How do I tighten loose rear sight dovetail?

[bdft]

I picked up a Hi-Standard HD-Military from the EE. The rear sight is loose in the dovetail and sliding back and forth. Is there a way to tighten the dovetail without serious machine work? I could just stake the sight in place with a centre punch but that would look like hell.

 

[ARWEN ACE]

Slide the sight out and then centre punch the bottom of the sight's dovetail to raise the metal a little. Tap it back in with a brass drift.

AA

 

[Griffoneur]

A brass shim does the trick.

 

[bdft]

Slide the sight out and then centre punch the bottom of the sight's dovetail to raise the metal a little. Tap it back in with a brass drift.

AA

Now why didn't I think of that? That should work nicely. I don't think there's enough slop for a shim. CGN'ers come through again. Thanks.

 

[Epps Enfield]

Loose Dovetail

I had the same problem with the front sight of a Win Model 94 - a drop of green loctitie did the trick nicely.

 

[Why not?]

I am not familiar with that firearm, but is there any reason you could not just peen the top of the dovetail down slightly with a brass hammer or punch?

That is how I have always tightened up any loose dovetails.

Ted

 

[Dogleg]

I am not familiar with that firearm, but is there any reason you could not just peen the top of the dovetail down slightly with a brass hammer or punch?

That is how I have always tightened up any loose dovetails.

Ted

Center punching the bottom of the dovetail is invisible, peening the top of the dovetail isn't. Otherwise, both work.

 

[Why not?]

Any I have ever done with brass hammer have been invisible. You don't have to move the metal more than a very few thousandths.

Ted