Removing silver soldered sights

Chuck

Chuck

CGN Regular
Rating - 99.3%
142   1   1
Location
Deep River
I've got a JC Higgins 50 project rifle that was a bit of a beater when I got but it has nice walnut, a smooth action and it is very accurate. In working through this project I've decided that I want the sights removed before I make my first ever try at rust bluing with this rifle.

I've tried heating with both butane and propane without success not knowing what kind of solder was used. The nearest gunsmith is 2 hours away. When I spoke to him on the phone he said it would require heating to red hot. His price is reasonable but I'm worried about harming an excellent barrel. I see a mix of online references saying red hot is reasonable and others saying it is a terrible idea. Would you let red hot happen to your barrel?
 
You could give due consideration to how exactly, they got the sight on there in the first place, with enough heat! Stands to reason, if heat was going to harm it, it would already be pretty frucked up, eh?

You can buy oxidation preventative compounds or scale reducers, to stop the steel from getting all scabby from too much heat. To protect the rifling. I suppose filling the barrel with inert gas and plugging it would work too, if you had access to it. In a pinch, pure soap is supposed to work too.

Know anyone local with an oxy acet torch who has any experience with brazing or silver soldering? Ask them if they'd help you out. With enough heat, you should be able to drop the parts off in just a few tens of seconds.
 
It was heated red hot when it was installed... and the best way to remove it is with ox-acetylene. Lots of heat on the sight getting it red as quickly as possible and grabbing it with a pre set vice grip and pulling it away... the barrel does not get very red done this way...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom