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Posted By: Mauser06 7600 ghost ring - 08/21/19
So...I've been wanting a rifle setup for still hunting/tracking bear/deer in the big woods of the Northeast.

I have setup a Kimber Montana 308 with a VX3i 2.5-8x36 for good weather days. I prefer a low power scope.


A few days a year I want something with a ghost ring/very open peep and a very visible quick on target and durable front sight.

I was looking to convert a Remington pump...or go-to a lever gun etc.



Duh you big dumbie. You have a 7600 in 35 Whelen. Take the scope off, put a peep on and have it cut down.



Now.....I just don't know what peep/ghost ring and what front sight I want.


Any recommendations that fit the above???
Posted By: beretzs Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/21/19
XS or Skinners are about as great as they come in my book.
Posted By: Jim_Knight Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/21/19
You can put one of those Low profile Williams receiver sights on, just unscrew the aperture, then put a "Green" Firesight Front on. "They" say that green is easier to see than red in the woods/and or snow. I myself, have always used a Williams receiver with a wide "Twilight " aperture and a 1/16" fine Gold bead front. Works like a charm "for me".
Posted By: GuideGun Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/21/19
I'd go with one of the Skinners. Ask Andy to change out the standard aperture to the x-large. I'd go with one in "Black Gold" color option. Replace the front sight with one of the Skinner brass partridge sights or one of the Marble brass bead sights.
Posted By: mogwai Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/22/19
Originally Posted by Jim_Knight
You can put one of those Low profile Williams receiver sights on, just unscrew the aperture, then put a "Green" Firesight Front on. "They" say that green is easier to see than red in the woods/and or snow. I myself, have always used a Williams receiver with a wide "Twilight " aperture and a 1/16" fine Gold bead front. Works like a charm "for me".

Simple and good answer. I like the Williams guide peep on back and you can pick your style for front. The XS post is good, an ivory bead is time tested and the various fiber optics are also good ideas
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/22/19
Thanx guys! Will look at those options.
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/22/19
The Skinner peep is appealing because it won't require extra holes.

Wilson combat or XS is appealing because of the protective wings....not sure if that's a worthy feature or not...though seems like it could be wise...
Posted By: SuperCub Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
The Williams FP is rock solid & click adjustable. Required 2 holes on the side, that's it.

This was my second 760 set up like this. Barrel was cut to 20". Perfect handling and function. A fellow at work talked me out of it in a gun swap so now I have to do another. I have the Williams FP and 7600 30-06 already. Forget the lever gun. A 30-06 with pointy bullets is much more versatile.

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Posted By: SuperCub Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Originally Posted by beretzs
XS or Skinners are about as great as they come in my book.

Are they click adjustable?
Posted By: beretzs Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Originally Posted by SuperCub
Originally Posted by beretzs
XS or Skinners are about as great as they come in my book.

Are they click adjustable?


They aren’t click adjustable. But they will move in a repeatable manner if that makes sense.
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
I'm just not a fan of the side mounts. Just a personal thing lol.


I think I will use my 35 whelen for the project. I may have to restock it. It has the Walnut monte carlo which puts my head a little higher than a straight comb stock would.


I may try the Skinner first. Just because it appears to use the scope mounting holes to secure it. I like that idea just in the event I'm not a fan of the peep...
Posted By: SuperCub Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
You will need a straight comb stock. The MC is way too high for anything but scope use.
Posted By: GuideGun Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Not sure you will find a better one than the Skinner. I run a Skinner Alaskan on my Marlin 1895 and it's a beauty. I'm looking to acquire a 7600 whelen myself and that will get a Skinner as well. Andy makes a great product.
Posted By: Dogslife57 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Was thinking of doing the same thing to one of mine, which happens to be a 35W . Anybody know is the skinner a ghost ring or a peep? Or may be you can get either. Hard to tell from the info on the website, they look to all be peep sights. I want the ghost ring.
Posted By: SuperCub Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Originally Posted by Dogslife57
, they look to all be peep sights. I want the ghost ring.

What's the difference?
Posted By: Dogslife57 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
With a peep sight the rear sight opening is much smaller and you sight through the rear sight to the front sight.
With a ghost ring the rear sight opening is much bigger, you only look at the front sight. The rear sight basically "blurs" or is not seen (ghost) by the eye but the rear sight automatically centers the front sight in the "ghost" ring. It is an optical thing. Pretty cool actually, you really have to try one to see how it works.
As far as I know some peep sights have a removable center piece/aperture which would increase the size of the opening of the rear sight, maybe that's how these are.
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Thanx Supercub. That's not really an issue...I wanna lighten the package anyways. Just gotta figure out what stock to go with. Light and quality and a good pad. The whelen hurts a little. Lol.

I looked at mine and definitely don't think the stock will work...I COULD shoot it. But not fast like I wanna.



Skinner makes a number of different ring inserts...from a small one for precision work to large ones that'll act as a ghost ring.


