Glass Bedding Smith? / Sights questions

[allarile260]

I was wondering if there were any smiths that any of you would recommend for glass bedding a Norinco "M305s" into a USGI Walnut stock? I'd be interested in doing it later this summer once I get my rifle and ammo synchronized and my new oprod guide/spring. Preferably they would be in southern Ontario [London] but I have no problem with shipping my rifle if needed.


On to my next newbie questions!

My front sight seems to be mounted predominantly onto the right, do I need any special tools to move it back to center?

My next question is this "my rear sights seem to not be able to go lower than "2" which I'm assuming means 200M, it is very tough to get it move past that, so much so that I have not been able to get it to "1". Any tips/ideas?

here is a pic of it

Thanks for the help everyone!
Cheers,
Riley

 

[allarile260]

I removed the screw on the front sight with an allen key, I then pushed on the sight forcibly to no avail. It seems to be stuck on ? I then used gun oil in hopes it would penetrate under the tracks and loosen it up. No luck so far...

Also, the windage adjustment knob is extremely tough to turn either way, should I oil both knobs?

 

[sunray]

Suggest you do it yourself. Rocket science it ain't and shipping a rifle is pricey, if you can find a smithy. (Hungry may be along though.) There's a free .pdf how-to here, in the M14 & M1 Garand Accurizing Manual. Note the need for the provided UN & PW.
http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/
"...any special tools..." Believe it's just an allen wrench. Oil isn't going to fix anything. Have you taken the rifle apart and cleaned out all the shipping preservative?

 

[Seafury]

I would recommend a copy of Art Luppino's DVD on bedding the M14. Strangely I'm the only one in the house that enjoys this movie and I watch it again and again. You will feel confident after watching the DVD and soon you will be buying a cross slide vice for your drill press, router bits, marine tex, dental tools and release agent to do it yourself. Come to think of it by the time a guy buys all the gear its cheaper to pay someone else.

 

[RememberTheSomme]

I removed the screw on the front sight with an allen key, I then pushed on the sight forcibly to no avail. It seems to be stuck on ? I then used gun oil in hopes it would penetrate under the tracks and loosen it up. No luck so far...

Also, the windage adjustment knob is extremely tough to turn either way, should I oil both knobs?

Allarile welcome to the M-14 Battle Rifle club. You should be able to iron out most of the issues yourself with patience, reading the stickies above and from what other experienced shooters of the Chinese rifle will help you with. First off, the front sight that is drifted to the right out of the box, seems to be common. Mine was the same way and you may notice staking between the sight and base at that location. You may need a drift to hit to move the sight the first time, but I'm guessing in doing so, you'll lose your mechanical zero meaning your rear sight in the middle. Some of these rifles have over tightened barrels, and consequently had to have the sight drifted right to allow a rear sight mechanical zero.

I see you aperture looks well centered thats good. Some including mine were drilled slightly off center, requiring me to get a new aperture, so you are good to go on at least this point. As regards to the rear sight movement question, there are several good tutorial videos on Youtube showing how to disassemble your rear sight, clean and where to lube it properly, and then correct re-assembly and how to zero rifle at a specific distance, say 200 meters and then move the sight without letting the aperture move in elevation, so you can set it to 200 and now use your elevation drum with NATO ammo. Take the time to watch one of those videos, very important, before you decide anything on what to do with the sight, including replacing the rear sight.

 

[Aniest]

Front sight: The first go at one of these is usually an allen key to remove the tension screw completely and a brass hammer (or large brass punch and a hammer) to start it moving. From factory they are on fairly solid. Try hitting the lower part of the sight though: bending or breaking a protector ear on the sight will cause more problems.

Rear sight: They are generally the third worst part on the rifle, after the spring guide and the gas cylinder lock alignment, IMO. I "refurbished" my rear sight by watching a video: it meant learning the sight really well first, understanding what moves when a knob is wisted & what does not, and then making it do that properly.

Bedding: It can be done easily enough by following some of Hungry's videos. The key to it is tape the areas around properly, coat the action properly to prevent sticking there, and applying the bedding in the right areas. If you have some difficulty with IKEA furnature assembly but can follow a paper map you should be ok. Seriously... to coin a master: "Yer #### Won't Fall Off!" It was that advice that is getting me to a M305 that can shoot damn good from the bench (now I have to catch up to its abilities).

 

[allarile260]

Front sight: The first go at one of these is usually an allen key to remove the tension screw completely and a brass hammer (or large brass punch and a hammer) to start it moving. From factory they are on fairly solid. Try hitting the lower part of the sight though: bending or breaking a protector ear on the sight will cause more problems.

Rear sight: They are generally the third worst part on the rifle, after the spring guide and the gas cylinder lock alignment, IMO. I "refurbished" my rear sight by watching a video: it meant learning the sight really well first, understanding what moves when a knob is wisted & what does not, and then making it do that properly.

Bedding: It can be done easily enough by following some of Hungry's videos. The key to it is tape the areas around properly, coat the action properly to prevent sticking there, and applying the bedding in the right areas. If you have some difficulty with IKEA furnature assembly but can follow a paper map you should be ok. Seriously... to coin a master: "Yer #### Won't Fall Off!" It was that advice that is getting me to a M305 that can shoot damn good from the bench (now I have to catch up to its abilities).

I stopped being a little girl when it came to handling my gun, gave the front sight a few whacks and low behold it is now centered! I also took time to watch the videos and even though it was a total pain with mine [windage and elevation knob didn't want to mate up] I figured it out. Now to move onto bedding Thanks for your help!

 

[allarile260]

Allarile welcome to the M-14 Battle Rifle club. You should be able to iron out most of the issues yourself with patience, reading the stickies above and from what other experienced shooters of the Chinese rifle will help you with. First off, the front sight that is drifted to the right out of the box, seems to be common. Mine was the same way and you may notice staking between the sight and base at that location. You may need a drift to hit to move the sight the first time, but I'm guessing in doing so, you'll lose your mechanical zero meaning your rear sight in the middle. Some of these rifles have over tightened barrels, and consequently had to have the sight drifted right to allow a rear sight mechanical zero.

I see you aperture looks well centered thats good. Some including mine were drilled slightly off center, requiring me to get a new aperture, so you are good to go on at least this point. As regards to the rear sight movement question, there are several good tutorial videos on Youtube showing how to disassemble your rear sight, clean and where to lube it properly, and then correct re-assembly and how to zero rifle at a specific distance, say 200 meters and then move the sight without letting the aperture move in elevation, so you can set it to 200 and now use your elevation drum with NATO ammo. Take the time to watch one of those videos, very important, before you decide anything on what to do with the sight, including replacing the rear sight.

Thank you for the kind welcome! I took your advice and fixed all of my problems! except bedding, which will be next thanks alot.

Best Regards,
Riley.