Dovetail sight removal help

Potshot21

Potshot21

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So I decided to with iron sights on my Browning BLR. I wasn't a fan of the leaf sight and I got a Skinner to replace it. Very nice aperture sights! With the higher sight mounted on the reciever I ordered some Marble Arms front sights to replace the stock one in a couple different heights to try out and find the one which works best. All good up to this point!

Now, the Marbles came in and I'm trying to remove the front sight post, but damn if that thing hasn't really taken root! I'm supporting the barrel and front sight ramp with some wood, and trying to drift it out with a punch (I taped a small piece of hard wood to it as to not mar the finish). I've hammered of it as much as I feel comfortable and the damn thing hasn't budged at all! It's just sitting there laughing at me!!

Anybody know where a fella can source a "sight pusher" that would work in this case? Or perhaps a tip or trick to tap this sucker out of there? I've smashed up several pieces of the wood bits, and only option now to keep on whacking on it steel on steel, and I'd rather not risk beating the piss out of an otherwise mint rifle.

Thanks for any help!
 
If it's really on there and you want to punch it out the wood will cushion the blows..... a brass punch won't damage anything and should deliver a better "hit"
A good sharp hit with everything secured solidly is key to getting max impact.
I like to use hard woods for blocks to help support the sight base and barrel if possible and wrap the barrel with electrical tape and clamp it in a vice if possible. If you can set up a stepped arrangement of blocks to support everything and then get someone to help hold the gun and free you up to deliver solid hits with a good hammer and brass punch that should do it.... :)

Some penetrating oil can't hurt and then make sure your drifting it out from the left to the right side when looking down the barrel from above. It might not have a tapered cut but if it does that's the typical direction for removal.

Williams makes an inexpensive front sight pusher that would likely work but it will be cheaper if you take it to a gunsmith or shop with tools.
 
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wood in most cases is useless... use brass .... and you can remove the marks brass leaves on steel with many different copper solvents.
 
Well, I ran out to my local Kingston Princess Auto and picked up some brass punches. Good call on those, managed to drift the front sight out with those bad boys.

Unfortunately, while trying to drift in the replacement, the punch slipped and buster the fibre-optic and fibre holder dealeys off one end of it. That brass punch is now currently residing wherever the hell it ended up after being thrown at a high rate of speed. So I'm back to ordering yet another damn front sight and see if I can find one of those Williams Sight pushers for a reasonable price.

Thanks all for the help, I may update this if I ever manage to get this f*cking thing to go on.
 
If the new front sight is too tight, you can file the bottom a little at a time till it goes on with enough resistance to hold but doesn't need to be pounded on.....
Maybe post a "wanted to borrow Williams sight pusher" and see if anyone nearby has one you can borrow? Should be pretty easy to set the new front sight though with minimal damage now that you've practiced..... :)
 
Bigger the hammer better the mechanic they say. Dove tail file and a good Vernier caliper and some patience go a long way. Size the thing before you pound on it.
 
So you blame the punch for slipping?
You need to whisper sweet nuthings at chit yer beet'in the chit out of.
Otherwise...……………...well you know.
 
warzaw said:
Bigger the hammer better the mechanic they say. Dove tail file and a good Vernier caliper and some patience go a long way. Size the thing before you pound on it.
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A smooth or med flat file or a coarse diamond stone etc, a couple light strokes on the bottom, try it, repeat till it's a Goldilocks fit.

No need for dovetail files and calipers.
 
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warzaw said:
Gee Wizz I bought all these tools and equipment for nothing !
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You could use your dovetail file if that's the only file you have.... I'd keep it for working on dovetails though if I had a flat file on the bench.

Do you tend to enlarge dovetails instead of reducing the size of the new sight when fitting them? I can easily see someone taking that approach but it's better to work on the cheaper parts while fitting..... :)

Having specialized tools is great but many jobs can be accomplished with basic tools combined with skill and knowledge.
 
I was taught to measure twice and cut once . Knowing the size of the pieces is not a bad idea before you go chopping away at a part. not all dovetails are the same. Lots of jobs can be eyeballed but can be also screwed up by the untrained that's my point.
 
warzaw said:
I was taught to measure twice and cut once . Knowing the size of the pieces is not a bad idea before you go chopping away at a part. not all dovetails are the same. Lots of jobs can be eyeballed but can be also screwed up by the untrained that's my point.
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Nothing wrong with a good read on the situation that's for sure! Some dovetails can use a bit of cleaning up from time to time specially on the side the sight is going in on.

flat filing the base or bottom side of the front sight (not the dove tail) is a fairly easy task, the trick as you mentioned is to go slow and check the progress/fit often.
 
always file the sight, seei where the dovetail was filed, the sight fit but too big for any other he had, the sight can be replaced but how do you reduce dovetail
 
Not all dovetails are cut the same I have seen many that were cut shallow and not on spec a lot depends on how deep the cut was made . I always mill to spec on my projects and most sights drop in snug with little fitting. A butchered sight can be shimmed not my choice but it works.
 
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Many front sights have front and rear sections that extend over the top of the base. If I am reading correctly, it has been suggested to remove a little material from the bottom of the sight. That would be a good course of action in some cases but on those, relieving the bottom of the sight is likely not an option. One needs to remove a little from the front or rear dovetail on the sight. Take any small three-cornered file and grind a safe edge and you have a dandy dovetail file.
 
B_noser said:
Many front sights have front and rear sections that extend over the top of the base. If I am reading correctly, it has been suggested to remove a little material from the bottom of the sight. That would be a good course of action in some cases but on those, relieving the bottom of the sight is likely not an option. One needs to remove a little from the front or rear dovetail on the sight. Take any small three-cornered file and grind a safe edge and you have a dandy dovetail file.
Click to expand...

My point exactly that's were the caliper comes into play. I think I have highjacked this thread with my comments sorry for that.
 
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