Winchester 1970 Cowboy Commemorative Question

[Rutin2tin]

Not sure if anyone knows about this particular info, but here goes.

I own a 1970 Winchester Cowboy Commemorative 30-30 rifle, and I'm nearing 60 yrs old, and can't see the front sight very well, these days.
I'd like to change it over to a fiber optic sight, however, the factory front sight appears to be a dove-tailed unit that's been ground half-moon on the bottom, and directly fitted onto the barrel w/o a ramp.
It's either tack welded, soldered, or epoxied onto the barrel, but since it's a steel sight and a vintage 1970 gun, I'd bet on tack welded or soldered.

Any sage advice regarding simplified removal of that particular WW front rifle sight?

BTW: It's about .500" high, so anything that would fit onto that area of the barrel (ramp and/or sight of the correct height) should work fine.

BTW: No safe queens in My home, although most guns are in nice condition, they all are fired because that's what they're intended for.

TY in advance for Your assistance!

[Rangr44]

AFAIK, the front sight should be mounted directly in a wide barrel dovetail.
 
IMO, what you're seeing as a half-round bottom is most likely just the rounded L & R edge of the sight blade's male dovetail at the edges of the barrel's female dovetail.
 
If the barrel is supported solidly in a padded bench vise, near the sight, it should be able to be drifted out towards the loading port side with a brass drift pin & heavy hammer after applying some penetrating oil & letting the oil soak in for awhile.
 
The Williams Gun Sight Co make fiber-optic (glow-worm) front sights in three (3) different base widths - "N" (narrow) for their narrow sight ramps, "M" (medium" for most rifle's front sight ramps, and "W" (wide) for mounting directly in a barrel dovetail - You need a "W" sight.
 
Since your existing sight measures .500", the Williams ,500W (#59080) should be a direct replacement.
If you want a slightly higher front sight, the next taller FO "W" sight that Williams makes is the .538W (#59081).
 
I buy my FO sights directly from Williams, but MidwayUSA & Brownell's also sell them online.
 
.

[Rutin2tin]

I took another close look and it still appears to be a direct to barrel mounted sight, no base.
Here's a picture that I took of this particular unit, and I cannot see any separation between the sight and the barrel, even when using a magnifying glass. 

[StrawHat]

From the photo, the sight is mounted in a dovetail and can be drfited out to be replaced with another dovetailed sight.  Not an uncommon feature and easily accomplished.  The hardest part will be choosing a new front sight!

[Dee]

Rutin2tin, before I tackled the front sight which will drift out with a punch, I would consider a TANG sight made by Marbles Sights. I put one on my 53 year old Winchester Model 94, because my old eyes could no longer focus on the front sight. The tang peep close to the shooting eye sharpened up the front sight to teenage years. I don't know why it works, it just does.

[Rutin2tin]

Ahhh! I'm seeing it now.

The dovetail is actually cut into the barrel's surface.....must be My hard head,      DUH!!!

Thank You very much, Rangr44 and Strawhat!

Dee, I have a Williams receiver/peep sight that will fit on this rifle, and I may use it eventually, but My heart is set on a "fire" green or red front sight at the moment.
TY for the suggestion, and I will browse Marbles "Tang" sights while looking for the front unit. 

[Rutin2tin]

Installed a Marble's 205725 contour fire sight on the CC '94 the other day.
They don't actually make a fiber optic sight for this particular model '94 rifle.

The sight needed to be .570" inches in height, anywhere from .531" plus for width, and the length is where most of the fiber optic sights cannot be installed.
I poked around, and the only sights available were a blued bead, a brass bead, (which I already had on the rifle), and a white bead front sight.

The Williams fire sight had too much protrusion over the barrel band, btw.

Marble's 57W fire sight, was close enough that I only had to file a shallow recess under the rear of the sight, to clear the barrel band, as well as a little filing to the dovetail for a proper fit.
A little polishing then re-blue to the modified surfaces, and the sight fit into the barrel dovetail recess.

I also installed a green HiViz spark sight on My new Browning Citori 20 gauge.
The spark sight came with 5 different threaded studs, the 3mm x .6 being the correctly threaded stud for the new Citori Satin Hunter shotgun.
image posted below:

[Winter Hawk]

So how does the fire sight work for you?  I tried one but with my eyes it just turned into a bright blob with rays going out 360 degrees; I went back to a blade front sight.

-WH-

[Rutin2tin]

I easily and rapidly pick up the new sight, whereas with the original blade, it simply fuzzed out.

I'm very content with the fire sight for sure!