Norinco CQA front sight misaligned - works with BUIS, keeping the rifle

geologist

geologist

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
61   0   0
Location
Lower Mainland, BC
The front sight on my CQA is tilted maybe 3- 4 degrees to the right. I have the carry handle sighted in at 50 yards but it is cranked over to the right just about as far as it can go.

Is there any way to rotate the front sight to vertical? I tried a rubber mallet but it didn't budge.

It has those dreaded tapered pins. Is my only option (other than cutting it off and replacing it) to drive out the pins, re-align the front sight and then re-install the tapered pins? Is this possible without hydraulic equipment?
 
Last edited:
if I'm not mistaken, you're screwed. the taper pins will set the front sights position. so even if you take them out, center the sight, once you put them back in, the sight will still be off. As far as I know (and I'm not an AR plumber) you'd need to crank the barrel a bit further into the barrel extension, or slightly more out depending on the way the sight needs to go. shouldn't affect the headspacing as we are only talking a few degrees, but you'll need tools to do it.
 
Hmmm.
If you were to remove the barrel assembly, and remove the index pin from the barrel and barrel extension, it would be possible to adjust the indexing of the barrel in the barrel extension. But replacing the index pin would be problematic. The hole in the barrel wouldn't line up with the hole in the barrel extension.
The front sight assembly couldn't be rotated and the original pins replaced - the tapered holes in front sight base and barrel would be out of alignment. Might be possible to recut the holes and install roll pins.
Perhaps the front sight base could be replaced with a clamp-on unit that could be aligned properly.
BUT, where is the gas port? The hole in the front sight base has to be sufficiently in line with the hole in the barrel for free gas flow. Maybe the barrel is correct and only the front sight base is installed out of index.
I think the easiest solution would be to just ditch the rear sight/carry handle and install an optical sight.
 
geologist said:
Is there any way to rotate the front sight to vertical? I tried a rubber mallet but it didn't budge.
Click to expand...
If you bought if from a dealer, put the mallet down and return it before you void the warranty. If not, a new, clamp-on front sight / gas block. Like this one: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31694/Product/_41_B_FOLDING_FRONT_SIGHT - the pinch-block type should be reliable enough.

Or you could buy a new, unpinned front sight assembly and have a capable AR-15 gunsmith freshly pin it for you.

Don't take the index pin out of the barrel extension. When you rotate the extension, you affect the bolt lockup among other things.
 
I seem to recall similar issues with M305's from Marstar too. It's an annoying PITA but I am sure Marstar will do right by you.

I guess I go luck with mine. I didn't even think to check but the front is aligned fine. I actually was zeroed for windage out of the box with 55 Gn MFS at 100 yards.
 
Send it back.
After a few hundred come back maybe someone will ask the Chinese to focus a little better when screwing on the barrels....
 
No iron clad guarantee for Stags at TSE eh..... Ya Marstar! w:h:

I've bought used guns that were poorly indexed but if I bought one new like that it would be going back for a fix ,exchange or refund.

Are you saying TSE has some for sale that are canted?

If that's the case maybe they are just running a test to see how perceptive their customers are?
Or maybe they haven't noticed..... Did you talk to them about it?
 
You have had some bad luck a Vortex and the Norinco M4. I have both and love them.

Hopefully warranty will cover you because chances are very good you will be happy with it.
 
Yeah I'm batting 1000. ;)

One Shot has already sent me a replacement Vortex. Hopefully it holds up.

I'll send the CQA back to Marstar.

The combo together sure shot well. The CQA from a functional standpoint was great. Even with the canted front sight I was shooting 3/4" groups at 50 yards with the fine aperture in the carry handle.

With the Vortex (before it died), clays at 100 yards would have been fast and easy.
 
Can-down said:
No iron clad guarantee for Stags at TSE eh..... Ya Marstar! w:h:

I've bought used guns that were poorly indexed but if I bought one new like that it would be going back for a fix ,exchange or refund.

Are you saying TSE has some for sale that are canted?

If that's the case maybe they are just running a test to see how perceptive their customers are?
Or maybe they haven't noticed..... Did you talk to them about it?
Click to expand...
Yeah, one was sold, noticed, and returned it seems. I heard they sent them back.
 
Unless its way out of spec all you need to do is loosen the barrel nut so you can move the whole barrel slightly to get it squared up.
Then have someone hold the barrel while you tighten the barrel nut.
 
OZZ said:
Unless its way out of spec all you need to do is loosen the barrel nut so you can move the whole barrel slightly to get it squared up.
Then have someone hold the barrel while you tighten the barrel nut.
Click to expand...

It's only a couple of degrees out. I'm an AR noob, is this hard to do?
 
geologist said:
It's only a couple of degrees out. I'm an AR noob, is this hard to do?
Click to expand...

No its really pretty easy, that said having a upper reciever block and barrel nut wrench will make the job go smoothly.

If you were in victoria I`d help you out as I have the tools.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom