Sights for a Winchester 94AE

S

SARuger

New member
I picked up this really nice older 94 yesterday and I plan on keeping it open sights. But are there better options than what is on it? I see peep sights on some of these old lever guns and that looks cool. I never plan on shooting out past 100yds.

My eyes are not the best anymore but I still enjoy shooting irons.

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Ive used a number of different peeps on my Winchesters. The old standby Lyman and Williams types, and the former "AO", now "XS" ghost ring, which has been my favorite.

This is what Im referring to......

https://www.xssights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=8508

The XS sight is simple and rugged, and fits the rear scope mount screws on the later Winchesters.

The other work well too, but I always felt they were flimsy, bulky, prone to snagging on stuff, and to busy. Youll also have to have the gun drilled and tapped for them. The early Winchesters were already drilled for them, or at least mine were.
 
Williams peep sight, model 94/36, check midwayusa.com ; I put one on my 94 and cut my groups in half @ 100 yards, from 6" down to 3" :D I couldn't be happier !!
I did have to switch to a taller front sight, used a Williams 1/16" gold bead. My eyes aren't so good either , but it really helped me
 
Another vote for the XS sight systems peep sight/ghost ring.

And it's not a terrible idea to think about one of the 'scout scope' mounts from the same manufacturer for a red dot sight in mini or micro size.
 
What is the proper part number for the XS system I need? Midway only list two. Midway is a good bit cheaper than everyone else.
 
Id call XS and ask what will work best for your gun.

My Winchesters had front sights that were permanently fixed to the barrel (silver soldered, no dovetail), and didnt use the XS front sight.
 
I took this rifle apart last night for a complete cleaning. What a wonderful piece of engineering! I really enjoyed cleaning it up.

I would estimate 5 rounds through this gun, based on it had very little residue in it (mostly just dried up lube from the factory) and the six old boxes of ammo I got with it were only missing 5 rounds out of one box.

The action is much smoother now after a good coating of Balistol.

Time for sights
 
XS "Peeps" are on order! Thank you for the help guys, pics of my new/old 94AE when I get them on and sighted in.
 
I was very pleasantly surprised at how clean the innards of a lver action rifle stays. When I got my first 94- a .30-30, me and a buddy shot several boxes through it. I figured it would be about as dirty as any other rifle. Nope- hardly got any carbon at all out of the action area. The chamber and barrel were fouled, but no more than anything else.

My next 94- a .357, stayed remarkably clean inside the receiver area too. They are just such a joy to own, enjoy, and shoot.
 
I agree 10-96, I owned one of every caliber Marlin lever at one time, about 40 or so. Sold them to put my now ex wife through nursing school.

This is my first Wincherster lever gun and I really like the compactness and light weight of it. Nothing wrong with the 30-30 but I really wish this one was a .44mag since I hunt deer with a Super Blackhawk .44mag.

The 6 boxes of Remington Core-Lokt ammo I got with the gun is missing 5 rounds from one box. My friend and original owner that I bought this rifle from said he only shot a few rounds out of it when he first got the gun then put it in the safe and never used it. He hunts deer with his Remy 740 Woodsmaster .270 (not a fan of the jam-o-matic myself). This 30-30 is twice the rifle that old 740 is.
 
I wish my .357 was a .44 too. I've read a lot of innerwebs where the .357's wear down on something in the feeding process (part wear) that eventually causes rounds not to hold up well in the mag tube. Nothing like having all the rounds try to empty into the receiver while the lever is down. I guess the rim size of the ctg is not a happy mating with the design of the rifle's intended tolerances or something.
 
I installed my sights today. The front wont work but the stock front sight seems fine. I bore sighted the rifle and I had to run the rear sight way up and I'm sure its just close and will need more elevation but I'm not sure it will go up further. Might need a taller one :confused:

The front sight from XS was the same height as the stock one, measured with calipers.

I guess I will have to tinker at the range.
 
The XS sight hits the magazine strap. I could have modded it but it was easier just to paint the backside of the stock sight white and reinstall it.
 
Is the XS front sight a post? If you are hitting too low you need a lower front sight and you can file down a post, no? Go slow, file a tiny bit then shoot.
 
I'm lovin the XS ghost rings! Easy to acquire the target even with the factory front sight and I shoot good with it. Still dialing in the windage but I will post up a grouping soon.

I was wanting a Marlin .44 mag lever gun but I think this Win 30-30 is the most economical route for plinking targets. Cheaper to shoot than the .44mag and can ring gongs out to 150yards pretty good(about all my 50 year old eyes have in them).
 
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