pisgah
09-29-2006, 10:37 PM
Last weekend I took my remodelled 336 carbine to a real range for the first time. With a vintage Lyman receiver sight and a Marble's front bead sight, I got acceptable groups at 100 and 200 yards. But, I strongly felt they were not optimal, and suspected that the trouble was the front sight. My eyes just could not get a clear focus on it until I borrowed my buddy's Merit Disc replacement peep and cranked it down to an aperture that was 'way too small for practical hunting use.
Thinking on it, I decided an old-style Marlin blade front sight might be ideal. But where to get one? Dixie Gun Works crossed my mind and, sure enough, I found the Ted Cash silver blade front sight blank for $375. The "silver" blade (I suspect it's actually nickel) is well-attached to a brass (or brass-like) base sized to fit perfectly in the Marlin sight ramp's 3/8" dovetail. Once in place, the blade was easily filed to the correct height, and a pleasing shape. I filed it into a front-sloping wedge, rounded the front end just a bit, then filed a very slight undercut angle on the rear face . This seems to cut down glare in bright light yet still shows a bright face in dim conditions.
I haven't shot with this sight yet -- I'll give it a try tomorrow -- but I already know I can see it MUCH better than the old bead sight, and that it looks, well -- cool!
Thinking on it, I decided an old-style Marlin blade front sight might be ideal. But where to get one? Dixie Gun Works crossed my mind and, sure enough, I found the Ted Cash silver blade front sight blank for $375. The "silver" blade (I suspect it's actually nickel) is well-attached to a brass (or brass-like) base sized to fit perfectly in the Marlin sight ramp's 3/8" dovetail. Once in place, the blade was easily filed to the correct height, and a pleasing shape. I filed it into a front-sloping wedge, rounded the front end just a bit, then filed a very slight undercut angle on the rear face . This seems to cut down glare in bright light yet still shows a bright face in dim conditions.
I haven't shot with this sight yet -- I'll give it a try tomorrow -- but I already know I can see it MUCH better than the old bead sight, and that it looks, well -- cool!