Adjusting the fixed sights on CZ Shadow - seems stuck

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jerichoholic_ninja

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Hi, I need to move the fixed sights on my CZ Shadow over about 1-2 millimeters but they seem stuck. I unloosened the screws at the top but I can get the sights to move. To contrast, I was adjusted the sights on my Ruger 22/45 and I had absolutely no problems moving the entire rear sight with my fingers (yeah, it was totally out of alignment). I was hitting the CZ rear sight with the butt end of a screwdriver (no movement but I wasn't hitting it hard) and squirted a little bit of WD-40 too. No luck. Is there a trick to this or do I just need to use more force?
 
jerichoholic_ninja said:
Hi, I need to move the fixed sights on my CZ Shadow over about 1-2 millimeters but they seem stuck. I unloosened the screws at the top but I can get the sights to move. To contrast, I was adjusted the sights on my Ruger 22/45 and I had absolutely no problems moving the entire rear sight with my fingers (yeah, it was totally out of alignment). I was hitting the CZ rear sight with the butt end of a screwdriver (no movement but I wasn't hitting it hard) and squirted a little bit of WD-40 too. No luck. Is there a trick to this or do I just need to use more force?
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Sorry, I don't usually mess around with the sights on my guns but...can you do that??
 
You need to make sure you are moving the site in the right direction!!!... Yes there is a direction when installing sites.. and you may have to remove the site and file it down a tiny bit to get it to move further...

here is a video..

[youtube]zp8tqXvnNEA[/youtube]

RDG
 
Sights can be very tight. Some penetrating oil is a good start. then you have to clamp the slide hard in a vice, with protection. I use cardboard. Credit card plastic would work.

Then you have to hit the sight quite hard with a good sized hammer, using an brass or aluminum punch. I have had sights that needed a steel punch. Sometimes I knock the sight right out and dress it a bit with a file, so it is not so tight.
 
Ok, thanks for the advice. And after getting the sight to move with the punch, do you think it will be loosen up so it can be manipulated by hand or will I always need to knock it around with a hammer?
 
A PROPER fit will always require a punch and hammer. The set screw is simply for insurance. It's also likely that it is quite sticky due to the set screw pushing up a burr that further tightened the sight. So yeah, a vise with padded jaws and the hammer and punch as seen in that video is a good method.

If you don't have a vise in your place at least make up a holder from a couple of hunks of 2x6 with a slide width spacer at the other end. A couple or three long screws through from the wood on one side to the other will clamp the slide well enough to let you tap the sight over.

I find it a little curious that a Ruger and CZ are both shooting to the side for you when for me and many others our Rugers and CZ's shoot nicely to point of aim. You may want to look at how you are gripping the gun and consider if there's something in your method that is pushing the gun to the side at the trigger break.
 
BCRider said:
...I find it a little curious that a Ruger and CZ are both shooting to the side for you when for me and many others our Rugers and CZ's shoot nicely to point of aim. You may want to look at how you are gripping the gun and consider if there's something in your method that is pushing the gun to the side at the trigger break.
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+1

I learned from archery to leave the sights alone and wait a while before even thinking about moving them. When I got my Shadow (first handgun), my groups were a little low and left. Over time, the groups are moving to center as I learn how to shoot.
 
Yes, I've had the CZ and Ruger for a couple years now without adjusting the sights so I've managed to eliminate the possibility that it's my shooting technique. The grouping on both guns are relatively tight (well, I'm happy with them) but consistently at 9 o'clock. I just got sick of seeing my groups always being slightly off and wanted to finally adjust the sight.
 
...another option: use a bench and a sand bag to brace the gun and hold it very steady. Now check your group size and where it's landing. You may be very surprised.
 
jerichoholic_ninja said:
Yes, I've had the CZ and Ruger for a couple years now without adjusting the sights so I've managed to eliminate the possibility that it's my shooting technique. The grouping on both guns are relatively tight (well, I'm happy with them) but consistently at 9 o'clock. I just got sick of seeing my groups always being slightly off and wanted to finally adjust the sight.
Click to expand...

This may simply indicate that you've been doing the same thing wrong for all this time. I don't know who you shoot with or what sort of events you shoot in but if you're a loner that only goes out for some target sessions you may well have developed a bad habit or bad hold that you felt/feel is right but which could use some correction. Or are there a number of other guns which you shoot just fine and it's only these two which are off to the left?

Check out this Todd Jarret video. Watch it closely for both how he holds the gun during the action shots (the "cap cam" scenes are EXCELLENT) and how he's explaining how to hold. There's a wealth of knowledge to be had in this short trailer for what I expect is his DVD on the subject. Compare his method to yours with a good degree of self scrutiny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48
 
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