Install Williams peep sight on Winchester 94 BB. Need help!

[deerhunter1981]

Hey guys!

Just bought a Williams Receiver Peep sight from midway (http://www.midwaynorge.com/apps/ebrowse.exe/search) to fit my Winchester 94 Big Bore. I thought no gunsmith work was necessary but I can find no way of installing the sight without drilling and tapping.

My question(s) is: Have I received the wrong type of sight or does it require gunsmith work?

Thanks

[Lurker]

Yes, your rifle needs to be drilled and tapped for a receiver sight...

Bill

[Rangr44]

Well, there are BB94's.........and then, there are BB94's.

Only some BB94's need to be D/T'd, as most were D/T'd either on the upper rear left receiver wall, or (if it's a BB94AE) uses a peep that mounts in the two rear scope mount D/T'd holes atop the rear top of the receiver side walls (Williams makes two different models).

You could have any one of the three below scenerios going on:

1) You have an early top-eject BB94 that needs D/T, for whatever peep you have - either a top-mount or a side-mount peep can be used.

2) You have a top-eject BB94, D/T'd on the side & not the top for scope mounts - but have a top mount peep made for a side eject BB94AE.

3) You have a side-eject BB94AE, D/T'd on top for a scope mount or peep - but have a side-mount peep made for an early top-eject BB94

My question would be: Could you post a pic of the left & right sides of your BB94 receiver from a bit above, so the top rails can also be seen - along with a pic of the base (only) of the peep you have, with it's slide removed ?
Additionally, no one can say exactly whether or not you have the correct peep for your rifle from the info you've given so far, so could you please also include the peep model # info from it's box label ?

FYI - In the pic below, the near rifle has the Williams 94AE top-mount peep meant for side-eject 94AE rifles.



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[deerhunter1981]

Hey Rangr44!

Thank you for a quick and informative reply.

I am pretty sure scenario 3) is going on. I have a fairly new 94BB in .444 marlin, while the sight says FP 94/375. I am pretty sure it is meant for the early versions of 375 winchester. It has screws/holes for side mount.

Do you know of any good peep sights that might fit my rifle? Don't have a camera here I am afraid so I'm not able to post any pics.

thanks

[Rangr44]

Your .444 BB94 is a side-eject Model 94AE, and as such should have one plugged drilled/tapped hole near the rear of each top rail, near the locking lug, for a rear scope mount.

A few different peeps are made for, and will fit 94AE's - because they utilize those holes.
IOW, a kitchen table/screwdriver job.

XS Sights (lower/left, below) is one, but will also require a much higher front sight in order to properly zero the rifle (it will shoot too high with the peep all the way down), because it mounts higher than the issue barrel sight's line-of-sight.
Although a ghost ring is standard, they can be had threaded for apertures.



The Williams FP-94AE, exactly like the one pictured below, used those same holes - but can use the issue height front sight to zero, since it mounts resting on the bolt top, behind it's mount/base.



Midway & Brownell's  carry both - but I buy my Williams products directly from the maker.



You could most likely sell the peep you currently have in the classified's here or on leverguns.com to recoup most of your $$$, or save it for your next rifle. (there WILL be a next rifle, you know)

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[deerhunter1981]

Rangr44

Thanks for the help! I think I've found the sight I'm looking for on the Williams sight website:

FP-94BBSE on http://www.williamsgunsight.com/gunsights/FPpage.htm

BtW, what is a target knob?

And what height and bead size should I buy for a rifle wearing a normal sight ramp?

Sondre

[Rangr44]

The FP-94BBSE should look exactly like the below pic (and posted above), after mounting - the sight bar is behind ( ILO atop) the mount base, therby allowing zeroing with ANY front sight of the same height as issue.

"Target knobs" are protruding knobs on the sight body that allow finger adjustments to the FP sight, ILO having to carry a small screwdriver.
I don't like them, since they can be rolled/adjusted/changed while in a carry case or during examination by a coon-fingering fool.
Yes, the TK's have anti-tampering locks (setscrews) - but then, you're back to carrying a small screwdriver everywhere again.

TK are great for one thing - target shooting, where frequent sight adjustments are the order of the day.

Measure your current front sight blade height to the nearest thousandths, say .312", or .350" (whatever) - from the top to the male dovetail bottom flat.
I usually order a replacement sight very slightly on the higher side, to have a little to work with while zeroing - but the bead size and material is generally a shooter's preference.

There's Gold beads, Ivory beads & Fiber-optic beads in two sizes: fine (1/16" for distance and/or target shooting; coarse 3/32" for shap shooting and/or close/fast hunting), or the squared-off Patridge blade and it's gold/brass tipped Sourdough Patridge.

BTW - don't forget to remove the rear barrel sight for a clean sight sicture, and order a slot filler blank - unless you can make one from an old open longleaf rear sight blade.

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[deerhunter1981]

Ok, I'm getting there :-) Ordered a new sight, one for the bigbore and one for the ranger. Plus, I ordered gold bead 3/32 front sights in heights .343, .375, and .450. Iow, I should be covered.

Then I just have one more question; do you usually remove the front sight hood? Looks like it might end up 'inside' the peep sights visual field. Will this disturb the visual 'effect'/advantage (or whatever) of the peep sight set up?

Again, thanks so much for the input. It's been real helpful.

[Rangr44]

YMMV, regarding sight hood use/removal.  Some do, some don't.

I don't particularly like them, except for storage protection of delicate sight material - Ivory beads are historically notorious for getting knocked off easily, and FO beads cracked, both unless constant extreme conciousness/care is seen to when using/handling the rifle.

For middle-of-the-roaders (and FO sight users), Williams now offers a sight hood witha window cut into it's roof to allow light entry while still protecting the sight.

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[Winter Hawk]

"There's Gold beads, Ivory beads & Fiber-optic beads in two sizes: fine (1/16" for distance and/or target shooting; coarse 3/32" for shap shooting and/or close/fast hunting), or the squared-off Patridge blade and it's gold/brass tipped Sourdough Patridge."

Where are you finding real Sourdough Patridge sights?  The last one I got was from Brownell's and I wasn't really impressed with it.  It is usable, but too wide to my way of thinking.

By the way, I am glad to see that you didn't make it a partridge (like in the bird)!

-WH-

[Rangr44]

[Where are you finding real Sourdough Patridge sights?]

Dr.Tim Skinner, of Skinner Peep sights, will be more than happy to make a sight in the height of your choice for around $12, IIRC.
Whatever, they're on his website - just use your google-fu.



[It is usable, but too wide to my way of thinking.]

Then a sourdough patridge front sight may not be for you, since the design is deliberately wide/stout, and meant to be a rugged sight for rough/close/fast hunting.

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