B '86 project dilemma. What sights?

[2ndovc]

I've run into a dilemma as to what to do with the sights for my Browning
'86 project.

I thought i'd do something exotic like a three leaf express sight but it just didn't look
right on top of that short fat barrel.

The rear sight's gotta go and I don't know where the heck that front sight came from. It's
way to short.

I've got pretty much everything else figured out. Stocks, refinish, etc but I just can't make up my mind on the sights. Leaning towards a Receiver peep like the Lyman but it just
doesn't thrill me.


I want to get it off to the gunsmith to fix all the holes and have it refinished but I have to
make a decisions on the sights for whatever new holes need to be made.

I've been screwing around to long and need to get this thing going or it's going to sit forever.

Any Ideas???


jb

[Griff]

I've run into a dilemma as to what to do with the sights for my Browning '86 project.
.
.
.
Any Ideas???
jb

Yep, but really have to ask 1 first; what're plannin' on doin' wid it? Huntin', plinkin' or target/competition uses would mean different sight requirements for me,

[Hillbilly]

Than lil dude screams for a ghost ring and whatever front sight you prefer.

Or a full buckhorn and a sourdough

I understand your problem ...too many options!

Nice carbine
Jeff

[2ndovc]

I've run into a dilemma as to what to do with the sights for my Browning '86 project.
.
.
.
Any Ideas???
jb

Yep, but really have to ask 1 first; what're plannin' on doin' wid it? Huntin', plinkin' or target/competition uses would mean different sight requirements for me,

Guess I should have thought to mention that.

This one's going to be my go-to hunting, camping, whatever, forever trail gun.
The way it shoots, even with the crummy sights is just amazing. Carries just right and
just fits.

Once it's done I plan on doing my best to wear the finish off it again.

Most of my hunting is in pretty dense areas where a 100 yd shot is a rarity.

jb

[J Miller]

Jason,

I think it would really look good, and function great with a bolt mounted peep sight. I think some of they guys here have modified an XS rear sight to mount on the bolt. At least I've read about it somewhere. An XS white stripe front sight would work great with the rear peep too.

I agree with you about the holes and that rear sight. They need attention.

Joe

[2ndovc]

Ooh!

I like that idea. I'll have to research that a bit.


jb

[SJPrice]

I may be wrong, but I think XS makes a ghost ring that straddles the bolt on the rear of the receiver for a Browning 1886. I have one on a model 92 and if works well and does not look out of place.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I went with the 3-leaf express myself.

Three leaf Express sights on 20" 1/2-round 1/2-oct heavy barrel.

Instead of mounting the sight in one of the NECG bases, it's mounted in a wide dovetail cut right in the barrel. This keeps my front sight at a reasonable height.

My thinking in going with the express was the ability to bring to bear an accurate and quick shot in a short (50yds) situation ... in following with the short rifle (20") theme. Then, with the other blades, to be able to place a decent deliberate shot out at 150yds and 250yds at the most. Obviously, the farther you're going to shoot, the more you'll see a difference in impact with different loads since you have to regulate the blades based on some common load. And I'm not going to shoot any farther than that with open sights and even then, it would have to be a larger animal ... say Elk at the broadside.

[longarm4146]

put u a smith enterprise ladder sight on it and it'll give you all the elevation for need for that rifles range....I have on on my 86 TD and can shoot 600 yds with only 2/3 elevation used with a 405 lead bullet at 1200 fps....

[Mike D.]

Since the barrel has been butchered anyway, you can pretty much do as you wish. I would definitely lose the ramp front sight and cut a 3/8' dovetail slot for whatever front sight you choose. The 3 leaf express sight would be a good choice, even with the short barrel. The gun is drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, as well. If it was me, there would be a Lyman 66WB slapped on that rascal.

[2ndovc]

I went with the 3-leaf express myself.

Three leaf Express sights on 20" 1/2-round 1/2-oct heavy barrel.

Instead of mounting the sight in one of the NECG bases, it's mounted in a wide dovetail cut right in the barrel. This keeps my front sight at a reasonable height.

My thinking in going with the express was the ability to bring to bear an accurate and quick shot in a short (50yds) situation ... in following with the short rifle (20") theme. Then, with the other blades, to be able to place a decent deliberate shot out at 150yds and 250yds at the most. Obviously, the farther you're going to shoot, the more you'll see a difference in impact with different loads since you have to regulate the blades based on some common load. And I'm not going to shoot any farther than that with open sights and even then, it would have to be a larger animal ... say Elk at the broadside.

Dovetailled in that looks better than I thought it would.

[Hobie]

I think you need a longer sight radius and a receiver sight is just the ticket. I've got a Williams FP-71 on mine but you might prefer a vintage steel Lyman.

[Mike D.]

These are what I prefer on a Winchester.

[2ndovc]

I'm still a little torn between the receiver sight and the express sight.

I've got a simiar sight as Mr. McNutjob but never thought about taking it out of that
giant base and just using the smaller insert.

I think that's the way to go because I already have it in hand.


Thanks for the input guys!!!


jb

[2ndovc]

These are what I prefer on a Winchester.

Just when I thought I'd made a decision

[Tycer]

I would go back just the way the previous owner had it. Side mount scope and a Lyman 66.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Obviously the 56/66 is going to be way easier than getting that dovetail cut for the express.

Mike D, is that a 45-90 or 50-110 takedown in the middle? How hard was THAT to find.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

In another thread, El Mac posted a link to some nice 86's by Johnson that happen to have some interesting express sights on them. Here's a link directly to one of the rifles ...

Express Sights on High End 86 Takedown

Nice looking setup. Of course, the rifle is around $40k and I'm not sure who made the sights. Maybe someone here will recognize them.

[2ndovc]

That's COOL!


Thinking I'm going to have the Express sight mounted.

Looks much better with out that big base it came with.

Thanks for the idea!!

jb

[Mike D.]

Obviously the 56/66 is going to be way easier than getting that dovetail cut for the express.

Mike D, is that a 45-90 or 50-110 takedown in the middle? How hard was THAT to find.

It is a .45-90 and not too hard to find. I'm working on another one at this time, but want to prove it's leaving the factory as it is.
The latest is also a LWTD, but has a full magazine. I am waiting to hear from Dave on the gun's authenticity before any move is made on it.
At the cost of these guns nowadays nothing can be left to chance.

Like I said before, I already blew my chances on a .50 EX LWTD a few years ago. The gun was made in 1918 and can't be lettered, same as my .45-90.
I suspected it as a parts gun, but will never know for sure. I could have had that piece for a bit over 4K, is all. Brad has one that he hunts with.