I recently purchased a Marlin 1894C in 38/357 and wanted opinions on different type of sights that could be installed. I use the rifle primarily for target shooting rather than hunting.
The factory sights are a little difficult for me to see clearly.

I don't know alot about sights but I have heard of ghost sights, various receiver sights and tang sights.

Appreciate your help!

TIA
Tim

TimB - Welcome to the board! Hope you will join us in the many other forums contained herein!

If your 1894C has a couple of dummy screws in the rear of the receiver on the left side near the top, you can mount a Lyman, Williams or Redfield receiver sight there. These will have aprature sights that can be interchanged as far as openings and will enhance your sighting ability greatly.

Put a peep sight on the receiver, and toss the buckhorn rear sight in the trash.

That's what I do with my Marlins.

Welcome Tim. Isn't it a lovely gun?
I have a Bushnell 1.5 - 4 scope; don't ask me how it got there, I need a gunsmith to show me how to screw attachments onto a cleaning rod. I like the 'scope because I can acquire a target quickly with both eyes open, even in low light. Unless you're half-blind, the lowest setting is fine for the distance at which the 1894C shoots.

Newly manufactured 1894s do not have the tapped holes on the left of the receiver for sight mounting. They are only drilled for scope mounts. Williams has designed a new sight to attach to the rear scope holes, but it was designed for the longer 336 receiver and will hang off the back of an 1894. Here's a picture with the WGRS. A Williams FP will be similar:

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/WGRS1894.jpg

This is my rifle using the forward of the two factory holes for the rear sight screw and drilling a new location for the forward sight screw:

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/wgrs-c.jpg

The WGRS (or FP) with a new .050 aperture will make a fine target sight. But you will have to drill new rifles to get it on.

Welcome Tim. Isn't it a lovely gun?
I have a Bushnell 1.5 - 4 scope; don't ask me how it got there, I need a gunsmith to show me how to screw attachments onto a cleaning rod. I like the 'scope because I can acquire a target quickly with both eyes open, even in low light. Unless you're half-blind, the lowest setting is fine for the distance at which the 1894C shoots.

Richard,

It's a great gun. I only have about 200 rounds through it but it seems quite accurate, notwidthstanding the rear sight issue. Overall I'm very happy with it, my first levergun since a lever action BB gun I had over 40 years ago.

Newly manufactured 1894s do not have the tapped holes on the left of the receiver for sight mounting. They are only drilled for scope mounts. Williams has designed a new sight to attach to the rear scope holes, but it was designed for the longer 336 receiver and will hang off the back of an 1894. Here's a picture with the WGRS. A Williams FP will be similar:

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/WGRS1894.jpg

This is my rifle using the forward of the two factory holes for the rear sight screw and drilling a new location for the forward sight screw:

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/wgrs-c.jpg

The WGRS (or FP) with a new .050 aperture will make a fine target sight. But you will have to drill new rifles to get it on.

Thanks so much for the pictures and clearing up that a newer 1894C does not have those mounting holes. What do you think of those tang sights that mount on the stock.

Regards,
Tim

Thanks so much for the pictures and clearing up that a newer 1894C does not have those mounting holes. What do you think of those tang sights that mount on the stock.

Regards,
Tim

They mount on the tang, not the stock, and you have to drill and tap a hole to install them. Many people love them. I don't. They interfere with my grip.

I had to change to a ghost ring sight on my 1894C. Also changed the front as well. Here's the site for ghost rings: www.expresssights.com.

The ghost ring sits a little high for me, which makes me lift my head. I mounted the FP 336 Williams receiver sight on my 1894p on the top using the last two holes of the tapped scope holes. I understand that Marlin quit drilling and tapping the left side 2 yrs ago. So If you don't want drilling and tapping involved, I believe the williams fp336 or thier 5d model or the ghost ring is your choice.
Jim

If you used the factory holes, doesn't the FP hang off the back same as the WGRS in the first picture?

I could live with that set up...if it's not drilled and tapped on the side for a reciever sight, seems better to drill and tap one hole in the top than two holes in the side.

Don't get the nice "click" adjustments of the Lyman, but it looks like a tidy system.

The Ghost Rings are for fast...they aren't all that great for precision.

Have tang peeps on some rifles...work well, but with this little rifle, it interfears with my grip. On the rifles that do have the tang peeps, you'll spend a good amount of hunting time checking that it didn't fold down (kind of a surprise when you jump a nice buck), or you'll carry it with the sight down and try to flip it up in time.

Do they drill the new ones for a tang peep?

