[Maineiac]

I am using a Burris TRS - 25. I am having trouble seeing a good sight picture with iron sights. Getting old sucks. Scopes or Red Dots make things less sucky for me.

 

[northmn]

It is not a 94 but the Red dot will work for you. This deer was taken at about 15 feet maybe closer. I had the Red dot mounted on another rifle and took a deer at about 125 yards. I have replaced it with a Bushnell 1.5X4.5 'that I like better. No batteries and less target coverage. The starburst effect on this Red Dot was easily managed by the brightness controls. A good low power scope does just as well for me and is far better in low light than any receiver sight. Been there. The scope is very little more bulky.

That scope is an inexpensive Bushnell that has held its zero for many years now. A tractor bucket is another handy thing for handling deer.

DEP

 

[packard]

Being truthful in advance, I am married to my optometrist. That nugget of information out of the way here goes.

In many if not most cases your optometrist should be able get your sighting issues squared away. I am almost 69 years of age and have a non-trivial amount of astigmatism. Explaining what I need my glasses to do helps me get a prescription that works. Patridge type revolver sights still work fine for me. I have red dot sights that have round red dots for me. Also if you wear bifocals, it is important that whoever decides where the bifocals line up understand your needs. To get the results you want be sure to communicate.

There is one issue that these people can't fix. That's the loss of low light vision because of a reduction in number of nerves in the bundle that connects the brain to the eye. This is a function of age and currently can't be remedied. Please don't confuse this issue with the effects of a bad prescription. Ask me how I know this.

Thank you White Cloud, that explains my needing a lot of light. My nerve bundle is 81yo.

 

[rob42049]

.125" rear aperture with a .10" milspec front blade. Button buck shot at 70-75 yards right through the top of his heart. Retired welder/mechanic with serious prescription glasses. I get to practice marksmanship any day of the week right out my back door. Animals inside 125 yards are a sure bet. Tin cans and clay pigeons to 200 yards and beyond. Lots of trigger time really helps. Tell your Optometrist you need to see the front sight clearly and he/she will set up the prescription that way.

 

[BC in TN]

I currently have a Ranger Point Precision peep on my 1894C. Much better than the factory irons that came on the rifle but.... these eyes aren't getting any younger. Don't really want to take the step to a scope and was wondering about anyone's use of a red dot sight on an 1894? Mine is used for woods walks and range /target use. Might hunt with it next year. If you have a red dot on your 1894 please tell us about your experience and pictures would be helpful. Thanks in advance

 

[Gareth Holland]

Any advice on glasses would be most helpful, I would like to use apertures on both the 357 & 44 cowboys. These rifles will not be used for hunting. Gar.

 

[BC in TN]

I use a red dot on my 1894.
I’ve found that the starburst and fuzzy went away as the quality of the optic improved. This Aimpoint will allow for an ink pen sized dot and intensify all the way to a starburst cluster depending on the intensity setting.

I believe that many of the cowboys and hunters of old would have upgraded their rifles in similar fashion had the technology been available.

Now, with that said, in using this Aimpoint I found myself occasionally wishing for some magnification. The Leupold Firedot solved that problem as well. Either option costs about the price of the rifle…

 

[rob42049]

Any advice on glasses would be most helpful, I would like to use apertures on both the 357 & 44 cowboys. These rifles will not be used for hunting. Gar.

Gar:
Get shooting lenses in a very light gray. No bifocal function. I use reading glasses for close in stuff and reading. The shooting glasses are strictly for a clear front sight picture. I told the Doctor I needed them for driving and shooting. See if your Optometrist will do that.

Rob

 

[BC in TN]

I use a red dot on my 1894.
I’ve found that the starburst and fuzzy went away as the quality of the optic improved. This Aimpoint will allow for an ink pen sized dot and intensify all the way to a starburst cluster depending on the intensity setting.

I believe that many of the cowboys and hunters of old would have upgraded their rifles in similar fashion had the technology been available.

Now, with that said, in using this Aimpoint I found myself occasionally wishing for some magnification. The Leupold Firedot solved that problem as well. Either option costs about the price of the rifle… View attachment 871377 View attachment 871378

 

[white cloud]

One other point to remember about red dot sights is how much many of them attenuate the light reaching your eye. Tube type red dots need a reflective surface to form the red dot on. This means they have to tint at least part of the lens you see through. This tint reduces light transmission. Some manufactures do a better job than others but there are no industry standards. Get out in the evening and look through a high quality scope set near one power and the typical tube type red dot the sight. In many cases the differences are amazing. This light transmission difference may be important to you if most of your hunting is early morning or later in the evening.

Scopes offer other low light advantages. Magnification makes things easier to see is a big one. One other is as it gets dark, your eyes dilate. As we age, this capability degrades. A high quality variable scope allow you to tune the optic's exit pupil to match your dilated eye.

Two of my rifles have Leupold 2.5-8 VX3i scopes on them that allow me to hunt later than when I am carrying my 1894 with a red dot. To me the 1894 looks weird with a scope so I put up with the limitations of the red dot. A Leupold customer support representative told me that if I wanted a red dot with the light transmission of a good scope, get a scope with an illuminated reticle and turn the power down to one X.

 

[BC in TN]

…A Leupold customer support representative told me that if I wanted a red dot with the light transmission of a good scope, get a scope with an illuminated reticle and turn the power down to one X.

I concur. An illuminated reticle, low power scope is the best option with current technology. The limiting factor is cost…. For years I’ve let this forum influence me regarding adding optics to my leverguns - not any more. Heck, I don’t believe they detract anything from these classics and I can now see the target, in most any light, under most any conditions.

 

[white cloud]

I have a similar scope on a hunting AR and it's a dandy setup for later in the evening.

 

[WindyHill6561]

I concur. An illuminated reticle, low power scope is the best option with current technology. The limiting factor is cost…. For years I’ve let this forum influence me regarding adding optics to my leverguns - not any more. Heck, I don’t believe they detract anything from these classics and I can now see the target, in most any light, under most any conditions.

View attachment 871391 View attachment 871392 View attachment 871393

I have read that the illuminated reticle scopes are great in low light but hard to see the illuminated dot with bright sun or snowy background? Can anyone speak to that? Thanks.

 

[Gohon]

Heck, I don’t believe they detract anything from these classics and I can now see the target, in most any light, under most any conditions.

Same here...I've scoped all my rifles for the last 60 years no matter the action. I like picking out the exact spot I want that bullet to go to. I think if today's scopes had been available when the 1894 first came out it would have had a scope on it. People simply used what they had back then and would have jumped for joy if what we have today would have been available then. Anyway...that's what I think.

I've used regular red dots off and on but found them lacking beyond 100 yards on center fires or 50 yards on rim fires. Never had a scope with a red dot in it so that may have made a difference for me.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I cannot put a scope on a lever gun. My waffle top is undrilled and both it and my 39A have vintage Redfield peep sights.

I used a red dot on my highly modified 22/45 for a while but found it's not for me.

 

[rob42049]

Yeah that's right. The Cowboys would have jumped for joy if they had optics on their leverguns. And the first cattle drive or trip into the timber would have beat the daylights out of the scope or red dot. Filled them with trail dust and horse sweat. First fall off old Red or hiking around in through boulders unable to grab the receiver 'cause the scope was in the way might find the new-fangled doo-dad left by the trailside. They had scopes in those days. Berdan's Sharpshooters used them in the Civil War. But for every day hard use by working Cowboys they're too fragile.

Do what you gotta do but don't project modern day mindset into the 1870's 1880's and 1890's. Things were different then. Conditions were a lot more rugged. Why do Old West firearms show so much wear? How many Old West Winchester or Spencer carbines do you see with a sling?

 

[Gareth Holland]

I have read that the illuminated reticle scopes are great in low light but hard to see the illuminated dot with bright sun or snowy background? Can anyone speak to that? Thanks.

I have a number of scopes with illuminated dots, posts and cross hairs. In answer to the question in bright sun or against snow no need to switch them on ? Black works just fine. Its in last light scenarios that they come into their own. shot a doe 1 night with the dot on my Leopold under 100 yds on a hard core track, I could not see her with my eyes and I have good night sight. Spotted her with field glasses and shot with a scope, I could not make out the cross hairs. Should I have shot that late ? I had both my dogs in the Land Rover with me.Gar.
PS a dog does not need light to track.

 

[packard]

Any advice on glasses would be most helpful, I would like to use apertures on both the 357 & 44 cowboys. These rifles will not be used for hunting. Gar.

It is not necessary to focus on the rear aperture. you simply look through it and center the front sight in the aperture. Your glasses must allow you to focus on the front sight and the target. Bifocals may be needed depending on your far vision.

 

[Gohon]

Oh I don't know...tucked down in a scabbard with lens protectors a rifle would have been pretty well protected from dust and I doubt any horse could sweat enough to soak through the leather. don't think most experienced cowboys had a habit of falling off old Red or did much walking through boulders on a cattle drive. Sure made a difference in a few Indian fights as some hunters proved.

Do a little real history reading and one will discover that a lot of buffalo hunters back in the 1860's-1870's scoped their rifles. Most using the the full-length Malcolm telescopes which had a 3/4-inch diameter steel tube with lenses of about 1/2 to 5/8 inch diameter and were made in powers from 3 to 20 or even higher.

Hitting a paper plate with a 30-30 at 100 yards for dear season was never my cup of tea. I prefer a little better pin point accuracy than that which is possible with a scope or maybe with a peep sight. But...like I said in my post, that is simply what I think and my opinion. I'm sure there are many different opinions on this subject.

 

[256WinMag]

Eyes are getting old and several surgeries, including stints in both eyes to relieve pressure. The pressure went back to normal, but the cataract surgery was a mess.
Back to the topic, on my firearms, most optics and sights are original or close to period correct. Marlins mostly get vintage Weavers and Redfields or original irons. Original 1893 has the original Marbles tang peep. Red dots include a Fast Fire III on a Smith Auto 22 and an Elbit Falcon on an AR... look it up. A couple Springfield 4x14 50's on 308 sniper type stuff and Doctor scopes on what few long distant, flat shooters.
I can still work with all, to some degree but as mentioned above, TALK to your surgeon if you need surgery. My optometrist was phenominal, my ophthalmologist was not successful.
I can see a 4x4 post on a duck blind at 600 yards and a marker buoy at 900 yards clearly with my right (dominant) eye but the front sight is another thing altogether. My left eye is a complete mess, but have an opportunity to see another ophthalmologist in a few months.
Old age sucks, except in fine vintage firearms.
If you can focus on the front sight you are in business...all US military rifles have used peep sights for well over a hundred years. They work.