Loose Dovetails

[220Swifty]

I have a Savage 99 with a dovetail gone so far it wont hold the forend in place for more than 2 rounds anymore, and now my Winchester 69A has started to sporradically let go of its front sight. Any home remedies, or am i stuck taking these to an already overbusy gunsmith?

 

[colinjw]

You can peen the metal using a punch & a hammer. It will create a dimple where you hit it which should displace enough metal to tighten them up.

You can do it to either the dovetail slot or the actual sight. The sight might be better as it can be replaced at a later date.

 

[contact148]

yup hammer and punch

that was the US army standard for the m1 carbine 7 million rifles

the m1 was staked at two pints on the rear sight

 

[dcbb]

I've always used shims cut from a cheap blade type machinists feeler guage (canadian tire cheap).