Skinner Sights/The Good & The Bad

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

Last night I mounted a Skinner sight (all black with the standard base) on my 30-30 Handi

I can say this, I HIGHLY recommend this sight. 

it fits the lines of the rifle far better than the Williams. 

the Williams sits up there like a Wart, but the Skinner appears much smaller, more like a pimple. 

from the side, it looks good.

BUT the best is when you bring the gun up.  It is very nice to look through. My Handi has the standard stock, NOT the MC, and that is good, as I'll be adding a lace on cheek riser, so will be able to set it up at the near perfect height.

mine came with a 0.96" standard aperture and a 0.40" fine aperture. the fine one is perfect for load developement on Targets or Long Range shooting, where time is less of an issue.
the second insert is good for general shooting with decent light.
the "Ghost Ring" style, with inserts removed looks good for low light/bush hunting. 

I'm going to have to change out my front sight, I think, as it is a little high (will have to measure...) 


The ONLY Negative I can say is...

SKINNER WON'T SHIP TO CANADA!  DARN HIM ALL TO HECK!   

but if Canucks can find a go-between, I recommend it.

PS: I've never felt the need for a scope with a round that only reaches to 250yds or so.  And this one feels so good, my 45/70s are getting some soon, and I'm seriously thinking of getting my Whelens D&T'd for a front sight.   

[44 Man]

Nanuk, thanks for the review.  It is amazing how accurate of work you can do with an appature sight!  I was very pleased and suprised when my BC would shoot 2 1/2 " at 100 yds with the sights that came on it!  And I'm glad you have such great eyesight!  I can shoot good with appatures at the bench but my eyes need some (actually a LOT) of help with seeing game and identifying which one has the horns in the woods. (sorry, antlers is the correct word)  Glad you are enjoying your new sights.  Please get us some pics, we would appreciate that.  44 Man

[hoytcanon]

Hey Nuk... that is too bad to hear that Andy has changed his policy on shipping to Canada... I received a parcel from them a month ago and have ordered for years... I have many Skinner sights... all six of my Henry rifles are wearing Skinner Black Gold peeps some with Skinner brass blades and some with Lyman 17 AUG globes. My .44 Mag Handi's are wearing NDS-38 peeps but I tapped them to receive the Skinner Aperture inserts, and have Williams One-Piece Fire Sight ramps up front. My Handi .45/70's have Skinner Black Gold peeps at the rear and Skinner brass blades in Marbles dovetail ramps upfront... I agree that the Skinner peeps are a very attractive streamlined design (compared to other commercial peeps)... they are also very well made... I would add my recommendation if anyone is looking for a quality aperture sight.

[fish280]

i appreciate this thread. i thinking of getting a skinner for my '06. i remain confused by the front sight height business. firesight seems to way to go ...

[Frank V]

I've got a set of Skinner Express sights on a rifle & I love them. The only drawback is if you shoot different loads that require different zero's. The Skinners are a bit more involved to rezero than some other sights, but they are as accurate as most ( maybe not a target sight?) fast to use, & sit a bit lower allowing them to come right to my eye without any craning of my head or neck.
  I like them.
Frank


PS:  Fish, call Andy @ Skinner sights, he will give you a good suggestion as to the height of your front sight depending on rifle etc.
Andy is very helpful.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

Hey Nuk... that is too bad to hear that Andy has changed his policy on shipping to Canada... I received a parcel from them a month ago and have ordered for years... I have many Skinner sights...

Hoyt, I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say that due to your history, Skinner will still ship to you.

but for us first timers, no dice.

Customs, both US and Canada has really restricted trade by making many shippers leery that the parcel will not make it.

As I said, I need a go between, as I'm DEFINITELY putting Skinners on many more of my rifles

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

Nanuk, thanks for the review.  It is amazing how accurate of work you can do with an appature sight!  ..... And I'm glad you have such great eyesight! 
 44 Man

44 Man: my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, and I have cataracts in both eyes, have for several years (and I'm still under 50) as well as floaters, so I need to be more careful about what I'm looking at, but I have learned to take my time, use good glasses, and the apertures DO help with focus.

and for Moose Hunting, the Ghost Ring style is lots accurate, even if it doesn't help much with focus, but moose are big and black, and I find that it is more fun to call them to you anyways.

[gcrank1]

As long as we dont hear about you laying behind a snowdrift and kicking your feet up while making crying noises to call in a Polar Bear..........

[hoytcanon]

As long as we dont hear about you laying behind a snowdrift and kicking your feet up while making crying noises to call in a Polar Bear..........

You don't have to be that deceptive for white bears... just lean your gun against your sled, take a roll of TP, walk 50 yards away and drop your pants discretely... thats when they always show up! 

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

As long as we dont hear about you laying behind a snowdrift and kicking your feet up while making crying noises to call in a Polar Bear..........

The guides up in Churchill Mb, (the Polar Bear Capital of the World, so they say) say to use a mixture of bacon grease, and pickle juice on hot metal.
either the exhaust manifold, or even a spoon heated with a lighter.

Get them RUNNING to you....

But if I ever get back up there, I'll have to try your technique!

"Wah... Wah... Wah.....  "

[gcrank1]

Oh....its not 'my' technique......I think I heard about it in the same place I heard the Natives up there thought the 22Hornet was fine for 'all game' and that a poker chip at 100yd. a fine aiming point with open sights.......wish I had eyes like that!