I think I installed one on my Marlin 39A, but its been more than 20years and I may be misremebering. I have the bits and the taps are on the way. My question is can I use a regular hand drill to make the holes. I'm thinking if I installed the sight on the Marlin I used a hand drill. I would also like to know if I have to take the action apart to mount the sight. Thank you.
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lyman 66
- Thread starter salvadore
- Start date
Jim Watson
New member
I would not trust myself to mount a sight with a hand drill.
You may be steadier.
You may be steadier.
Dfariswheel
New member
If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to install a Lyman 66 sight on a rifle.
First WHAT rifle?
In most cases you do need to disassemble the action at least part way to insure you don't drill into working parts, and to keep metal drill shavings out of the action.
If it's a Marlin made up to the 1990's, it may already be drilled and tapped for a receiver sight.
If so, there's two filler screws on the rear of the receiver.
Newer Marlin's like the 39-AS are only drilled for a top mount telescope and you can buy receiver sights that mount on top using those holes.
If it's a Marlin you want to install the sight on, field strip the rifle by separating the two receiver halves and remove the bolt. That's all that's needed.
Considering a Marlin is now a very expensive rifle, I don't think I'd be attempting to use a hand drill to drill the holes. It's just to easy to tilt the drill and drill slanted holes, or allow the drill to drift off-center.
You can't UN-drill a bad hole.
First WHAT rifle?
In most cases you do need to disassemble the action at least part way to insure you don't drill into working parts, and to keep metal drill shavings out of the action.
If it's a Marlin made up to the 1990's, it may already be drilled and tapped for a receiver sight.
If so, there's two filler screws on the rear of the receiver.
Newer Marlin's like the 39-AS are only drilled for a top mount telescope and you can buy receiver sights that mount on top using those holes.
If it's a Marlin you want to install the sight on, field strip the rifle by separating the two receiver halves and remove the bolt. That's all that's needed.
Considering a Marlin is now a very expensive rifle, I don't think I'd be attempting to use a hand drill to drill the holes. It's just to easy to tilt the drill and drill slanted holes, or allow the drill to drift off-center.
You can't UN-drill a bad hole.
I think you made a wise decision.I would take it to someone who has a vertical mill similar to a Bridgeport.
Your Winchester is a very nice rifle and it deserves a nice D+T job.A buggered D+T job just destroys a rifle.
I spent 30 years drilling and tapping holes and I just would not use a hand drill.
Your Winchester is a very nice rifle and it deserves a nice D+T job.A buggered D+T job just destroys a rifle.
I spent 30 years drilling and tapping holes and I just would not use a hand drill.
Appreciate it Tex, according to the instructions you actually use the sight base as a template for the hole locations. I'd take it to local smith, but so far they either don't wanna do it, are dying, or have had their phone disconnected. I gotta get a knee scoped first of Nov. so hope to get it done prior to that.
saltydog452
New member
Its been quite a while now, but I seem to remember the 66MC 'base' (that isnt the correct word, but I don't know what else to call it) screwed into existing holes on the left side of the receiver.
I don't have a way to post a photo. Wish I could.
The front sight, 17AHB, required removal of factory front sight base and a dovetail cut into the barrel. The existing Marlin base made the Lyman front 17AHB way too tall.
If I were doing it again, I'd use folding rear sights. The one with the apperature would be tang mounted.
My Golden 39A was bought from the PX, 1967. Maybe screw hole locations are different now. Dunno.
salty
I don't have a way to post a photo. Wish I could.
The front sight, 17AHB, required removal of factory front sight base and a dovetail cut into the barrel. The existing Marlin base made the Lyman front 17AHB way too tall.
If I were doing it again, I'd use folding rear sights. The one with the apperature would be tang mounted.
My Golden 39A was bought from the PX, 1967. Maybe screw hole locations are different now. Dunno.
salty