Lots of guys take the ring out of standard peeps...now they make "ghost rings" which is essentially a large peep with no inner ring.
Posted By: SuperCub Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Originally Posted by Dogslife57
With a peep sight the rear sight opening is much smaller and you sight through the rear sight to the front sight.
With a ghost ring the rear sight opening is much bigger, you only look at the front sight. The rear sight basically "blurs" or is not seen (ghost) by the eye but the rear sight automatically centers the front sight in the "ghost" ring. It is an optical thing. Pretty cool actually, you really have to try one to see how it works.
As far as I know some peep sights have a removable center piece/aperture which would increase the size of the opening of the rear sight, maybe that's how these are.

They sound about the same in function. With a receiver sight, most shooters use the insert to sight it in and then remove the aperture for the larger rear sight picture. I've only ever just used the front sight for shooting, just looking through the rear as it blurs.
Posted By: Dogslife57 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/23/19
Gotcha. For any fast shooting the ghost ring setup for me is much faster vs the peep.
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
As much as I want to go with the Skinner express, now I'm worried it's too far forward on the receiver. I think it'd be difficult to use with it being in the center of the receiver....
Posted By: 5thShock Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
You are right. A mid barrel mount peep and a receiver, or tang, mount peep are nothing alike.
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
I wouldn't call it mid barrel....but mid receiver...and on a 7600, that puts it about 7" from my eye (actually just measured). Seems much too far for a ghost ring to actually work as a fast sight like I want.


Finding a straight comb replacement stock isn't looking as easy as I thought it'd be either.

I know the exact setup I want.....I just need to figure out how to aquire it and "most economical".

The 7600P is the exact rifle. I should have snagged one when the market was flooded and they were going cheap. The only one I see will cost me like $800. Hopefully I find a cheaper one....and if I desire a little extra, I can have it rechambered to 338fed or 358win. Though my primary rifle now is a Kimber Montana in 308 so only needing 1 round wouldn't be a bad thing...I handload so not a huge deal...unless I go on a trip and completely forget to pack ammo. Lol.
Posted By: GuideGun Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
Looking at some photos this morning comparing the Skinner to the Williams it does appear the Williams sits back a little further. Looks like maybe an inch or so rearward on the receiver.
Posted By: 5thShock Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
I put a Williams on a 94, drilled out the Twilight peep a bit and put a fine bead red Firesight up front.
The Williams rear sight is clean on top, just the aperture in view and with the small red front sight almost all you see is what you want to hit. Next stop on this road would be an Aimpoint.
Then again, a big bead and a shallow V on the barrel is another way to go, fast, classic and better looking.
Please come back and post what your persistence leads you to. I think it will be worth seeing.
Posted By: beretzs Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
XS also has a rear sight that’ll clamp onto a pic or weaver base. It’s what I keep on my 45-70 for back up. Just another option and you may be able to use the stock front sight.
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/24/19
Guidegun, your right...with other peep setups, it'll be a couple inches closer to the eye..where the Skinner express for the 7600s is mid receiver..itd be around 7" forward of my eye which I think is too fast.


5thshock, I am pretty persistent and not settling. This won't be your everyday hunting rifle. It serves a very specific purpose and I will get what I want....it's all available...I am just weighing options to figure out the most economical way to get there. Straight comb, ghost ring, short barreled...308/3006 and possibly rechambered to 338fed, 358W, 338/06 or 35whelen...only reason would be to get a little more umph out of the cut down barrel...larger bores typically don't suffer from velocity loss as harshly.

Big woods deer tracking/still hunting rifle for nasty weather when scopes aren't feasible. Fast handling little rifle. Like I mentioned, my Montana in 308 with a 2.5-8x36 is the designated hitter on most days.

THE exact rifle is made...7600P or "police". 16.5" 308, straight comb and ghost ring setup. Just hard to find at the moment. I found one..but it'll run me around $800 and I've seen them sell NIB for $500ish. Hence why I'm exploring other ways to get to a similar end result.


Beretzs, I will look into that. I think a rail will still put the sight forward of my eye a bit too far.
Posted By: SuperCub Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/27/19
OTOH .... Why not try a Leupold 1-4?
Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/27/19
This gun will mostly be carried on the nasty days when a scope is basically useless. I have 2.5-8x36s on pretty much all my rifles. But there's a few days a year when you might as well stay home if you have a scope...I spend a lot of time still hunting and tracking so keeping a scope clean in rough conditions is about impossible. And those are always the best days for me... action can happen quick and up close and personal..messing with caps hasn't worked well for me.


Nice days I have a couple 7600s and a Kimber Montana all with 2.5-8s on them.
Posted By: Blu_Cs Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/28/19
Your proposed setup is very Benoit-y, and I am appreciating your thought process. It is an excellent one for the big northern woods, tried and tested. I too have taken this path...more than once, although not exactly with the 35 Whelen caliber.