No, you use the stock screw for one hole and have to drill/tap for the second.

Well, that sucks....use to be at least side tapped for reciever sights.

Been awhile...haven't looked at the new Marlins in a few years...do they still use that rear step adjustable sight that allows you to flip the rear blade down?

I ask, becasue I retro fitted one gun with one of those Marlin rear sights...and a tang peep. Peep is set for longer range (150yards), open sight for short range (50yards)...usually have time on a longer shot to flip the rear down and the tang up.

Yes, they still use the fold down semi buckhorn rear. I left it in and folded down the leaf when I installed my WGRS. I think it looks better than a dovetail blank, unless you are going to match the blank to the barrel and reblue the whole shebang.

The FP-336 receiver sights on my 1894 do sit back almost over the hammer. A hammer acc. would be helpful. I don't find it a problem, as its either ready or not with me.
Jim

The WGRS (or FP) with a new .050 aperture appears to be a great target sight that I want to buy and mount. Just to be sure I understand,

"in order to have it fit on the receiver I will have to drill new holes in the rifle to get it properly mounted"?. Yes/No

How does this sight adjust, is it moved by hand (which makes it vulnerable to bumps) or with a screw set.

http://www.shootingworld.com/bbs/copper/albums/userpics/1894C_w_FP_Right.jpg

I had one more hole drilled in order to keep the sight from hanging off the rear. The FP or WGRS will mount in the rear two scope mount holes or the front two scope mount holes, but if mounted in the back two, the sight hangs off the back, requiring the use of a hammer spur.

The FP (above) has screw adjustments (windage is on the side in this pic, elevation on the other side) and are locked in place by the set screws on the back.

Any thoughts about the front sight

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=945296

Midway has a sale on the front rear set. Comments about the front sight are more negative than possitiive. Do you have a better suggestion for a front sight on a Marlin 1984 357 Cowboy octagon 20" barrel.

I've got that exact front sight on my 1894C and love it. It shows up much better than a bead or post for my old eyes. I don't think it would work right on an octagon barrel though. I presume your front sight slides into a dovetail directly in the barrel. The 1894C sight sits on a ramp.

I mounted a William's WGRS in the "front" pair of of receiver-holes and used a Lymann 17ahb that I narrowed to fit the ramp sight-block up front. It's a great combo..

I had my new Marlin 1894C drilled and tapped and mounted a Williams Foolproof receiver sight. I put an XS Systems post front sight on. I feel it is a good combination.

Even better than the Williams or Lyman aluminum sights, is the Skinner. All steel (or brass, your option) and can include a proper height post front sight for your gun model, Skinner has a rep of working well with customers. Cost is competitive. Do a Google-search.
I have a Williams 5D on my 1894c, and a Foolproof on my 1895SS, combined with old model Redfield Sourdough post fronts. Can't get those any more except used or old stock. Worth looking for. Both of my guns are old enough to have come drilled for the side mounting Williams/Lyman. I suppose SOME DAY Williams will get around to tooling for a top mount that fits the short action lever guns without hanging out over the rear of the action. Who can wait?:rolleyes:

The Skinner sight may be the way to go but I went ahead and bought the Williams sight and like it a lot. This type sight was just what I was looking for. A well made low profile simple sight. I put it on an 1894. Sight is made for the 336, it does not fit well when installed on the 1894 as covered. When using the factory taps on an 1894, the sight overhangs the rear of the gun frame. I could have had a forward hole tapped in the gun but did not want to modify the "original" gun. I used a dremmel tool to drill the back of the sight to "fix" the problem. I drilled a receiver hole over the rear tap plug. Put some locktite on the plug threads and let it sit a turn or two high. Then I placed the sight over this "pin" I just made and secured the sight to the gun with one screw. Very tight, very good looking and no modification to the gun. Adjusting this little sight is not convenient like other peeps but this is a trade between the big bulk of those sights and this trim looking sight. I never adjust my sight anyway. I shoot it in for the bullet and charge I am using and hold high or low. I can't see past 100 yards and the adjustment under 100 yards is negligible anyway. Thanks to all of I solved my problem. I hope you like my solution to using the sight on the 1894. Williams advertises this site for the 336 and 1894. If they would just drill one more hole, it would fit either gun right out of the box. <o:p></o:p>

Eureka! I think I may do that with the sight I have too. Thanks!:D

I've got one of Tim Skinner's sights on one of my 1895's. It works well for me. The price was good, and I got it around a week after ordering it.

http://www.skinnersights.com

Chris.