Reflex sight on 1886 SRC?

[turnkey]

I hate to say it, but after missing the biggest buck I've seen in years, I have to. My eyes just aren't what they used to be. I can get decent groups on the range, but lining up the sights for a quick shot in low light is getting beyond what I can do. I really like my SRC and I want to use it bear hunting in a year or two when I can draw a tag. I don't want to drill and tap if possible. Does anybody know about mounting a Burris Fastfire or Leupold Delta Point in place of the rear sight? I've looked for a mount that would fit in the dovetail, bit all I've found is the Turnbull receiver mount that requires drilling and tapping. I realize that some here might think this an offense against the Levergun gods, and once upon a time I would have too, but I'm getting older, and learning how to CHEAT!

[Pete44ru]

IMO, if it's a Browning, that's no rare original collector's item there - I'd buy the Turnbull base & install it in a New York Minute. (I'd blacken the base, though)



Life's too short, to not help yerself first.......................



.

[turnkey]

I forgot to mention that it is a Browning. My local gun store closed its doors last month, so I don't know anybody right now locally that I would trust with the drill and tap job.

[AJMD429]

This is my 'go-to' gun for when I really need to make a hole in something regardless of day or night conditions, and it IS a levergun with a Burris Fastfire-II on it.

It's a Rossi 92 clone of the Winchester 92 (in .45 Colt), and instead of drilling and tapping, I just used the B-Square quick-mount that goes on via the disassembly-screw hole. Don't know if the Browning has the same design, but that type mount could work well if so.



It's a small little mount-and-sight package (the deck board it's on is 5-1/2" wide).



Now for my application since I sometimes shoot farmstead varmints at night, I also put a small pistol-laser on the mount just in front of the Burris. The scope-rail sweated under the magazine tube allows mounting of a flashlight, so between the two, I could deal with an egg-stealing, chicken-killing raccoon at 75 yards in pitch-black darkness.

With just the Fastfire-II though, it would do fine for deer...

[ollogger]

Dont feel bad im thinking bout putting a scope on my pickup gun, its a 94 in 30-30
I put a big white bead on a 25-35, that helped alot, it also has a redfield rec. sight

ollogger

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

This is my 'go-to' gun for when I really need to make a hole in something regardless of day or night conditions, and it IS a levergun with a Burris Fastfire-II on it.

It's a Rossi 92 clone of the Winchester 92 (in .45 Colt), and instead of drilling and tapping, I just used the Burris quick-mount that goes on via the disassembly-screw hole. Don't know if the Browning has the same design, but that type mount could work well if so.



It's a small little mount-and-sight package (the deck board it's on is 5-1/2" wide).



Now for my application since I sometimes shoot farmstead varmints at night, I also put a small pistol-laser on the mount just in front of the Burris. The scope-rail sweated under the magazine tube allows mounting of a flashlight, so between the two, I could deal with an egg-stealing, chicken-killing raccoon at 75 yards in pitch-black darkness.

With just the Fastfire-II though, it would do fine for deer...

How does it eject? Is there some sort of cutout under the mount? Or, is that a side mount like the B-Square version?

[Hobie]

I have a Williams FP on my Browning 1886 SRC. It still works for me despite the cataracts and bifocals. I'm sorry to say that the idea of a optic on this rifle makes me gag. Literally.

[Pete44ru]

I forgot to mention that it is a Browning. My local gun store closed its doors last month, so I don't know anybody right now locally that I would trust with the drill and tap job.

FWIW, gunstores usually farm out their "work" to a gunsmith, anyway - so just use a gunsmith locator for the U.P./MI or google, and I'm sure you'll find more than a few near you that can do the dirty deed.


.

[deafrn]

I can get decent groups on the range, but lining up the sights for a quick shot in low light is getting beyond what I can do.

Heck, I can't even line up (iron) sights for a SLOW shot without problems. With a small enough aperture in a receiver sight, I can still make irons work but the writing is on the wall... and the message isn't what I want to read. Wanting to minimize the size of the optic and still have a halfway useable set of irons that will make an "across the table" shot, I have made lemonade out of a late-model North Haven lemon.

(And there is still room on that sawed-off LeverRail for an upside-down micro laser.)

Is it traditional? No. Does it work? Yes.

Alas, this setup is on a Marlin... but the FastFire has been successfully used on the Winchesters/Brownings. IIRC, the Turnbull 1886 FastFire mount used the same hole spacing as the Lyman receiver sight, and they would - although this may have changed - drill/tap the rifle for a nominal fee. If something keeps us in the game longer or makes a better hit more likely, I think it's worth considering.

"d"

[AJMD429]

How does it eject? Is there some sort of cutout under the mount? Or, is that a side mount like the B-Square version?

It mounts on the left side of the receiver. I guess I said it's a "Burris" but it's really the "B-Square" (at least I got the first letter right).



Since it's a "both-eyes-open" sight, being a bit to the left is no problem at all for me. Makes it a bit faster, in fact.

[jhrosier]

How about one of these;



http://www.midwayusa.com/product/818605 ... steel-blue

with a Weaver base screwed on top.

The Burris Fastfire III would mount on the Weaver base.

Jack

[turnkey]

Thanks for the replies, gents. I'm going to try Jack's idea and see how it works out.

[AJMD429]

jhrosier's idea is SLICK...! I like that. Gets the sight up away from the ejection and carrying area, and will be slim and trim.

Of course you could always trade that silly old 1886 in for a Marlin solid-top. . .

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

How does it eject? Is there some sort of cutout under the mount? Or, is that a side mount like the B-Square version?

It mounts on the left side of the receiver. I guess I said it's a "Burris" but it's really the "B-Square" (at least I got the first letter right).



Since it's a "both-eyes-open" sight, being a bit to the left is no problem at all for me. Makes it a bit faster, in fact.

I thought it was. How's it holding up? Have you shot it much? The reason I ask is I've had several folks tell me it won't hold zero. But, they may have all been using it with scopes.
It takes a pretty strong mount for a scope but for that small reflex it may do just fine.

[AJMD429]

Mount/dismount is always within an inch at 50 yards, but I don't take it off much since I have another levergun without the mount/sight that I use in daytime (I like leverguns, so I have a few 'extras').

I think with a light-weight scope it would do fine in holding zero if it is installed properly; for me it has been no problem.

A heavier scope and a high-recoil chambering, and I think you might need to re-zero when reinstalling the mount.

I think the 'trick' is to be SURE you get the attachment screw snug but not 'locked' while you adjust and LOCK the allen-screws that fit it to your specific receiver. You have to get the large 'installation' screw snug but not locked, so the mount is flush against the receiver, THEN you start fiddling with the allen-screws that get your elevation right. Once you're on-target with the elevation screws, you Locktite them well, then you start the sighting-in process.

The idea is that the sight MUST be the same each time you tighten the installation/attachment screw. It is a tricky process, but no real alternative that I can see otherwise. Mine is set so that as I start to install it, you can see/feel the sight start settling in from the allen-screws, and it is kind enough to me to be 'repeatable'.

Like I said, I don't really take it on/off much, which helps, but I think it is possible to do it with repeatable impact.

Mostly I like leverguns without 'optical' sights, but when they are needed on a non-Marlin gun, the B-Square mount can do the job, IF care is taken to get the zero right the first time.

[BenT]

I've been putting Williams fiber optics front sights on all my deerguns , it makes a huge difference.