I have a Lyman on my 1895 and it is a fine sight. No experience with the others. A friend had a Skinner on his 1894. It seemed a bit bulky to me, though it was an older model. Required a new front sight as I recall.
I would purchase dr. Skinners sight. You are correct it might need a new front as well but many times you do not. I have the Black gold on a 39M and it works great. I have a low pro on my 1894 and it works as a gost ring well with no weight.
The XS system is more of a ghost sight. Not a true peep. Dr skinners good sights have several inserts available from fine target to ghost ring. My Low pro is more of a semi ghost ring. Large but not huge. It is also the lightest weight back up sight I can get for my scout scope setup. Since mine had a factory glow front sight it sorks very well but not nearly as nice as the scout scope.
On my 44 mag it is more for me about putting a round or two on target very quickly. I still hunt and often you have about 15-30 seconds to get the target in sight and make the call to pull the trigger. After that you are busted and they are moving fast or slow but moving and they know that you are not normally a part of the enviroment.
jmarriott
Thanks those pictures are great. So you really like your scout scope, what size is it? I saw that mount on the xs website how secure is the mounting?
Thanks Ben
I don't think I mentioned it but I want to set this up for hunting not target shooting or anything and I am not thinking shots over 75-100 yards if that.
I love the scout scope think of it as advanced Iron sights. it is a leopold 2.75 power fixed scout I have taken several deer with it. Longest over 90 yards shortest about 3 rows of corn.
You can get into the scout setup rather cheap. Look at the ncstar 2-7 IER scope at about 40 dollars and the XS rail about 70. So under 200 but I will not assure you that the NCstar will hold up to the 444 with full house loads. I will hold up to 357 and 44 mag for many years as I have setup about 5 of them for others.
Mine is the leopold with warne QD low rings and skinner low pro backup.
Not everyone is a scout scope fan but I have a left eye dominate handicap and the scout you keep both eyes open so it is no handicap.
A second way to get about the same effect is to use a leopold ultralight 2.5 power with the standard mount. It is about as quick as my scout.