everydaycarry-essentials.com – Your Everyday Carry/Concealed Carry Information Place

July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

Upgrading Your Self-Defense Rifle Or Shotgun To Peep Sights

There are many different sight options available on the market today, and everybody seems to want some type of optic as there go-to sight package. My view is that optics are great when they work, but if there is a problem, you are in trouble. So I have switched most of my self defense rifles back to open sights. They may not work for long range shooting but most of your self defense shooting is close-up. Let’s explore the peep sight and see if it might be something that would work for you.

What Do You Consider A Self Defense Rifle?

Google defines a self-defense rifle is any rifle, regardless of model or caliber, that is chosen and used primarily for protecting oneself or others from a threat. But I think that is a little too general as this would potentially be a very large number of rifles. When a rifle is used for self defense it is helpful for a rifle to be compact, in a manageable caliber, easy to handle and the user must be comfortable with that rifle . This is making a better definition for a self defense rifle.

Many people feel that the AR-15 is a popular choice due to its versatility and stopping power, any rifle that is comfortable, controllable, and chambered in an appropriate caliber for the user’s needs can be considered a self-defense rifle. But not all people are comfortable using a military type rifle. That being said, one of my favorite home defense rifles is the Lever action carbine. the action is quick and easy to cycle and it comes in many different calibers: .357 Mag, .44 Mag and .30-30. Many people like using the .357 Mag or the .44 Mag as a self defense rifle as the recoil is low but the power behind the bullet is adequate for protection.

What Is A Peep Sight?

A peep sight, also known as an aperture sight, is a type of iron sight for rifles that uses a small aperture (a round hole)

in the rear sight to improve accuracy and vision by helping the shooter center their eye and focus on the front sight. Peep sights typically have a front sight (like a bead or post) and a rear sight with a small, circular aperture. The shooter looks through the aperture, not at it, and centers the front sight within the aperture to aim.

Benefits:

- Improved Accuracy: The aperture helps the shooter’s eye focus on the front sight and target, leading to better accuracy.
- Enhanced Vision: Peep sights can improve vision, especially in low-light conditions, by allowing the shooter to see the front sight and target more clearly.
- Consistent Aim: The aperture encourages consistent eye placement and helps the shooter maintain a proper shooting stance.

Types:

- Standard Peep Sights: These are commonly found on rifles, especially for target shooting or hunting.
- Competition Peep Sights: These sights are designed for precision shooting and often feature adjustable windage and elevation.
- Hunting Peep Sights: These sights are designed for hunting and are typically mounted on the tang of the rifle.

Why Would I Want A Peep Sight On Your Rifle?

Peep sights enhance accuracy in archery and target shooting by narrowing the field of view, improving focus on the target and front sight, and aiding in consistent alignment, especially at longer distances. Here’s a more detailed explanation of the benefits:

Improved Accuracy and Consistency:
By restricting the field of view to a small aperture, peep sights force the shooter to focus on the front sight and the target, leading to more precise alignment and consistent shots.
Enhanced Focus:
The small aperture of a peep sight helps to sharpen the shooter’s focus, making it easier to see and center the front sight and the target.
Confirmation of Anchor Point:
A peep sight provides a visual confirmation that the shooter is anchored correctly, which is crucial for consistent and accurate shots.
Better Sight Picture:
Peep sights allow for a clearer and more precise sight picture, as the shooter can focus on both the front sight and the target simultaneously.
Longer Distance Accuracy:
Peep sights are particularly beneficial for longer-distance shooting, as they help to maintain accuracy by ensuring consistent alignment of the front sight with the target.
Low Light Performance:
While a small aperture can improve accuracy, larger peep sights can be used in low-light conditions to allow more light through, according to Bowhunter

Who Makes Good Peep Sights?

There are many good sight manufacturers out there that produce peep sights. I really like Skinner Sights style of peep sights on my Henry lever guns, I have a .30-30, and .45-70 caliber rifles that I use with these sights. (upper picture) they are nicely made and work excellent on these rifles, I also use Williams Sight Company’s 5D peep sight on my Winchester 94 (.30-30), I would rather use the Skinner version but I have run into some issues in getting them ready for those sights. Lastly I use the XS Sight System on my Mossberg shotgun, I have their XS night sights on my pump shotguns (12 gauge)(Lower picture). This way the lever guns work great in the daytime and the shotguns work great at night.

Are these the only ones that are good – absolutely not! These are just the ones I am partial to. What are some other sight manufacturers to consider:

- Redfield
- Lyman
- Marbles Arms
- NECG (New England Custom Gun)
- Traditions
- AirForce.

This is not a inclusive list but they are some of the better sight companies out there.

How Do You Decide Which One To Buy?

Now that you have a few peep sights to choose from, how do you decide which one to buy?

- I like to start by doing some research on each of the peep sights and start to narrow down your list to two or so.
- Make sure that you read the reviews so you can get others opinions about those sights.
- Go talk to a few of your favorite gun shops and get their perspective on their favorites.

Once that you have this information about each sight, the decision is now yours, Will they work for you? I like to rank the sights, this helps me determine which sight is best for my application.

Should I Install It Myself Or Go To A Gunsmith?

The factor that helps me determine the answer to this question is the amount of gunsmithing necessary in the installation. If there is very little gunsmithing necessary then it is something that most people can do. But if it requires some steps that only a gunsmith can do then maybe it is a good idea to have them complete the job.

One thing that helps any installation these days is YouTube. Know matter what you are wanting to do, there is probably a YouTube segment about that subject. So installing peep sights would be no difference, there is a good chance that that someone has installed the exact peep sight that you are wanting to use. After watching this video you will know whether you want to do the installation yourself of pay someone else to do it.

Final Comments

Peep sights have been around for a long time and are used for many different applications. Peep sights, also known as aperture sights, are aiming devices that enhance accuracy, particularly at longer ranges, by providing a more precise sight picture. They are used on both rifles, shotguns and bows, and offer several advantages over traditional open sights.

But for me the main reason for using them is they are often recommended for shooters with “old eyes” because they can improve focus and accuracy by leveraging how the human eye naturally centers itself within the aperture. The small hole of the peep sight helps to sharpen the image of the front sight and target, making it easier to align and acquire the target.

Here’s why peep sights are considered beneficial for older eyes:

Automatic centering:
The eye naturally centers itself within the peep sight’s aperture, simplifying sight alignment.
Sharper focus:
The small hole in the peep sight acts like a camera lens, increasing depth of field and creating a sharper image of both the front sight and the target.
Reduced eye strain:
By simplifying the alignment process, peep sights can reduce the effort required to focus on the sights, potentially alleviating eye strain.
Longer sight radius:
Peep sights can be mounted further back on the rifle, increasing the distance between the front and rear sights (the sight radius). A longer sight radius generally leads to greater accuracy.

Essentially, peep sights can help overcome the challenges that aging eyes may face with traditional open sights, making them a popular choice for shooters of all ages and particularly those with presbyopia (age-related farsightedness).

If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC), feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

All the best,

Larry

Founder of EDC Essentials

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025

CIVIVI QUBIT POCKET FOLDING KNIFE

Product Review

Nice Folding Knife

Product: CIVIVI Qubit Pocket Folding Knife

Price: $66.90

Durability: High

Best Place To Buy This Product: Amazon.com

My Overall Rating: 9.0

Quick Product Overview:

- High-performance 14C28N Blade: Offers outstanding corrosion resistance, edge retention, and effortless cutting.
- Innovative Bottle Opener: Allows for quick and easy bottle opening, making it a great addition to any everyday carry.
- Two Way To Open: Pocket knife features a button lock and thumb stud opener, providing you with two effortless and efficient ways to open it.
- Fidget-Friendly: This folding knife is not just a tool for cutting, it also doubles as a fidget toy when you are focusing or just watching TV.
- Precision-Crafted Lightweight Handle: Aluminum handle is both strong and lightweight, sleek art design making it not only a functional tool but also a work of art.
- Reversible Discreet Carry: Deep-carry pocket clip suitable for both left and right-handed users.

Specifications Of This Product:

Package Dimensions	6.03 x 2.52 x 1.26 inches
Item Weight	0.003 ounces
Department	unisex-adult
Manufacturer	Civivi
ASIN	B0BYNQWJ9X
Item model number	C22030E-1
Customer Reviews	(1,106) 4.6 out of 5 stars
Best Sellers Rank	#13,813 in Tools & Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement) #38 in Pocket Knives & Folding Knives
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No

What I Like About This Product:

This CIVIVI Folder is razor-sharp and feels great in the hand. This knife opens and closes smoothly with the button lock mechanism. This is a great EDC option. I like the appearance of this knife, it looks really cool, keep in mind there are 4 different color options on Amazon. This knife appears to be very high quality and seems to be very durable. So far it seems to hold an edge very well through moderate use.

What I Would Change About This Product:

Nothing right now.

Final Remarks:

I was introduced to CIVIVI Knives just last year and and I am impressed with these knives. The quality is high and the materials used in these knives is really very good. I enjoy getting a very good knife at a reasonable price, and that is true for CIVIVI knives. This CIVIVI Qubit knife spells quality all the way and that is not bad for $67.00. This knife opens with a flick of the thumb stud or pushing the button and flicking the wrist to open. It works pretty slick! For those of you that use a bottle opener, this knife has you covered. The knife came razor-sharp so I did not have to touch it up with my ceramic stone. The 14C28N blade material seems to hold an edge very well. Another nice feature is that the knife clip is reversible for left or right handed users. So if you would like a very nice knife at a reasonable price, give this one a try.

If you are interested in this product, click here. If you are interested in similar products, click on the link below and it will take you to my EDC Folding Knives page, Thanks for reading this product review.

Go To EDC Folding Knives.

If you have any questions about this product review or anything else related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thanks,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

June 26, 2025June 26, 2025

CIVIVI TIMBERBARK FIXED BLADE KNIFE

Product Review

Excellent Knife

Product: CIVIVI Timberbark EDC Fixed Blade Knife

Price: $63.75

Durability: High

Best Place To Buy This Product: Amazon.com

My Overall Rating: 9.0

Quick Product Overview:

- Durable Full Tang Design: CIVIVI Timberbark fixed blade knife features a full tang design ensuring superior strength and durability, ideal for hunting or outdoor adventures
- Swedish 14C28N Blade: Crafted from high-quality 14C28N stainless steel, this EDC fixed blade knife provides excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening
- Ergonomic Wood Handle: Designed with a natural, comfortable Wood handle, it provides a secure grip for extended use, featuring precise jimping for blade control and finger grooves for better grip
- Multiple Carry Options: Equipped with a kydex sheath, adjustable clip and lanyard, this fixed blade knife allows you to attach it on your belt, backpack

Specifications Of This Product:

Model Number: C23094-4
Model Name: Timberbark
Product Type: Fixed Blade
Overall Length: 6.89″ / 175mm
Width: 1.2″ / 30.6mm
Blade Length: 3.2″ / 81.2mm
Cutting Edge Length: 2.75″ / 69.8mm
Handle Length: 3.69″ / 93.8mm
Blade Thickness: 0.12″ / 3mm
Handle Thickness: 0.39″ / 10mm
Knife Weight (With Lanyard): 3.02oz / 85.7g
Blade Material: 14C28N
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin Finished
Blade Type: Drop Point
Handle Material: Guibourtia Wood

What I Like About This Product:

This CIVIVI Fixed Blade Knife is made of real quality materials and the construction is excellent. The knife was razor sharp right out of the box sharpness, and it seems to hold a good edge. The blade shape is really good for a EDC knife, the handle length works out really well for average to smaller hands, but folks with large hands may be kind of tight. This knife comes with an excellent Kydex sheath, it fits very tight and will not come out unless you want it too..

What I Would Change About This Product:

Nothing right now.

Final Remarks:

The CIVIVI Timberbark EDC Fixed Blade Knife is really a nice knife. It is extremely sharp right out of the box and holds a good edge. There are four different color options for you to choose from and they all are pretty cool. This would make a great EDC knife for those of you that like a fixed blade knife. The Kydex sheath is really nice and secure for this knife and can be carried in many different carry positions which is a nice touch. I would recommend this knife completely.

If you are interested in this product, click here. If you are interested in similar products, click on the link below and it will take you to my EDC Fixed Blade Knives page, Thanks for reading this product review.

Go To EDC Fixed Blade Knives.

If you have any questions about this product review or anything else related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thanks,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

June 19, 2025June 23, 2025

CIVIVI ELEMENTUM II POCKET FOLDING KNIFE

Product Review

Pretty “Slick” Folder

Product: CIVIVI Elementum II Pocket Folding Knife

Price: $65.00

Durability: High

Best Place To Buy This Product: Amazon.com

My Overall Rating: 9.0

Quick Product Overview:

Flipper opener with a ceramic ball bearing pivot ensures a smooth and reliable action. It helps rapidly and safely deploy the blade and is secured in place via a button lock, so you can cut and slice with confidence.
This pocket knife is easy to use, suitable for all adults, also can be a nice gift to a friend whether they’re into knives or not. Its excellent sharp blade and handle style effectively perform everyday tasks.
Lightweight handle offers a secure grip, fits comfortablely in hand, knife with a deep carry pocket clip for right handed carry.
Use it to open boxes, cut rope, sharpen pencils , utility outdoor hunting camping folding knife for men.

Specifications Of This Product:

Recommended Uses For Product	Hunting, Camping
Brand Name	CIVIVI
Model Name	Elementum II
Age Range Description	Adult
Included Components	C18062P-2
Model Number	C18062P-2
Manufacturer	WeKnife
UPC	763416245785
Customer Reviews	(1,810) 4.7 out of 5 stars
Best Sellers Rank	#4,355 in Tools & Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement) #11 in Pocket Knives & Folding Knives
ASIN	B0BMQBJQ3B
Item Type Name	CIVIVI C18062P-2 Button Lock Elementum II Natural G10 Handle
Item Height	0.01 inches

Special Features	Folding
Power Source	Manual Winding
Hand Orientation	Right Hand
Blade Shape	Point
Blade Edge	Plain
Is Product Cordless	Yes
Reusability	Reusable

What I Like About This Product:

This folder is easy to open and close and feels great in your hand. The Nitro-v steel seems to be pretty good steel, it holds an edge pretty well but when necessary it is easy to sharpen. This is a very good all-around knife, that would work excellent for your EDC needs.

What I Would Change About This Product:

I like it the way it is.

Final Remarks:

The CIVIVI Elementum II Pocket Folding Knife is a very good knife. The handle is made of G10 and it is textured nicely so you can keep it in your hand easily. The blade shape is a good drop point blade with a hollow point grind that keeps a good edge. I like the flipper mechanism on this knife, it works easily and quickly. It does feel very good in your hand and I got not “hot spots” when I used it. There are many different color combinations on this knife so you might check it out for yourself.

Go To EDC Folding Knives.

If you have any questions about this product review or anything else related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thanks,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

June 10, 2025June 10, 2025

What Type Of Gun Safe Do You Like?

If you have firearms at home then you need to have some type of gun safe to keep them in. A desk drawer or a cabinet some place is not very secure. So then what type of gun safe should you have? There are so many varieties of gun safes on the market today and some times it can be almost overwhelming trying to decide which one to buy. This article will explore some of the gun safes that are available and see if this can help you with your decision.

What Type Of Gun Safes Are There?

Some people really like the big, huge gun safes that take up a lot of room and have many compartments for about anything you desire to put in them. They are great except they are also extremely heavy and may take a forklift to set it in place. Then there are lighter gun safes that are more modular and can be put together on a wall to hold whatever you desire. There are small handgun safes that can fit in a drawer or in your care to keep your handguns safe. And then there are Hide away wall safes that can be hidden and mounted in your wall. Let’s look at each of these and give you a better idea.

Large Heavy Traditional Gun Safes

When many people think of a gun safe, they think of the large traditional Gun safes that are multi compartmentalized and hold 20 plus long guns and many handguns as well. These safes utilize a keypad and/or combination in order to lock and open their doors. Inside they have a carpeted interior with adjustable shelving that will fit anyone’s needs. The one negative thing about these safes is that they are very heavy. Some of the common brand names are AMSEC (American Security, Browning, Liberty Safes, Fort Knox, Hollan, Gunvault, Gardall, Mesa, Ironman, and Mountain House.

Small Lighter Modular Gun Safes

I named these gun safes “smaller, lighter, modular” gun safes , because they are meant to be bolted to the floor & wall and they can be placed in a clothes closet, utility closet or even a food pantry. Now why would you desire to place a gun safe in any of these locations? The object of this type of gun safe is to put them in more than one location in your home. Then if a situation occurs, you do not have to go to one central location in order to get a rifle or handgun. This type of gun safe can be placed any where in your home. These gun safes can hold many long guns and handguns, or only a couple long guns and hand guns, to suit your needs. But you can also put them together in one place to have a modular, multiple gun cabinets setup. It can work however you need it too. Now they usually have a biometric lock mechanism for quicker gun access. There are quite a few companies that offer this type of gun safe: Hornady, Snapsafe, Steelhead Outdoors, but my favorite is Secure-it. They have many to choose from and if they do not have what you want then it may not be available. It breaks the traditional idea about gun safes but it is definitely worth thinking about.

Small Portable Handgun Safes

There are many companies that make small portable handgun safes for your home, when trying to decide what you need, these are things to consider:

- Locking mechanism: Electronic, biometric, or key lock.
- Security features: Heavy-duty construction, theft resistance, and fire protection.
- Accessibility: Quick access for emergencies.
- Size and placement: Suitable for the space you have available and the location you choose for the safe.

Once you have made up your mind about what you are looking for then you might look at AMSEC, Stealth, Liberty, V-Line, Browning, Hornady, BILLCONCH, RPNB, Fort Knox, just to name a few. At the same time you are looking at manufacture’s, you also need to look at styles of handgun safes. and the location where they would fit best. All these possibilities will help you decide what would work best for you.

Vehicle Gun Safes

Once you get your home safe for your firearms all setup then you need to consider your vehicles. The days of throwing your handgun in your glovebox or under the seat is not the best thing to do these days. Even tossing it in your trunk is not the safest thing to do. You don’t want your handgun rattling around in the trunk.

There are many different companies that make vehicle handgun safes, here are just a few: Fort Knox, SnapSafe, Vaultek, V-line, Hornady, and Stealth Safes. Many of these are sold at Amazon so that is something to consider if you are in the market for a vehicle gun safe. I purchased one from Amazon, MADOATS Car Gun Safe, and it was pretty darn cool and works really well for my pickup. I don’t use it a lot but it is always there incase I need to lock my handgun in my truck. You never know when you are going to the post office, other federal building or need to go inside a school and those are some places that do not allow firearms. If you carry your handgun you should definitely have a secure way to lock up your handgun.

Final Comments

There are many types of gun safes, as you have seen from this article. Is this article fully inclusive of all types of gun safes – No! But it gives you a good idea of what is out there. It does not really matter which type of gun safe that you have, the main thing is that you need one that works for you. It is not like the old days when guns were hung over the mantle/fireplace or stuffed in a cabinet somewhere.

Because of the many accidental shootings that have occurred lately, we need to take the responsibility to lock up all of our forearms so that small children or visitors to your home can not have easy access to our guns, This means the owners of firearms need to find some type of gun safe to lock up all their guns to keep them safe and out of harms way. With all these types of gun safes to choose from, it make things much more versatile to find something that really meets our needs.

I hope this article has got you thinking about gun safes. If you already have a gun safe – Great! If you do not have one yet then its time to start doing some research about gun safes and find out what type of gun safe would work best for you. If you have any questions, please ask me and I would be glad to help you any way I can. Just put your question in the comment section below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC), feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

All the best,

Larry

Founder of EDC Essentials

June 3, 2025June 23, 2025

GANZO G769-BK EDC Folding Pocket Knife

Product Review

Nice EDC Folder

Product: Ganzo G769-BK EDC Pocket Knife

Price: $25.95

Durability: High

Best Place To Buy This Product: Amazon.com

My Overall Rating: 9.0

Quick Product Overview:

Folding knife with D2 stainless alloy blade. Its hardness is 60 HRC and the steel holds an edge well. It offers outstanding corrosion resistance, edge retention, and effortless cutting.
G10 is very durable composite material. It is stronger than usual plastic, although it looks like it. This material does not fade in the sun, is not susceptible to water, can withstand severe mechanical stress. It has reversible deep-carry pocket clip and a lanyard hole for EDC.
The folder has a perfectly plain and smoothly sharpened cutting edge. D2 steel keeps the sharpening well and for a long time. You don’t need to sharpen your pocket knife often.
The lock installed in the G769 folding knife is called Liner lock. It has a very simple design, however, this lock is considered one of the most reliable and safety.
This knife is recommended for trips to nature, as well as auxiliary use in urban environments. It will be useful to perform almost any work, which means that it is the best fit for tourists, fishermen, athletes and all other active people.

Specifications Of This Product:

Uses For Product	Camping
Brand Name	Firebird
Model Name	G769-BK
Age Range Description	Adult
Included Components	Pocket Clip
Model Number	G769-BK
Manufacturer	Ganzo
UPC	860011811350
Customer Reviews	(19) 4.4 out of 5 stars

ASIN	B0DBVWY3TT

Blade Length	3.5 Inches
Item Weight	135 Grams
Item Length	8 Inches

What I Like About This Product:

This knife has great balance and feel in your hand. The blade locks open every time, without any issues. D2 stainless steel seems to hold the edge pretty well, so far.

What I Would Change About This Product:

Nothing at this point

Final Remarks:

The Ganzo G769-BK is a great value for a $26 dollar knife. I like the way it feels in your hand and the blade shape is pretty nice. I am vey partial to black handles, satin finish blades on a knife and this one fits the bill. You might think about trying this out, it would be a great EDC knife.

Go To EDC Folding Knives.

If you have any questions about this product review or anything else related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thanks,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

May 5, 2025April 30, 2025

XS SIGHTS, F8 NIGHT SIGHTS

Product Review

Nice Night Sights

Product: XS Sights, F8 Night Sights

Price: $109.00

Durability: High

Best Place To Buy This Product: Amazon

My Overall Rating: 9.5

Quick Product Overview:

F8 sights are taller than traditional night sights on the market for a more natural sight alignment and can serve as backup iron sights for some pistol reflex sights. (call 888-744-4880 for specific models) F8 night sights give you the best notch and post sight solution for visibility in all lighting conditions and incorporation with new reflex technology. The 2-Dot alignment system simplifies the rear and draws focus to the front sight.

Specifications Of This Product:

F8 Night sights are designed to increase front sight focus by using a large 0.160”,
High-contrast front post for fast sight acquisition.
The front is paired with a 0.190” wide-notch rear sight to allow for greater visibility of the front post in decreasing light levels.
The front sight’s equipped with our Ember glow dot that absorbs light and glows in low light levels before tritium becomes visible.

What I Like About This Product:

I like the height of the sights, almost suppressor height. The sights are easy to see and the front sights are very easy to pick up in low light conditions. I am not a big fan of 3-dot sight systems, so the 2-dot system works well for me.

What I Would Change About This Product:

As of right now, I would not change anything about them. I have only had them on my handgun for a short time. Once I use them for a while longer I might change my mind.

Final Remarks:

I found these night sights very easy to install, I used my VISM sight pusher and it worked well. I also found these sights even easier to “pick up” in low light, and more usable than any other gun sight I have tried on my other handguns. F8 Sights are high visibility pistol sights that are designed for fast target acquisition. The coolest feature of these sights was the fact that they handled changing light conditions very easily. I recommend these night sights very highly.

If you are interested in this product, click here. Thanks for reading this product review.

If you have any questions about this product review or anything else related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thanks,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

April 29, 2025April 30, 2025

WILLIAMS 5D WINCHESTER 94/36 PEEP SIGHT

Product Review

Very Nice Peep Sight

Product: Williams 5D Winchester 94/36 Peep Sight

Price: $39.90

Durability: High

Best Place To Buy This Product: Amazon.com

My Overall Rating: 9.0

Quick Product Overview:

- 5D SERIES RECEIVER SIGHTS – For Big Game guns, fits Winchester 94 Top eject, 55, 63, 64, 65, 9422; sidedrilled Marlin 36, 336, 444, 44mag, 93, 1894, 1895, 1895G pre 2001
- ADJUSTABLE – Positive Windage and Elevation Locks
- MATERIALS – High-grade alloy is finished with an anodize in a deep blue-black that adds even further to the strength of the sight by creating an extra hard surface
- LIGHTWEIGHT, STRONG, ACCURATE – Designed for rugged hunting use, the 5D sights are dependable and accurate

Specifications Of This Product:

Brand	‎Williams
Color	‎Black
Style	‎5D Series 94/36 Receiver Peep Sight – 1398
Sport	‎Hunting
Material	‎High-grade alloy
Magnification Minimum	‎8 x
Compatible Devices	‎Rifle
Mounting Type	‎Dovetail Mount
Night vision	‎No
Model Name	‎5D Series 94/36 Receiver Peep Sight – 1398
Manufacturer	‎Williams
Reticle Type	‎Peep
UPC	‎053506013982
Item Package Dimensions L x W x H	‎7.13 x 5 x 2.13 inches
Package Weight	‎0.06 Kilograms
Brand Name	‎Williams
Suggested Users	‎unisex-adult
Number of Items	‎1
Part Number	‎1398
Included Components	‎1 item

What I Like About This Product:

The Williams 5D Winchester 94/36 Peep Sight is easy to install and easy to use, while the windage and elevation adjustments are not “click” adjustments, they still work very easy. The peep is a good size for normal use and depending on the front sight that you have, it is very easy to see. Plus most Winchester’s or Marlin’s have the holes drilled and tapped so you just remove the plug screws and you are ready to install the Williams sight right away.

What I Would Change About This Product:

It would have been nice to have a couple of different apertures that came with the sight but they can be purchased if you need something different.

Final Remarks:

You might wonder why I am reviewing a rifle peep sights on a everyday carry website? Well many times my lever action Winchester 94 is part of my everyday carry gear. Either around my home acreage or in my pickup when I am scoping-out predators who are taking my livestock.

So let’s get back to this article: Peep sights are much more accurate then the semi-buckhorn sights that come with a Winchester 94, in my opinion. Especially as your eyes get older! Looking through the aperture to the front sight is much easier then the semi-buckhorn sight. You only need to look through the rear aperture at the front sight and your eye automatically centers the front sight in that aperture. Nice! Plus adding a peep sight gives you about 9 inches more sight radius which helps your accuracy. So I feel it is the best thing for iron sights. The only thing is you will more than likely need to install a taller front sight on your rifle before it will work correctly. But that is not a big deal, you can do it yourself, it just takes a punch & mallet and a little time to get it all setup. I highly recommend this sight for any Winchester or Marlin lever action rifle.

If you are interested in this product, click here. Thanks for reading this product review.

If you have any questions about this product review or anything else related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

Thanks,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

April 19, 2025April 29, 2025

How Do You Break-In A New Handgun or Rifle?

This is a very controversial subject and there are many points of view, some people feel it very important and others think that it is a complete waste of time. You can contact most of the gun manufacturers and they will not even mention anything about “Break-in Procedures”. So, what do you think? Is it important or not? Maybe my comments will help you decide, Let’s talk about it.

Is Breaking In A New Handgun Or Rifle Important?

Well I have done a lot of research about this subject and here is what I think: If I purchase a new handgun or rifle, I want it to operate to the best of its ability. If I am spending my hard-earned money on a firearm then you can bet I will do whatever it takes to make it operate at its best. If by chance going through certain break-in procedures will give my handgun or rifle a better chance to operate well, I am not going to ignore those really good procedures that might make it operate better just because some people say it is a waste of time. I will admit, some people do go way overboard in their break-in procedures so I have combined some procedures which make sense to me and have come up with what I think will work well as break-in procedures and I thought they might be of interest to you.

What Supplies Are Necessary To Carry Out A Break In Procedure?

- A Good Rifle Cleaning Rod
- A Good Handgun Cleaning Rod
- An OTIS Gun Cleaning Kit for handguns and rifles
- Hoppes #9 Solvent
- Non-Ammonia-based Solvent
- Break-free CLP
- Cleaning patches
- Kroil Oil

My Handgun Break-In Procedures

The first thing to do after you purchase a new handgun is read your handgun manual, you will get a lot of great insight about your new handgun. Even if you have other handguns, you need to know that handgun inside and out. Next, make certain that your handgun is unloaded: remove the magazine, work your action 5 or 6 times to make certain there are no bullets in your gun. Now place you finger in the chamber to verify that it is unloaded.

Next step – you need to examine your handgun, check things over to see if there are any visible problems or concerns before you shoot it and so you will be able to tell if things change after you shoot it. First, field-strip your handgun and remove all oil and grease on the inside and outside of your handgun using Hoppes #9 and a brush and cloth. Make sure that you remove excessive lube, Some of the lube is there as a preservative, but in some cases, some of it is there to facilitate break in and you don’t necessarily want to strip it all off.

When this is done, reassemble your handgun and generously lube as directed by your gun manual. (Drop of oil on each side rail, drop of oil on the barrel hood, drop of oil on the outside of the barrel and spread around, then rack the slide several times). Wipe down the whole exterior of the handgun. Now its time for the range,

Get your favorite bullets (usually FMJ), they recommend shooting at least 200 rounds through your handgun before it is broken-in. I like to shoot my 200 rounds in smaller groups: 25, 25, 50, 50, and 50. I clean my handgun using an Otis cable system in between each of those groups when I am breaking in my handgun so I will get rid of any fouling that’s in the barrel. Remember, during this break-in procedure a handgun might have some hiccups, or malfunctions when you are first shooting it. So be prepared for that and just work through them and see if they go away after a few more bullets have been fired through it.

Once your 200 rounds have been shot, take your handgun home and repeat the field stripping and gun cleaning, as described above. Check for excessive wear, see if anything changed, and then reapply lube where applicable based on the manufacturer’s guidance and based on where you see wear and reassembly your handgun. Next time at the range I wouldn’t expect to see any malfunctions.

FMJ bullets is a great bullet to use as practice ammo. They usually feed very reliable and are more economical to shoot. Once your handgun has completed the break-in procedures, make sure to also shoot your self defense bullets through your handgun, you need to make sure that they cycle through your handgun consistently and make sure you can shoot them well before you use them in a situation to protect your life.

My Centerfire Rifle Break-In Procedures

As with your handgun, the first thing to do is read through your rifle manual so you learn all about it. Before you do anything with your rifle you must check to see that it is completely unloaded. If you have a magazine – remove it. Then work your action 5 or 6 times to eject any bullets that might be in your gun. Then visually check the chamber and magazine area for any bullets and then place your finger in there to verify that it is clear.

Now you can examine your rifle completely for any issues, problems, or blockage, then examine your rifle to make certain that it is unloaded. Then disassemble your rifle placing all your small parts in a container (so they don’t get lost), and the large parts can be placed in order on your gun cleaning mat. Then clean each piece (large and small parts) to remove any grease or oil left behind by the manufacturer and place them back on the mat or container for reassembly.

My next step is to scrub the barrel, wrap a slightly undersize bore brush with a patch, wet the patch with a non-ammonia-based solvent, and scrub that barrel, from breech to muzzle, then remove brush from rod and remove the rod from barrel, put brush back on rod and then do that 15 or 20 passes. (Do not go back and forth in the barrel, only one direction from breech to muzzle).

Next, switch to a proper-fitting jag and clean the barrel with patches dampened with Hoppes #9 solvent, and push them through the bore, breech to muzzle, let the solvent sit in the bore for a few minutes and then switch to dry patches and clean again until they come out clean.

Once this procedure is completed, it is time to reassemble your rifle and add lubricant as suggested by your owners manual. During the break-in procedures I add a bit more lubrication to my rifles while things are initially working together as there is more friction going on until the rough edges get a bit smoother. Make certain to wipe the exterior of your rifle down very well before proceeded to the next step. Now its time to shoot your rifle:

The shooting portion of this break-in procedures is made up of a series of shooting and cleaning after a certain number of bullets have been fired. This helps minimize any buildup of gun powder residues to keep the barrel clean: First shoot 1 single shot, and clean the barrel using an Otis cable system until it is clean, then apply a thin layer of Kroil oil, It’s a penetrating oil that’s proven exceptionally good for seasoning the inside of rifle barrels. This helps prevent the fouling from sticking. Also begin to zero your rifle as you shoot these first 5 shots so you should be dead on target. Then shoot 4 more single shots and clean the barrel after every shot, and also apply Kroil oil as before. Once those first five shots have been fired and cleaned, then begin to shoot 3 groups of 5 bullets and clean after every 5-shot group. Also apply the Kroil oil as before. Once these last three 5-shot groups have been shot and cleaned, your break-in period is complete. Take your rifle home and clean it completely so you are ready for more shooting.

Bullet selection is up to you and your pocket book for use. If you choose to use jacketed bullets then break in with jacketed bullets. This break-in procedure takes 20 shots, once complete, you are ready for normal shooting.

But no matter how many bullets you shoot from here on out always, always, always clean your rifle after every shooting session. Then lube, all moving parts, wipe down your gun with rag that containing Break Free on it, or use the Otis wipes, this includes your stock and other parts, etc. Finally, run a patch through the bore with Break Free on it and put it away in storage.

My Rimfire Rifle Break-in Procedures

Again, always begin with reading your rifle manual to learn everything about that rifle. The first thing to do is make certain that your rifle is unloaded, if you have a magazine – remove it. Then work your action 5 or 6 times to eject any bullets that might be in your gun. Then visually check the chamber and magazine area for any bullets and then place your finger in there to verify that it is clear. Now check the entire rifle for problems then, disassemble your rifle placing all your parts in a container so they don’t get lost and clean each piece inside and out to remove any grease or oil left behind by the manufacturer. Pay special attention to the bolt, breech face, action, chamber, throat & crown may need slightly more attention.

Next step is to pre-Scrub your barrel, wrap a slightly undersize bore brush with a patch, wet the patch with a non-ammonia-based solvent, and scrub that barrel, from breech to muzzle, then remove brush from rod and remove the rod from barrel, put brush back on rod and then do that 10 to 15 passes. (Do not go back and forth in the barrel, only one direction from breech to muzzle). Next we scrub your barrel: Switch to a proper-fitting jag and clean the barrel with patches dampened with Hoppes #9 solvent, and push them through the bore, breech to muzzle, let the solvent sit in the bore for a few minutes and then switch to dry patches until they come out clean. Once this procedure is completed, it is time to reassemble your rifle and add lubricant as suggested by your owners manual, lastly, wipe down the entire exterior of the rifle to make sure it is clean.

Now its time to shoot your rifle, get your favorite 22 long rifle ammo, load your magazine and begin shooting your rifle: 10 round group, 20-round group, 20-round group, 50-round group and a final 50-round group. Run an Otis cable cleaning system through your barrel after each 10, 20, 20, 50, and 50 round groups using a brush with Hoppes #9 solvent (let it set for a few minutes) then run clean patches through the barrel until they’re clean and then go to the next group of shooting. As you are shooting your first groups you also need to zero your sights, that way you will be dead-on target before you complete your break-in period. When you have gone through 150 bullets your break-in period is complete for rimfire rifles. Now it is time to clean your rifle completely using Hoppes #9 solvent, Break Free CLP and Gun Butter for a final lube then either put it away for storage or go out and shoot some more.

Final Comments

As I said, I spent a lot of time doing research about this subject, mixing and adjusting information to come up with what I think is a pretty good set of procedures for breaking-in your firearm. I would be very interested in hearing what you think about these procedures. Do you like them? Hate them? Think they are a joke? So far they have worked very well for me and so I will continue using these procedures. I would really enjoy your feedback. Thanks for reading this article.

If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC), feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

All the best,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials

March 31, 2025April 29, 2025

How Do You Paint Your Handgun Or Rifle Sights?

I bought some new front sights from Skinner Sights for two of my rifles, they come completely black and I wanted to paint part of them white so I thought this would be a good subject for another article. If you need some new sights for your firearms be sure to check them out Skinner Sights, they are an awesome company and their customer service is the best in the business, their website is skinnersights.com . Since the sights that I purchased have not been installed on my rifle, I just painted them first before I installed them, but you can do it eight way. Although, I would not remove my sights just to paint them, keep them on your handgun or rifle.

A gun is only as good as the sights that they have on that gun. Good sights lead to a good sight picture and therefore helps you hit what you are aiming at. While this article is mainly about painting your gun sights and improving your sight picture, there are also some other options that we will touch on here as well. But let’s get back to our topic and see just how easy it is to upgrade your handgun or rifle sights to give you that GOOD SIGHT PICTURE.

Is Painting Your Sights Your Only Option To Upgrade Them?

Painting your sights is not your only option, but it is a good choice most of the time and it can be done . What are some of your other options for handguns or rifles?: Fiber Optics and Night Sights are two of your main competitors when it comes to improving your sights.

Fiber optic sights offer advantages in bright to moderate lighting conditions by providing a clear, bright, and easily visible aiming point, potentially aiding in faster target acquisition and shooting. However, they rely on ambient light, making them less effective in total darkness compared to night sights that glow with tritium.

What are fiber optic sights made of?:

- The core of the fiber optic strand is typically made of glass (often silica) or plastic (like PMMA).
- The core is surrounded by a cladding, a layer that reflects light back into the core, enabling efficient light propagation.
- The fiber optic strand absorbs ambient light and channels it to the front sight post, creating a bright and illuminated aiming point.
- Fiber optic sights are often available in colors like red, green, and yellow.
- While the fiber optic strands themselves are delicate, the sights are designed with durable housings to protect them.
- When light strikes the fiber optic strand at an angle less than the critical angle, it travels down the fiber without leaking out. This process, called total internal reflection, concentrates the light at the end of the fiber, resulting in a bright, illuminated sight.

Night Sights in no way distract from acquiring the dot. However they also offer no benefit. When it’s dark enough to need the night sights your dot will be way brighter. Then when using any white light to identify a target the night sights will wash out and not be able to be seen. Night sights, designed for low-light visibility, typically utilize tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, which emits beta radiation that excites phosphor material, causing it to glow.

What are night sights made of?:

- Tritium is a radioactive gas encapsulated in a small, durable glass vial.
- The beta particles emitted by the tritium interact with a phosphor material, causing it to glow.
- The glow provides a self-illuminated sight picture in low-light conditions, allowing shooters to accurately aim their firearms.

- Tritium has a half-life of approximately 12.5 years, meaning that after that time, the sights will emit half as much light as they did when new.

- Tritium is a low-energy beta emitter, and the small amount used in night sights is considered safe and poses no external dose hazard.

- Some sights use fiber optics, which are illuminated by ambient light, rather than tritium, and can be a good option for well-lit environments.

- The color of the emitted light can be manipulated by using different phosphors, allowing for a range of colors, such as green, yellow, orange, or red.
  
  While these two options are very good, they are also much more expensive. But I had to mention them so you would understand that there are other options. So let’s get back to painting our sights.

What Supplies Are Needed To Paint Your Sights?

I am going to look at what I normally use to paint my gun sights, but I will give you another option if you would like it. The methods are the same but the paint options are different. I use a good quality spray paint to paint my sights but there are other options, model paint or fingernail polish works too. I like the way spray paint flows on your serrations, model paint or fingernail polish is very thick to work with. A very easy option is to use Sight Paint Pens from Birchwood Casey that work great but they are a lot more expensive. If you have quite a few sights to re-paint this might be an option, but for only one or two sights it is a bit high in cost.

Method #1:

- Krylon satin white spray paint, model paint, fingernail polish
- Cup (for spray paint)
- Isopropyl Alcohol or Brake Cleaner
- Q-tips or Cleaning cloth
- Blue masking tape
- Scissors
- Toothpicks or small foam paint brush (not bristle-type)
- XACTO knife-sharp blade (Optional)

Method #2:

- Birchwood Casey Sight Pens (White, Orange & Green)

How Do You Prepare The Areas That You Want To Paint?

Preparation for both methods will be the same:

1. Dip your Q-tips in some Isopropyl Alcohol and wipe down the sight that you are going to pain. If there are any serrations that you will be painting, make sure that you get down deep in the serrations so the paint will stick. Then let it dry completely before painting.
2. If you decide to use Brake Cleaner, just spray on the area to be painted and wipe down the area with a Q-tip or cloth. The nice thing about this cleaner is is evaporates very quickly so you do not have to wait very long for it to dry. As I said above, if the sight has serrations, clean them very well so the paint will stick.
3. Next use the Blue Painters Tape to mask around the area that you will be painting. I would rather take some extra time up front to mask the area good so the paint will go where I want it to go rather than drip paint on the side of the sight and then have to scrape the paint off after it is dry. I like to cut the tape in strips and place them around the area to be painted, it is easier that way. (It is very important to make sure the edges of your tape are pressed well.

What Is The Proper Procedure To Paint Gun Sights?

There are two methods that I have used that get you some great results:

Method #1:

- Clean the cup of any debris and then spray the paint inn the cup so you have a nice amount of paint to use.
- Pick up your sight and hold it firmly so it will not slip out of your hands.
- Place the small paint brush in your other hand and touch the brush to the paint until it is well coated. (Some people like to use a toothpick instead of a brush, it depends if you are painting dots or strips).
- Roll the paint brush on the edge of the cup to remove the excess paint from the brush.
- Touch the brush to the area to be painted with little strokes to make sure all surfaces have been painted.
- Once completed, place the sight as flat as possible so the paint does not run some place that you do not want it to.
- Wipe the paint off of the paint brush using an absorbent paper towel so you can re-use the paint brush and not have to get a new one.
- It will take 2-3 coats of white paint to cover a black sight.
- Let the paint dry over night before you do another coat of paint.

Method #2:

- The only difference is to paint using the pens rather then the toothpick you do not need the cup, spray paint or paint brush to paint the sights..

Does Letting The Paint Dry Matter?

When you are doing a procedure such as this, we become anxious and want to move on to the next step. Juse remember yes, it is very important to let your painted sights dry over night before you touch them. If you try to take the masking tape off of the sight before it is dry. the sight may become streaked or smudged and then you will have to do it again. It is now that you will be very glad that you took the extra time to used the Blue Painters Tape around the area that you were painting. Less mistakes!

Final Comments

This method works for both handguns and rifles and the end result is well worth the effort. It take more time to get the supplies together then I doe to paint your sights but having new bright white or whatever color that you decide to paint them, makes all the difference in the world. So if you have a firearm with blacked-out sights or the paint is fading or falling off, now you know how to fix that problem. It is very easy to do and it beats paying a gunsmith to do it for you. Good luck!

If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC), feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

All the best,

Larry

Founder of EDC Essentials