How to tap the front sight over
- Thread starter AL45
- Start date
Hit it with Kroil or similar penetrating oil a day or two before you work on it, and make sure the base or vise you have it resting on is dead solid; folks forget that if the backing isn't solid, lots of the energy you're putting into the punch never makes it to the sight.
Larry
Larry
g.willikers
New member
the sight might have something like lok-tite on it, to prevent unwanted movement.
If the lubricant doesn't help, try gun solvent.
It generally will dissolve most stuff.
If that doesn't help, try carefully applied heat to the sight.
And get a bigger hammer.
If the lubricant doesn't help, try gun solvent.
It generally will dissolve most stuff.
If that doesn't help, try carefully applied heat to the sight.
And get a bigger hammer.
Brass drift punch or even a piece of brass.
The trouble with using a punch is the lack of precision. Unless you're good, you can't get minute of smidgen with a punch. Sight pushers allow for minor movement of the sight.
For trijicon or other night sights, sight pushers are a must. You don't want to break the glass vial.
The trouble with using a punch is the lack of precision. Unless you're good, you can't get minute of smidgen with a punch. Sight pushers allow for minor movement of the sight.
For trijicon or other night sights, sight pushers are a must. You don't want to break the glass vial.
In life there are only two tools necessary, that would be WD-40 and duct tape.
Understand there are things that move and shouldn't and things that should move and don't.
On the things that move and shouldn't use duct tape.
On things that should move and don't, use WD-40.
Those that are good with a hammer have one swing, for precession they use different weight hammers. Then there is the incline plain on the sight adjuster.
F. Guffey
kilimanjaro
New member
You just need to push it a few thousandths, right? While you're letting the oil work, get a board and mount two pieces of aluminium on two sides, ao to fit around the rifle barrel when you place it in the channel thus formed. Drill holes in both flanges to intersect the sight base. Tap threads, and insert a bit of threaded rod in each hole. Shim up the barrel if you need to, then turn both rods to contact with the sight. Then turn one rod into to sight, while relieving the other. This will push the sight over in precise amounts of travel.
Dixie Gunsmithing
Moderator Emeritus
What you need to remember is that some dovetails have a slight taper from right to left, if looking from the rear of the barrel. When driving the sight to the left, it will tighten, but can still be moved a slight amount.
Really, you do not want to move the sight much. What I do, when sighting one, and adjusting a front or rear dovetail sight, is to use a drift punch, preferably one that is wide, and brass. Use a ball pein hammer, around 8 to 12 ounces, and sharply rap the punch, while holding the barrel against a wood benchrest table, or on you leg, so not to scratch the bluing. Afterwards, shoot a couple of rounds to see if that corrected it, and if not give the sight another one to two raps. If you hold the barrel solid in a vise, etc., you will have to use lighter blows from a lighter hammer, as it will cause the sight to move more. If you don't have a brass drift, you can use a steel one, but be sure not to scratch up the barrel, by letting the punch slip.
Really, you do not want to move the sight much. What I do, when sighting one, and adjusting a front or rear dovetail sight, is to use a drift punch, preferably one that is wide, and brass. Use a ball pein hammer, around 8 to 12 ounces, and sharply rap the punch, while holding the barrel against a wood benchrest table, or on you leg, so not to scratch the bluing. Afterwards, shoot a couple of rounds to see if that corrected it, and if not give the sight another one to two raps. If you hold the barrel solid in a vise, etc., you will have to use lighter blows from a lighter hammer, as it will cause the sight to move more. If you don't have a brass drift, you can use a steel one, but be sure not to scratch up the barrel, by letting the punch slip.