Dovetail front sight

O

Off in the Bushes

New member
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Lethbridge
So on my Browning BL-22 I bent the tip of the front sight. Ordered a replacement, looks identical took it to a gunsmith to remove the old one and install the new but the new one is so loose it just slides right through. Are all sight built to different tolerances? Is it a matter of ordering another that might fit better. What can be done?
 
If it slides in without any wiggle play in the sight, you should be able to peen one side of the sight's dovetail and have it fit snug. If the sight is very undersized, you may have the wrong sight?
 
The replacement ought to be a tad oversized and require some very gentle filing along one edge to allow it to be tapped tight into the dovetail. As it is, I think you have a couple of options- take a flat punch and tap the the top edge of the dovetail down a little to tighten it, then tap the new sight in. (I think this is what tiriaq is suggesting.) Alternately, a very thin metal shim, brass shim stock if you can get it, or even bit of tuna tin or similar, perhaps hammered out thinner, could be put under the sight as it's tapped into place.
 
josquin said:
The replacement ought to be a tad oversized and require some very gentle filing along one edge to allow it to be tapped tight into the dovetail. As it is, I think you have a couple of options- take a flat punch and tap the the top edge of the dovetail down a little to tighten it, then tap the new sight in. (I think this is what tiriaq is suggesting.) Alternately, a very thin metal shim, brass shim stock if you can get it, or even bit of tuna tin or similar, perhaps hammered out thinner, could be put under the sight as it's tapped into place.
Click to expand...

Or the material that is used to wrap the top of cork wine bottles.
 
Off in the Bushes said:
So on my Browning BL-22 I bent the tip of the front sight. Ordered a replacement, looks identical took it to a gunsmith to remove the old one and install the new but the new one is so loose it just slides right through. Are all sight built to different tolerances? Is it a matter of ordering another that might fit better. What can be done?
Click to expand...

If you took it to a smith to fix the sight, I am assuming you don't do much work on your guns? Take it back. the job was obviously not done correctly.

If I am wrong in my assumptions, everyone's advice will work ... pick one. :)

Another option would be to tin the bottom of the new sight (assuming there are no plastic parts, and it's not too loose) that will hold long enough for you to get it centered/zeroed ... this is a .22? it will probably hold forever - but you could just heat it after zeroing to make it more permanent.
 
sean69 said:
If you took it to a smith to fix the sight, I am assuming you don't do much work on your guns? Take it back. the job was obviously not done correctly.

If I am wrong in my assumptions, everyone's advice will work ... pick one. :)

Another option would be to tin the bottom of the new sight (assuming there are no plastic parts, and it's not too loose) that will hold long enough for you to get it centered/zeroed ... this is a .22? it will probably hold forever - but you could just heat it after zeroing to make it more permanent.
Click to expand...

My goal was to do it myself but the sight was so stubborn that I couldn't get it out with a punch and went to the gunsmith to use a sight push. LOL
I am reluctant to pin it as the I was trying to sell the gun. Previously tried to sell it with the damaged sight and everyone was low balling me for it. So I thought I would replace to get ride of the low ballers. I am afraid if I pin it I am going to get the same reaction.
 
As mentioned you can 'upset' the lower surface of the dovetail to cause a slight interference 'fit' with the sight so that the sight fits snug in the dovetail or you can use some brass shim under the sight ... I would try the later first. If the rear sight doesnt have windage adjustment ... you may need to adjust the foresight to zero the rifle
 
Off in the Bushes said:
My goal was to do it myself but the sight was so stubborn that I couldn't get it out with a punch and went to the gunsmith to use a sight push. LOL
I am reluctant to pin it as the I was trying to sell the gun. Previously tried to sell it with the damaged sight and everyone was low balling me for it. So I thought I would replace to get ride of the low ballers. I am afraid if I pin it I am going to get the same reaction.
Click to expand...

hah - no not a typo: "TIN" the bottom of the sight not pin it. the solder will act as a shim until you get it zeroed. (a shim that won't slide around on you)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom