Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Peep sight for model 70 recommendations

Just picked up a pre 64 FW in 30/06 and I am looking for a peep sight that doesnt require wood removal. Talley makes one that fits their bases. Anyone have any suggestions?

Ashley Outdoors makes an express peep sight set for H&H length Model 70 actions. They might make one for standard pre-64 actions as well.

when I bought my first FWT in 1988 It had a Williams peep sight. The stock was not modified.

The Lyman 48 WJS is the gold standard....

A post 1947 Lyman 48 WJS is the gold standard and does not require stock inlet. For a hunting rifle I would stick with StaySet knobs (coin slot).

No other sight comes close to a Lyman 48 WJS.

Be careful as some that are assembled from mismatched parts may not work or work smoothly; they may be just fine but they may not as needed. They are are precision individually hand fit (and serialed) sight.

I checked ebay and several of the Lyman 48 jws have sold for almost $300??? Might have to go a differest route.

Thanks for the replies

That is awfully high. You don't need a minty one with the box to hunt with.

$300.00 is way too much for a Lyman 48 WJS, $125-$135.00 should buy one nice enough to go on a hunting rifle. 48's with the Stayset knobs can be bought for less than that as collectors shun the Stayset knobs preferring the knurled target knobs. The later WJS models do not require the stock to be notched.

I have a vintage Redfield 80 on my 1954 M70FW - not quite the pizazz of the Lyman, but just as accurate and correct for the rifle. Look for the Model 70W or Model 80W (quick detach). I also run one on my 1957 M94 - the old Redfields are good sights. Haven't checked in a while but $100 ought to do it. Odessa

+1 on the Redfield 80 receiver sight, an all steel sight built just as well as the Lyman 48. They just don't have the cult following the Lyman 48 does therefor they are more reasonably priced. I like the coin slotted knobs on the Redfield better than Lyman Stayset knobs but that's just a personal preference.

I use Redfields and Lyman 57's on a couple rifles and like them a lot. Definitely a cheaper but viable alternative to a 48. But, on the other hand, I have 48's on some rifles too, and certainly hold them in higher regard. 48's were hand fitted at the factory and their slides are dovetailed into the bases which spells accuracy of movement. Are they worth the extra money? On a target gun, yes - repeatability of adjustments is superb. On a hunting rifle? Not so much. But, there is the coolness factor...

Thanks for all the input!!

The currently produced Williams 5D sights will fit and not require wood removal. They will, however, require a taller front sight.

The pre 64 M70 Featherweights I have came with a dovetail slot in their barrels where a Lyman type folding open sight was installed.

Just get regular scope mount bases you can see over and you can have both a scope and irons!

Among others you can see over the Weaver scope mount bases.





$16.99

For you guys that have a peep sight on your model 70's, what do you feel is your effective range?

Depends on a lot of factors- light, woods (thick or open) or open fields/clearcuts, steady rest or not. Generally on average I would say 200 yards on an average size deer in good light in the open, and that's stretching it for me. Luckily that would constitute a very long shot where I hunt.

Depends on how much you practice.

I have competed at 600 yards with a peep sighted M70.

I zero mine at 50-75 yards on my hunting rifles but if I wanted to I wouldn't hesitate to zero at 100 and shoot at 200 yards.