Removing Buckhorn Sights

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FraserValley

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Hi, I have an old, pre-64 Winchester with Buckhorn sights.

I recently installed the Lyman Peep sight and want to get the Buckhorn out.

Tried to use the punch, to drift it out, but it ain't moving.

Introduced some oil to get into the gaps and help it along, but so far no success.

Anyone have a good idea as to how to get it to move ?

It may not have been adjusted in decades, so the metal surfaces may be very attached to each other.
 
FraserValley said:
Hi, I have an old, pre-64 Winchester with Buckhorn sights.

I recently installed the Lyman Peep sight and want to get the Buckhorn out.

Tried to use the punch, to drift it out, but it ain't moving.

Introduced some oil to get into the gaps and help it along, but so far no success.

Anyone have a good idea as to how to get it to move ?

It may not have been adjusted in decades, so the metal surfaces may be very attached to each other.
Click to expand...

Most parts and screws remove to the left looking from the butt to the muzzle.
You maybe trying to go the wrong direction and are tapping the sight into the dovetail.
 
Do you have the barrel solidly supported?
Non-marring drift and a hammer with some weight to it?
 
mr.e moose said:
Most parts and screws remove to the left looking from the butt to the muzzle.
You maybe trying to go the wrong direction and are tapping the sight into the dovetail.
Click to expand...

Quoting from RFC, seems to be the opposite?

Here is how I tell others so they can remember it. You drive it RIGHT out, or you want it LEFT in. All of these directions is with the barrel pointing away from you and you looking down on top of the barrel.
Click to expand...
 
It will be set in pretty tight... clamp the barrel and stock in a padded vise very firmly... but not so tight as to crack the wood... use a brass drift and about a 12 ounce hammer... carefully hold the punch in place and a good whack... repeat... repeat... it should drift out. Wood and synthetic drifts are useless. Steel will distort the sight. Use brass. The colour smear it leaves is easily removed.
 
Alright, put in a vise, brass punch, big hammer.

Nothing.

That sight ain't moving.

Not to the left, not to the right.

I put a heat gun to it, hoping that when it cooled the thing would shift, but no.

If anyone has a great idea, please do share.
 
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No wood - barrel in hard padded vise, tight and centered on the sight ... try it again.

If not, take it out, heat the base very hot with a propane torch - apply penetrating fluid... let sit until cool and then back in the vise as above...
 
guntech said:
No wood - barrel in hard padded vise, tight and centered on the sight ... try it again.

If not, take it out, heat the base very hot with a propane torch - apply penetrating fluid... let sit until cool and then back in the vise as above...
Click to expand...

Alright, barrel in vise it is.

PB Blaster should do as lube.
 
Clamp the barrel so only the sight is above the flat of the top on the jaws... so you can lay a punch level on the top of the jaws and be in alignment with the 'dovetail'. It will help concentrate the blow where it needs to be... you don't want any deflection... just a straight on drive... punch held tight on the sight dovetail and a hard blow with the hammer.
 
Hope to hear from the OP as to the progress.

I will need to remove a few buckhorn sights in the future. I have brass punch and brass/plastic hammer but no vise, is there some improvise I can do since I do not have a vise?
 
15567 said:
Hope to hear from the OP as to the progress.

I will need to remove a few buckhorn sights in the future. I have brass punch and brass/plastic hammer but no vise, is there some improvise I can do since I do not have a vise?
Click to expand...

If it is tight you will have problems without a vise. The impact is weakened when everything moves on impact. Take it to a gunsmith who has a vise.
 
Without a vise you will need to fashion some sort of support that will support the barrel as firmly as possible. I've used stepped hardwood blocks left over from wood working projects to accomplish the task..... if you have an assistant who can help hold the barrel assembly on it's side up against the hard wood well supported near the sight while you strike firmly it makes it easier to set up but with the a bit of imagination,material and dexterity..... it's doable solo.

The wood needs to support the barrel not the stock, depending on the gun I've done some in the stock but it's easier to remove the stock.

Guntech's suggestion of taking it to someone with a barrel vice is sound if it's a local option and the sight is stubborn.
 
Thanks very much for the advice!

Guess my idea of resting the barrel on a towel-covered 2X4 is not a good idea.
Will take to gun smith and have them drifted-out professionally when the time comes and hopefully it will.
 
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