I just bought a .450 marlin lever action, and the guy before me replaced the sights. It now has a peepsight, and fiber optic front sight. I shot the gun for the first time on saturday and, on flat ground, shot 20 feet low at 50 yrds. I blame it soley on the gun, as it did it three more times. Could anyone else who owns a marlin tell me if they come factory with fiber optics, or was this an add on? Also does anyone know where I could buy replacement sights? Thanks for any input
David
Game fish are too valuable to only be caught once.
-Lee Wulff
Flytyer317;
It sounds like the front sight is too high or the rear sight is to low. I had this same thing with a brand new Henry and replaced the front sight with a taller one from Lyman with the smallest fiber optic bead they offered. It is a deadly accurate gun now. Can you raise the rear sight or is it maxed out?
I would suggest contacting a gunsmith to make the corrections. The parts and labor should not cost very much.
Take it to a qualified gunsmith and have him explain the whole process to you. Each rifle must not only have accurate sights, but must be zeroed for YOU and to a specific ammo at a specific range. 20’ low at 50 yds sounds pretty severely “off” for any possible combo though. You won’t spend much, you’ll get an accurate rifle, and you’ll probably learn something. Besides, any time you buy a used gun you should have it thoroughly checked out by a trusted gunsmith before firing it.
My New Year’s resolution is to have more fun…even if YOU don’t.
20 feet! If I may ask, how did you even measure that?! Twenty inches would seem like a lot even…
If the sights were off, I would think that you could look down the gun barrel and see that the aim is off by that much. The sights must be off…I don’t think ammo, even the poorest quality, would give you those results.
Take it in to a gunsmith or local gun shop to get checked out.
I agree, take it to a qualified gunsmith and have them look at it. I had the privilege of working for a hunting guide in Wyoming a few years ago and my “trail” gun was a lever action Marlin .450 that was accurate out to 400 yards with iron sights and over the counter ammo. Peep sights are OK, but you have to be careful that the front and rear sights belong on the same rifle. I’ve heard of people who’ve put the rear sight on a rifle and didn’t bother to change the front sight. It doesn’t work out so well when they try to shoot something. I would NEVER have them on a personal rifle. My suggestion, get rid of the peep sight.
Here we go;
JC you are right (I hate it when that happens!!) And now I am confused, a state I have learned to live in!! My Henry was shooting high and a taller front sight allowed me to depress the gun barrel more!
Any way what ever I did made it a better shooter!
GUNSMITH!!
Don’t forget the Michigan Fish-In August 14th to the 20th. The Holy Water’s of the Au Sable await you!!
Thanks everyone for your input. I believe i’ll buy a new set of sights, the peep sight takes away from the looks anyhow. Perhaps I didn’t state my problem good enough. When I said I was shooting twenty feet low on level ground, it meant the bullet hits the ground 20 feet in front of the target.
David
Game fish are too valuable to only be caught once.
-Lee Wulff
NC Virginian and Castwell are right on the money. I did the same thing with a Ruger 10-22. Put on a Williams peep sight, left the factory front - it was way too high for the rear peep. Same results you have with your Marlin. Put on new, lower front sight, problem solved. Good luck, Jonezee
Flytyer317;
Jonezee saved me!! If the front sight is too tall it will cause you to depress the barrel when aquiring the target and shoot low. Same it the rear sight is too low! again you have to depress the barrel to aquire the target and will shoot low!
Once sighted in do not change ammo or you’ll have to start all over again!
This from a guy that has a “Confirmed”, Certified" kill on a Pasture Poodle at 650 yards with a .223!!
Another tip. For fast target aqusition come down on the target concentrating on the front sight and the target, when the bead is buried in the Buck Horn Vee & squeeze!!
P.S. don’t forget to follow through!!
Don’t forget the Michigan Fish-In August 14th to the 20th. The Holy Water’s of the Au Sable await you!!
If you don’t like peep sights I would have a gunsmith put a good set of fiber optic iron sights on the rifle. Fiber optics cannot be beat for open sights in low light or adverse weather conditions unless you opt for a good light gathering scope. I won’t use anything but fiber optic for open sights.
I agree wiht Jack on target sight picture aquisiton. Always bring the sites from the top down on the target. This allows you to control your breathing and get a good sight plicture on the target even if the target is moving. Least that’s how the Army taught us to do it and I ain’t gonna argue with my old D.I. (drill instructor). I was born with a rifle in my hands. The D.I. taught me it’s proper use.
