Marlin with Tech Signts.

[daniel17319]

I having trouble getting a good sight picture on my marlin, I can only see the post and not the whole front sight post. Im not a pro shot but I know this is incorrect any help would be great.

[NJrefugee]

Make sure your rear sight is as far back (towards your eye) as possible while still firmly mounted on the rail. Use loctite to keep it in place and screw the clamp tight, as these rear sights like to walk back along the dovetail rail over time and get loose. Also, do a good "turkey neck" when you get into position and get your cheek weld. The closer your eye is to the rear sight, the more of the front sight post and wings you will see.

[Ghostring]

NJrefugee is correct, as usual, with his recommendations.   
I'd only add that you want to use BLUE loctite on the screws, definitely not RED.  Blue.  Torgue up to 20-25 inch-pounds and let it set.
Then, drop into prone and get your eye close to that rear sight.  When you've got good sight alignment, and can focus on the post clearly -- mark that spot on the stock (a little blue painters tape works great) so you can get your cheekweld there every time.  Consistency adds to precision.  Eventually, you'll drop on that mark every time!

Good Shooting!

[dond]

I've had trouble with the barrel or front sight not being aligned properly. This resulted in an extreme windage adjustment on the rear sight - so much so that it was really difficult making a good adjustment. I finally gave up and put a scope on it. And it walked so much that I finally had to drill and tap the receiver.

[TOMINCT]

 Ran into a similar issue with a shooter last year, Marlin 795/tech sights.

The Marlin seems to have a longer LOP and the shooter had added to the length by using a slip on extension. Between that and the location of the rear sight aperture it made getting a decent sight picture impossible. His eye was almost 4" away from the aperture.

He didn't need the long LOP,  we ditched the extension, had him increase his angle for a better elbow under the rifle position and also get his eye closer to the aperture at the same time. It worked well, getting a 200%+ improvement in his groups.

If this doesn't help a larger aperture would also work. You don't need to see the sight 'wings' but enough of the sight, on either side of the aperture, to get a good sight picture without eye strain.

[daniel17319]

Thanks great recommendations, im tall 6'3, I moved it as far bas as possible no luck, the rear sight aperture. What do you think about a larger aperture is one made for the Tech Sights? thanks ill fuss around with it little bit today.

[NJrefugee]

I'm not aware of a larger sight aperature for the tech sights, but a solution may exist. If you have another rifle with aperature sights (ideally an AR), are you able to get your eye closer to the rear sight without completely collapsing the stock?  I'm wondering if there's something in the ergonomics of the Marlin that is different.

Otherwise, as you work with the Marlin, especially from prone, make sure that your body is properly oriented at about 30 degrees or so vs your target. The more bladed you get, the closer your eye will get to the rear sight. I've seen some people struggle with eye relief when using scopes, due to their bodies being too squared up (facing target straight on vs bladed 30 degrees), which pushes you back.

[daniel17319]

Thats great advice, I however am not interested in changing my shooting positions because of the sights on the Marlin. Ill give it a shot. I was in the Army combat arms, Im just not interested in changing the way I learned and the way I have be taught with service rifle etc. Great advice tho thanks.

[jmdavis]

If your rifle isn't adjustable you have three choices.

1. Adjust yourself. I have shot with some of the best shooters in the Army. They do not slavishly use the position they were taught in boot camp or AIT. For a Marine view you can check out this video. No one can tell you the right position for you. You have to find it yourself.

https://youtu.be/0UE8RDSyrJY

2. Get a larger aperture. This might require a drill press or lathe. My tech sight isn't threaded for replacing the aperture.


3. Ignore it center the front sight in the aperture, hold hard and shoot well.

[cyclingbob]

Hey Jim,

Great video. Concerning Ken Roxburgh marking your forward elbow for prone.

I knew about the polish and now I have reference to the spit.

Whatever it takes to improve our score. An open mind works best.

Cheers

Bob

[Lomshek]

Thats great advice, I however am not interested in changing my shooting positions because of the sights on the Marlin. Ill give it a shot. I was in the Army combat arms, Im just not interested in changing the way I learned and the way I have be taught with service rifle etc. Great advice tho thanks.

From an Army infantryman please take this advice in the most helpful tone.

Be willing to modify your technique.  At 6'3" you should be able to get plenty close to the rear sight unless you're talking about the XT rifle. 

At Appleseeds I demonstrate how to modify your body position by setting myself up behind an M4 with the stock fully collapsed and fully extended ('m 5'9").  Changing the angle of my body relative to the bore line of the rifle will let me get a solid position using NTCH in both cases and unless there's something markedly wrong with the rifle it should work for you.

At worst find someone local to you who understands this stuff to look you over and offer advice.  A pair of knowledgeable eyes observing you in position will go a long way to fixing it.  If hat doesn't work bring it to an Appleseed and ask for help specifically with this problem.

If something about your particular rifle makes it impossible to get a good sight picture then you have to decide if it's worth fighting a poor set up or if you'd be better off using a better set up rifle for precision shooting and saving the Marlin for less challenging fun shooting with factory sights.