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My first lever was a Savage 99 in 308. My boy has it now, loves it. Several more 99’s have snuck in my gun safe. This 32-40 is especially fun to shoot.

I’m itching for another one already. Maybe a Savage 99? Or maybe I should finish my Model 70 first? Decisions, decisions…

Not sure I'm deciphering your post accurately but a correct-for-rifle tang sight does not interfere with the cycling of the action nor require being moved for each cycle. On a vintage Lyman No. 1 with the flip down aperture it quickly goes from a small diameter peep, for fine work in good light, to a "ghost ring" which is pretty quick to acquire even for follow ups.

Thanks Mr T for your insight. Below my referenced Model 1894 with what I take as a Lyman No. 1 sight. It is not fitted with what seems a target aperture you describe. In vertical operation is an interference fit with the bolt which impinges on it in before full aft cycle position. When I first got this rifle, I tried turning the sight 180' about. It fitted but there was some instability I didn't look into because its height wouldn't offer necessary vertical line of sight clearance at full extension anyway.
Perhaps I need to look into it further. I'm talking some several decades ago since I acquired the rifle and this messing about would have occurred. A few pix of the rifle, suspect Lyman and aft barrel sight which I used in test firing shortly after purchase. It's a nice old rifle and comfortable to shoot.

Best!
John

Nice of you to offer GAZANS food to prevent starvation!

I've had the Williams FP, XS and the Skinner peeps and like Vic in VA I prefer the Williams FP. I opted for the Williams fiber optic front sight though. Other than a sling I can't think of anything else I would add to it.
Here's my Winchester 94 NRA Commemorative with the Williams sights and a Montana sling. The owner of Montana slings is a member on here. https://montanagunslings.com/

Edit, I just looked at your pictures again and realized yours isn't drilled & tapped for the Williams peep so other than the sling I guess my suggestion won't help you.

I’m not opposed to having a smith drill and tap it to install a receiver sight.

The one I owned was made in 1955 and was factory d&t. I used the FP. If I planned on hunting one, I wouldn’t worry about having it drilled unless it was an extraordinary specimen. They made millions of ‘em. Just don’t let some fumblethumbs do it.

Ballistically the 30-30 is a mediocre cartridge. But the gun has sold the cartridge.

Only mediocre by modern standards. And until optics came into widespread use, most people couldn’t take advantage of the range offered by better cartridges. Inside 200 yards, it doesn’t give up much to anything.

I've shot a hell of a lot of deer with mine {nearly 100} and find it kills them about as well as anything.

Not for Woods hunting it's not

Wouldn't you maybe say that the 30-30 has probably put more deer on the meat pole than anything else?

Been a staple hunting cartridge for 128 years.

I'd go along with that

You might want a "no drill" type sling like this if you want to keep the rifle unmolested.


On my more modern Marlins that have sling studs, I use Montana slings.
The Montana is a great sling for a levergun, but I don't know if they make "no drill" attachments.

I would stick with the stock buckhorn sights on the Winchester.
There is no elegant sight upgrade for the Winchester because of the open top receiver, in my opinion.
You would need a side mount doohickey of some type or some other appendage down where the buckhorn currently lives.

My first lever gun was a Model 57 22LR. The trigger pull was over 15 lb. It was an accurate rifle after the trigger pull was some what fixed. But it fell apart after some use. I’d say it was a POS.
My cousin brought her 1965 model 94 30-30 over for me to sight it in for her. It shot 12”+ groups at 100 yards. I didn’t like lever guns for quite, but dad left me a ‘92 Winchester made in 1905. I liked that rifle. Now I have quite a few lever guns.

A receiver mounted aperture sight is a huge upgrade over the stock barrel mounted rear sight as is a mini reflex/red dot mounted either on the receiver behind the ejection port or barrel mounted using the rear sight dovetail. I have a Williams receiver sight on one in combination with a green fiber optic up front and a Holosun 407cx2 mounted on the barrel of another.

Agree with the Williams crowd, they're a great upgrade on levers. The 5D and FP are ugly as dirt, but rock solid functional.

I'd like to ask then why the .307 and .356 were not successful? If the guns sold in spite of the 30-30 cartridge then why didn't they sell even better with the more potent offerings?

maybe ? yes during hunting seasons yes the 30-30 is probably #1, but total deer shot no many cities have many many deer shot at night with a 223/556 shining deer while the general public is sleeping these snipers generally start on Sunday about 11 pm and quit shooting at 5 a.m. thru Thursday. believe me they have killed truck loads of deer in many states and cities in America.