Williams FPTK that's designed to fit the dovetail on a rimfire. Marlin has a dovetail base that screws to the top of the 39A action.
AFAIK that combination is within the rules...

Jason · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2004, 03:58:55 AM »

Yeah, that's within the rules but I'm thinking that might be a little too tall. What do you think?

nomad · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2004, 05:00:13 AM »

I've suggested it to several here and they're using that combo without problems. (I'm pretty sure that they're all using the lowest of the three heights available in the 17a.)

If I ever get around to retrieving my 39A from my deer camp -- about two thousand miles from TX! -- I'll put that combination on mine and put my old 61 with the post and tang back in the safe... :wink:

Jason · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2004, 03:18:53 PM »

Have you seen it yourself to know that it's working well and looks right? My most important consideration is that it work well, but I also don't want it to look like some patched together mess.

Edit: Which model of the FP sight have you been recommending? Williams lists two rimfire rail-mounted FP sights, the FP-AG for "high line of sights" and the FP-GR for "low line of sights." I'm guessin the FP-GR, right?

nomad · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2004, 05:35:21 PM »

That's correct.
FP-GR-TK in Brownell's catalog.

Jason · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:28:29 AM »

Thanks for the advice, but I'm just going to drill and tap the receiver. I got the gun in yesterday and that dual-level Marlin scope mount rail is UGLY. There's no way I'm keeping that on my gun except during ammo testing when I'll actually be using a scope. :grin: