how to retap a shallow hole in parker-hale barrel end??

S

sgt.rock

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
159   0   0
Location
Yellowknife, N.W.T.
I have a parker-hale .308 that the front sight barrel screw hole is stripped on one side. The local gunsmith said that its a shallow hole (roughly 3 threads deep)and its an 8/36 hole. (he said the english gunmakers always used obscure thread sizes)
Anyhow, is there any danger of splitting or weakening the barrel by lightly re-tapping this hole to accept a screw again and re-mount the front sight??
The setup for it is 3 holes but only the center hole is threaded, the first and third hole are just post holes for rotational stability.

My next question pertains to what type of tap would such a hole require. Of all the taps I see on sets, they seem to be tapered, but it seems to me that it would require a straight tap, ...... is this true?? and if so, where would one get such a tap???
Thanks to all, for any sage advice I can get. :confused:
 
There are taper, plug and bottoming taps. The bottoming taps will cut closest to the bottom of the hole.
Next size up is a #10, but that is an awfully big hole for a front sight ramp in a rather thin barrel.
Personally, I would solder in a plug, using low temp silver bearing solder, and rethread and tap - and certainly not 8-36; standard 6-48 would work, IF I were going to use the PH ramp.
You mention splitting at the muzzle. I have seen a number of PH barrels split through those three holes.
If it were my rifle, I would thread one or both of the dowel pin holes, and replace the ramp.
 
Yes, that would work, and the dowel pins would keep the ramp aligned. I'm not big on high temp. silver solder for this application, the low temp would be fine.
 
Yes, use a bottom end tape the next thread size larger in our size, not the imperial. You'll need a matching screw, and you'll need to grind the screw down short enough. It's very important to tape the hole straight. Your gunsmith should be able to do this without a problem.
 
thanks for the suggestions. If I were just to replace it with a different front sight such as a barrel banded ramp, would that re-inforce the notoriously thin barrel end of these PH rifles and help preventing splits?? I heard mention of "sweating on a banded sight" but dont know exactly what that means and how hard it is to do?? How hard is it to get the sight straight? Where could a suitable sight be obtained in Canada. Thanks in advance for answering any and all of this pile of questions.
 
The only damaged PH muzzles I have seen were on rifles fired with obstructions in the bore. At one time I had quite a collection of them.
A banded front sight ramp can be an elegant way of mounting a front sight. New England Custom Guns makes them, Brownells has carried them, don't know where you would find one in Canada. They do require fitting.
Sweating on the original ramp would be the easiest fix.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom