Ed Harris
posted this
29 August 2012
Until recently I had been using the XS Systems ghost ring peep sights on all my lever-action and most single-shot hunting rifles. The rear sight only for the Marlin 1894 costs about $60. Variations are available to fit most popular rifles, but not the H&R Handi Rifle:
http://item.brownells.com/primary/xs-sight-systems-rifle-parts/index.htm>http://item.brownells.com/primary/xs-sight-systems-rifle-parts/index.htm
Typical XS peep and front sights are shown below. There is no easy peep sight solution for the H&R Handi Rifles without machining the breech which is necessary to lower the rear sight on the large barrel breech diameter. Otherwise you need a higher front sight than is commonly available, unless you are content with the expensive and very high Lyman 17 globe sights. I had addressed this problem in the past by maching the breech of the H&R barrel flat and installing a rear sight intended for the Marlin 1894.
Most recently I changed to a Kensight reproduction of the M1 Carbine rear sight, which costs only $25 from Brownells: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=27166/Product/M1-CARBINE-REAR-APERTURE-SIGHT>http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=27166/Product/M1-CARBINE-REAR-APERTURE-SIGHT The savings in purchasing the Kensight equals the cost to machine the barrel. Total cost to machine the barrel, providing and install the M1 carbine sight is about the same as buying the XS peep alone. AND it provides an easily hand-adjustable sight which zeroes with factory .30-30 loads at 50 yards with the rear sight bottomed when using the factory front sight! The Kensight is rugged and has a good range of repeatable windage and elevation adjustments, enabling you to return to a known sight setting for various loads. The XS peep requires that you to pick one load, zero and then you have essentially a fixed peep unless you want to modify sight picture or rezero again.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia