Thanks John. I'll update once I try it without the scope. Thankfully, like its contemporaries, the stock really helps line up the iron sights.

Re rail scopes, it seems you can find them in the US, but I haven't seen one for less than $1K so far. But then they were only on my radar since last week! Somewhere in my boxes of odds and ends is a German rail scope that my wife's uncle gave me when he was divesting some of his gun stuff. He's gone now (Parkinson's), and I've helped the aunt sell off his guns. I'll treasure the 1873 Winchester in 32-20 and a 44-40 Colt SAA that his dad bought from the guy who bought it new from Colt in 1908.

Regards,
Chris