I just put an evolution gun works rail on my 1894. It only ran my about 26.00, They have black and stainless models.

EGW

It uses the preexisting holes, i had mine installed in 5 minutes.

Beautiful set up you've got there. I recall when I purchased my 1895G I originally wanted the chrome version but they were both hard to find and about $200 more than the blued ones. Care to offer an opinion on mounting your scope via a permanent (or just slower to remove) rig like the DNZ mount versus on a rail? My thought with the rail would be that a) I could remove the scope and mount it on another rifle with little fuss, and b) I could remove the rear sight when using a scope. Also, what power scope are you using? I was thinking of getting a 3-9x40, and read the Leupold VX1 was a good buy in the sub $300 range.

Gorgeous wood grain going on there. Ever wish you went with a shorter rail that didn't extend as far towards the barrel? I'm waffling between the XS rail and the EGW (which is only 5" in length and wouldn't allow for forward mounting). EGW is half the price of the XS.

The rail is great if you want to remove the scope often just make sure the mount you buy will go back to zero when you put the scope back on your gun.If your looking to place the scope on another gun then you will have to sight the scope for each gun that you put it on and that can be a pain in the ass.

I don't use the irons at all that's why I scoped my rifle.I know a lot of guys like the see through scope mounts so they can still use there iron sights,but I look at that as sort of useless.Most bolt rifles don't come with sights that's why you mount a scope so I don't see a need to use them on my 45/70,Besides at my age iron sights are useless.

My scope is an older Leupold 3x9 compact that I had on a Ruger Mini 14 that I sold a while back ,but kept the scope. FYI,Chrome looking Marlin lever action rifles are stainless steel.

Good points. I think it comes down to either paying ~$275 for a rifled barrel with rail for my Remy 11-87 (see pic), another $60 for a rail for my 1865, and ~$300 for a scope plus mounts which would give me the flexibility to hunt in either locations in MN (north vs south) depending on who I can go with. Total cost would be $635 for both firearms to share a scope. Or, I buy a dedicated scope + mount for my 1865 (which would cost ~$300) and then the new barrel and a second scope + mounts for my shotgun ($575) which would run me $875. Saves me a few hundred bucks going the former route over the latter. Just sucks that MN law disallows rifle hunting in the central and southern parts of the state. Guess I should just figure out first with who (which dictates the where) I will be hunting before spending some money.

A Weaver 63B base is only around $10

Good advice, best to tread lightly on that site.

XS on my 1895. It came with the longer version but I switched it to the shorter one.

You can say that again!!!! Some of the members there are really nice and knowledgeable, but they have some extreme boneheads too!

What did you end up with for a rear sight?

My main thing is that I want to get rid of that super long rail, it's hard on bare hands and catches on everything.

I'm thinking about a Skinner rear with the XS front. I have a .22 pistol with the vertical white stripe in the front sight, I shoot very well with it and attribute a lot of that to the sights.