Couple things I have learned:

1) What to look for in a buttstock - the 20 ga buttstocks for the 870 fit these, and have the desirable drop.
2) I find the Williams sights to be a bit too refined, made of light aluminum and little biddy screws that get lost easily. Not complaining, mind you, but prefer the Skinners which are made of sturdier stuff.
3) I like the winged rear sight Skinners, btw, they just seem to shed undergrowth from around the aperture in the NEK where I hunt, and if they take a fall - especially in the granite rocks that rumor has God spent the seventh day of creation throwing at Vermont, I am more confident they'll survive. The XS also are good, and I've tried one set of those (Front and rear) but have reverted to the Skinners.
4) On the front sight, it is likely you will need to change the height on the blade when you install a rear aperture. And even when you get the blade you may well have to take it down with a file as you sight it in. Others come with a narrow shank topped by a bead and are not susceptible to filing down to fit. If you don't order exactly the right height you may waste time and money curing that problem. The issue here, again, is sturdiness. Haven't measured it but the Skinner partridge front sight looks to me to be about double the width of what the others are. (Not sure if I think the Skinner winged front sight isn't too much of a good thing, but have never tested that).
5) Paint on the sloping edge of the thick skinner partridge sight really pops out. Kind of like "heavy duplex" reticule on a scope. Orange being better than white for contrast against a snowy backdrop.

Anyway these are things I have tried and tested. Hope it helps.






Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/28/19
Blu, is the Skinner on a Remington pump??


I ask because the design for that rifle keeps it pretty far from the eye. (7" or so for me).



I got the rifle figured out....the 35 whelen carbine comes with a straight comb. I knew I could use a 20ga 870 stock...but then you end up with a different forend which could drive me nuts lol.


Still kicking around the sights. Williams I found actually uses the scope mounting holes but the sight is back a bit further than the Skinner model.

I too was considering a winged version for protection and sturdyness....I don't know if XS will sell just the rear. Really don't know if I want a white/tritium front sight. A small green fiber optic would be great...though I know not super sturdy. I've broke one before. Easy fix though. Just keep a spare fiber optic rod handy.
Posted By: Blu_Cs Re: 7600 ghost ring - 08/28/19
06

When I read your question and then reread my post I realized I may have led you inadvertently astray.

I have the winged Skinner sight mounted on a 336 Marlin, and have picked that as the perfect option for a rear sight for the Remington not realizing Skinner does not make it for the 7600. I have used other peep sights on the 760/7600/740/742. My apologies for any confusion!!!

Your dilemma with the express sight which is mounted further forward now comes into better focus.

I have just talked with "Rob" at Skinner Sights, friendly and knowledgeable about this scenario, and we considered all the available options as I stood over a bald 7600 on my workbench, ruler in hand.

I believe the solution, which we came to about simultaneously, is to go with the Skinner lo-pro sight. This is an ultra simple aperture that screws into a 6-48 hole such is the rearmost hole in the 7600 receiver. It is adjustable for elevation - you adjust windage with the front sight.

This will put the aperture even closer to your eye than the Williams sight, IMO, all the way to the rear. Way further back than the express sight for the 7600. Here's the link: http://www.skinnersights.com/lo-pro_sight_7.html

The lo-pro doesn't have the wings, but Rob informed me that they had experienced only two cases in which the aperture sight had broken off, so I reckon that's plenty strong. And if you want to beef it up, they also offer the option of the larger screw than the 6-48 but you'd have to drill the receiver out on that one hole.

Hope this helps!

Disclaimer: no affiliation to Skinner, just a customer



Posted By: Mauser06 Re: 7600 ghost ring - 09/04/19
Blu, that's very interested! I might have to try one!


For the time being, I snagged a Williams WGRS. Apparently they are out of stock and not expected for quite some time. It sits back atleast an inch or 2 from the rear-most scope mounting hole...and uses the rear 2 holes. I found a group of guys that really like that sight and a fiber optic front. Will put a ghost ring in it and see how I like it.

Really, don't know what I will like and what'll work best for ME. I want something I can shoulder and shoot quickly.



We'll see how it works! Between that setup on the 7600 35 whelen carbine and the Montana in 308 with a 2.5-8x36, I should have a nice pair of rigs for my style of hunting.
Posted By: Rustyzipper Re: 7600 ghost ring - 09/05/19
www.tech-sights.com, look for the replacement front sight for Marlin lever guns. It is an M-16 style height adjustable with wing protection. One of their ghost rings might work for the rear. Then you will have the windage in the rear sight. If you shorten the barrel you will have to drill and tap anyway. I like to set them farther back from the muzzle than normal then you have room for a possible suppressor if it ever is needed. Even farther back and a reflex suppressor could be utilized. I have two sets of tech sights and will put one on a 7600 in the near future. Gooe luck and send us pictures of the setup you decide on. Mine will have a scout scope setup with rail so I can QD the scope on and off. If it is right I will also have a green dot sight with QD setup. Be Well. Rusty
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