Took my Hungarian M44 to have the front sight adjusted last week, and the guy told me he couldn't drift the front sight cause it was preened on. Instead he bent the post over to compensate. I took it to the range after a double dozen shot i went to fire another and couldn't find the post, it was gone, broken off even with the bottom of the sight guard. is there and easy way to fix this or do I need a whole new front sight assemble, and is there any way to remove the peening so I can drift the sight out. Thanks
M44 broken sight post
- Thread starter BigC396
- Start date
What a bad move from that guy...should have know better. The sight must be pressed out of barrel, a bench vise and somes spacers should work fine. Once the sight is out, you can either drift the post from the sight(from top) and maybe make a new post from a nail or something, or you can replace the whole sight, Trade-ex might have somes.
Joce
Last edited:
Years ago there was an article on Surplusrifle where he drilled out the front post and drilled and tapped a set screw below to make an elevation adjustable front post. I think he used a welding rod stub as the replacement post. May be a way to make your existing site useable.
Once you get the sight base and hood piece off you can make a new post from a 2.5 or 3 inch finishing nail and a file using a hand drill. You'll want a caliper to check the size as well.
When you get the remainder of the pin out you'll see that the base is a little cone shape followed by a short parallel section. Measure that parallel section and then go nail shopping with your caliper. Pick out the size of finishing nail that has a wire diameter that is the same or just a little over the size you need.
With the file and while running the drill with the nail in it and sticking out shape the head to resemble the cone. Then cut down a short length to match the diameter if you have to. After this file a tapering "post area up to where you KNOW it's longer than needed to get up to half way and a little more into the guard ring. Polish it a little with some fine sandpaper to finish. Cut off, square up the cut end nicely then use some touch up blueing to finish it.
When you insert it into the base and lightly tap it home if any of the head sticks up just file it off neatly. If it doesn't stick up at all you got carried away a little and will want to fill the recess with a wipe of some sort of filler or glue that won't stick really well. Or a single shotgun bird shot pellet hammered down to fit would work nicely. You just don't want it coming loose later on and floating up and down. 5minute epoxy will work too but good luck if you ever want to take it out again. So I don't really recomend it.
When you get the remainder of the pin out you'll see that the base is a little cone shape followed by a short parallel section. Measure that parallel section and then go nail shopping with your caliper. Pick out the size of finishing nail that has a wire diameter that is the same or just a little over the size you need.
With the file and while running the drill with the nail in it and sticking out shape the head to resemble the cone. Then cut down a short length to match the diameter if you have to. After this file a tapering "post area up to where you KNOW it's longer than needed to get up to half way and a little more into the guard ring. Polish it a little with some fine sandpaper to finish. Cut off, square up the cut end nicely then use some touch up blueing to finish it.
When you insert it into the base and lightly tap it home if any of the head sticks up just file it off neatly. If it doesn't stick up at all you got carried away a little and will want to fill the recess with a wipe of some sort of filler or glue that won't stick really well. Or a single shotgun bird shot pellet hammered down to fit would work nicely. You just don't want it coming loose later on and floating up and down. 5minute epoxy will work too but good luck if you ever want to take it out again. So I don't really recomend it.
