Adjusting Skinner Sights on a Lever Action Winchester Miroku 1886 45-70

Going through the process to get the Skinner FRONT and REAR sight adjusted on the lever action Winchester Miroku 1886 so we can put that 45-70 to good use. Join me and I'll demonstrate (in reverse) the calculation Skinner provides to determine your front sight height.

[@robertsbushcraft]

Great video! I want a 45-70 myself and can not wait to get one. Thank you for producing quality content, you deserve way more subscribers than what you have. Thanks again and God bless!

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks! I just need to put in the time and be patient. And keep having fun making videos!

[@user-fl4wn9dn2c]

Robert, I have been shooting for decades,, My advice is one thing. buy a really good 45/70 and don't go cheep.. The 45/70 is as close to the most versatile rounds out there.. I wont go in depth but you can buy a hand reloader for about $50 reload in the field, it will shoot conventional powder, black powder, pyrodex. and trail boss. cast weights from old lead.... I like the older marlins myself, I also like the single shots. Cant go wrong with a Ruger #1. I shoot a #1 often, reloads are pretty fast. Hope you pick one up soon..

[@timothyallbee1176]

I like how each of your lever action run smoothly. I believe in making sure you are accurate with what ever site you have, it comes down to training, practice, and patience. But in order to improve your accuracy you have to look for change and I thank you for bringing us information that is very good and helpful. Keep it coming.👍

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks Timothy

[@MrsGilly]

What a BOOM! Love the explosions! 💥💥💥

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks! I love to make them ! ! !

[@easttexan2933]

"And your experience with filing . . . I've lived it". Yes you have. That is one fine looking rifle you have there. Your farm looks great.

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks. We are blessed!

[@billyboy8919]

Another great video! I was just looking into the calculations to adjust my Skinner on my 94. I really like the way your scribed the line on the front sight.

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks Billy!

[@bobhazeel]

Many thanks for an entertaining and informative video. I’ve made a note of that front sight formula for future reference, I’m sure it’ll come in handy one day.

[@TargetSuite]

You are welcome Bob. It was out of a desperate desire to quit "chasing the wind" that I took time to figure that out😄

[@garyK.45ACP]

I love Winchester lever actions. And I love receiver (peep) sights on lever guns (scopes are an abomination and a solution to a problem that doesn't exist on lever guns) In addition to originals, I have three Miroku made Lever guns...a Model 1895 .30-06, a Model 1886 Light Rifle .45-70, and a Model 71 Carbine .348 WCF. All the Miroku guns are drilled and tapped for receiver sights which fit the Winchester Model 94/Marlin 336. That is what I have installed on mine. The Model 71 has a Redfield sight. The other 2 have a Lyman 66A, again, the model for the "Model 94" Winchester. I have not had to do anything with the front sights and I have a good range of elevation adjustment and windage adjustment with micrometer scales. The Redfield has adjustment knobs, the Lymans use a screwdriver to adjust the elevation and windage. The are very precise and repeatable. I just have not been impressed with the Skinner sights nor all the monkey motions one seems to have to go through to get them working. There is a broad range range of receiver sights available for the Model 94/336 at better prices and without the trouble of changing front sights. Is it the desire to have something resembling an old style "bolt peep" sight that drives the sale of these?

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Gary. Neither of my Miroku Winchesters are drilled for receiver sights. And this is a personal thing, I don't care for the side mounted sights like Lyman and Redfield. Historic? Yes. But I just don't like the protrusion on the slick side of those classic lines. Hence the bolt mounted Skinner. Just personal taste. Now, if my 1886 or 1892 was drilled, I might have "experimented".

[@garyK.45ACP]

@@TargetSuite Hmmm. OK. I acquired my Miroku guns in the late 80s (Model 71) and the early 2000s (1895 and 1886) Between 1998 and 2003 (can't say exactly but I know it was after 1997 and before 2004). The Model 71 is a "Browning" branded rifle, the other two are "Winchester" (US Repeating Arms) branded. They are all drilled and tapped for a side mounted receiver sight with the same hole pattern as a Model 94/Marlin 336. My mistake for assuming they still are. I know the production of these has been an off and on thing for quite a few years. Anyway, you are entitled to your preference, for sure.

[@TargetSuite]

👍👍

[@bobperrett728]

Love the 45/70 Marlin 1895 Cowboy . I put the Brass front sight on and I did have to fill the sight down a little bit to pull the shots up .

[@TargetSuite]

Great rifle. Wanted one before I bought the 1886. Thanks for the comment.

[@spizzed]

I’ve got OG eyes and have skinner sights on all my lever guns, a mosin sporter. Makes shooting much more pleasurable👀

[@TargetSuite]

Hi David. Question . . . did you paint the face of your front sights? I still have trouble with a good sight picture when the light is low or the "target" dark.

[@spizzed]

Target Suite yes I painted the front blade Blaze Orange.

[@craigallbee3284]

I love your since of humor buddy.

[@TargetSuite]

It's just the kid in me that won't grow up, even at my age! Thanks for the comment

[@spizzed]

Great video! Keep’em comin More Boom!

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks David! More BOOM on the horizon!

[@PatRMG]

Entertaining and informative.

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks! Good to hear from you!

[@michaelabbott2548]

Great video! I had to put a taller front sight on my Glock so I could hit with it. My other Glocks shot fine for me I sold that gun to a friend and I had to put the original front sight on for him.

[@TargetSuite]

It's interesting how two shooters with the same gun can generate substantially different POI's .

[@sflotr]

There's nothing like the mist of pumpkin juice in the morning!

[@TargetSuite]

Yes!!!

[@fillupread]

So I have watched several of your videos and found myself in a similar boat. I do have a question at the end of this rant. I have a Henry 30-30 that came with the xs ghost ring, which was the size of a hula-hoop. I ordered a Skinner sight with 2 additional apertures to the tune of about 115.00 and whatever the shipping was. Now my shots, while with better grouping, are hitting 7-9 inches higher than my point of aim. My rifle has the barrel band front sight so I cant just replace the front blade. I called skinner and they want me to send my front band sight with an additional $62.00 to dove tail and install a higher blade. Meanwhile I find your videos on the Ranger Point sights and understand that because they sit lower, they use the front factory sight. Not excited about giving Skinner more money when they should have noted this problem on their website before people order a replacement rear sight. So,..post rant question; Should I move forward and have the front sight dovetailed or scrap the rear skinner and buy a Ranger Point rear sight. Possibly sale my skinner sight and recoup some of my already spent money. Considering you have experience with both sights, what would you recommend? I dont mind starting over if the Ranger Point is a better sight.

[@TargetSuite]

The RPP sight is excellent but I wouldn't say it is better. It is just a much lower profile than the Skinner and on the one rifle I put it on I was able to use the factory front sight. But firearms are surprisingly different so there is no guarantee that you won't need a new front sight even with the RPP. But, if you did go with the RPP sight and still needed a taller front it wouldn't have to be so tall. Sorry there isn't a clear yes or no to my response.

[@adrianlarkins7259]

Can a Skinner peep sight be fitted to a Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy?

[@TargetSuite]

Adrian, I am not familiar with the contour of the top of that receiver, but I would imagine so. Is the top of your Yellowboy receiver round or flat?

[@bkm4925]

Wow! Impressive explosion! How many pumpkins gave their lives for that boom?

[@TargetSuite]

Let me just say, the fields of pumpkins around here have been decimated ! Hahaha!

[@edperitore321]

What was the skinner order number for your 1886 Winchester miroku front and rear sights. Thanks

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Ed. That sight is not on their website. You'll have to call them and ask for the sight they make for the Big Horn Armory Models 89 and 90. If you don't mind, mention to them you heard about it from my video. Thanks

[@brianlee6849]

So was your elevation bottomed out at rear with your 100 yard zero? With the elevation on the Skinner what is your range with factory power 405 grain ammo? The 86 is a very beautiful useful rifle. I'm trying to decide on 1895 Marlin 45-70 1886 45-70 and the 1895 Winchester 3006 or 94 3855? To many choices 😁. I would buy all of them but my Chinese wife would kill me. Hahaha Thanks

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Brian. It's been 5 months since I published that vid, so I had to go back and watch it again. Then I remembered the blunder I made. I made the adjustments to the front sight with the rear aperture unscrewed several turns. Not sure how that happened. But it meant I had to file a lot more off than I thought was going to be necessary. Bottom line . . . the mistake was discovered after the video published and I had to buy a new front sight and start over. The new sight was fitted and installed but I have never gone back and adjusted it for a proper zero with the rear aperture in its lowest position. How's that for full transparency. . . . As to rifle choice, before you buy an 1886 watch my video on disassembly/reassembly if you haven't already. It's a beautiful and historic design (unlike the Marlin 1895 which is a 1948 design) but it is a much more complicated design than the Marlin. I don't know much about the Win 1895 other than I would love to have one. Maybe some day. But right now my non-Chinese wife would kill me if I did😄

[@brianlee6849]

@@TargetSuite Hahaha. Great answer. We all have a wife to answer to don't we... I did watch that video and it does look complicated. I know the Marlin 1895 has a very high following is it a much more simple design to maintain? The thing I like about the 1895 Winchester is the 3006! The 3006 is a great cartridge. But I've always thought the 4570 was fun and cool too. I hear guys that have the 1895 Winchester say that cycles better than any lever-action super smooth. Thank you for the transparency very honest. The Skinner sight makes a very nice clean look but I feel if I wanted to play at long-range I would run out of elevation real quick with the rainbow trajectory of a 4570. Thanks

[@TargetSuite]

The 45-70 is a great, and historic cartridge, but it definitely has limitations. That's why the thought of the Winchester 1895 is so intriguing. You get history, a lever action, and a modern cartridge. The other rifle that I am considering that pushes all the same buttons is the Savage 99. Some would argue it's a better choice if you want a vintage rifle for a shooter. But to many, including me as a younger man, the Savage 99 just looks weird. Today, I have really warmed up to it. It's probably my next vintage purchase.

[@brianlee6849]

@@TargetSuite I totally agree. The Savage 99 is not aesthetically pleasing. I have a friend that has one in 308 and loves it. He says it's a real shooter but... Personally I just can't get past the looks of it either. The Winchester 1895 with a Model 21 Lyman that's an incredible looking rifle. The lineman 21 just looks perfect on it. That's also the site that I'm thinking about for the 86 if I get or Marlin 95. Are you familiar with this sight of you used it? Another modern beautiful rifle is the Winchester model 88 and 308 or 243 would be awesome. But for me I'm thinking that once down the road. Right now I want Total old school. Thanks

[@TargetSuite]

I don't have any experience with the Lyman you mentioned. And I just don't like the bulk hanging off the side of the 1886. My solution was to get a bolt mounted Skinner sight. It's not on their website, but they make it for Big Horn Armory to put on their rifles. You have to call Skinner to get one.

[@theeasternfront6436]

Arg! So torn, should my next gun be an 1873 in 357? Or and 1886 in 45/70?

[@TargetSuite]

Decisions! Decisions! :-)

[@bkm4925]

I forgot to ask: What is Tannerite?

[@TargetSuite]

Tannerite is a binary explosive developed in 1996 by Dan Tanner. It is different than black powder in that it ships and stores as two inert compounds. The energy potential is only there after the two compounds are mixed. Even then it takes a high energy source such as a blasting cap or impact from a high velocity rifle round to detonate it. As I said in the video, even the powerful 45-70 round wouldn't set it off. And that was because that is not a high velocity cartridge.

[@patinaz6758]

Glock must have tuned that extractor.

[@TargetSuite]

Haha!