Replacing a rear sight?

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Martin248

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The rear sight on my NORC needs work. I was trying to zero it for about 200 yards and it still shoots low even though I've adjusted it as far as possible.

So it will have to come off one way or another either to be replaced, or for some kind of work.

I was thinking about replacing it with a match or USGI sight. Haven't bought one yet, but I noticed the comment "minor gunsmithing required" on the Springfield NM package.

Well, so what is required? Is it this something I can do myself? Any instructions out there on what the procedure is for replacing the rear sight? Will I need any tools to do this?
 
YouTube it, reading about it is one thing but watching it done on YouTube is what I did and it was well worth it. I never had to "gunsmith" anything. Probably just a precaution on the manufacturers part by saying gunsmith.
 
i would tend to agree , assuming you're using standard factory spec loads - ie 150 grains at about 2700 give or take- your front tower is too tall- this has been found before on the last batch of shorties , and was discussed at length then- if you're not using factory spec ammo, well then all kinds of variables come into play
the "minor gunsmithing required" means that you may have to slightly dress some parts to make them mesh correctly- however , if you get the springy national match rear, you're going to get screwed big time, as well as have to replace the front sight blade with a national match one- they're different WIDTHS
there's a handshake that goes between the two- and i'm not sure that springfield's front sight blade will fit in rinco's groove- however, i can tell you that if you get a GARAND rear sight from that guy in italy, you'll have no problems
this is assuming you've done the correct "zeroing" for the rifle in the first place-that's on youtube as well
 
sgmacken said:
Changing out your rear sights is ez pz, however, if you've reached the limits of your rear aperture to get it zeroed for 200, then it sounds like a front sight issue, not rear.
Click to expand...

I'm sure Hungry will chime in shortly :D, but it does sound like the OP's front sight is a little too high for the ammo he's shooting. The OP could file the sight down ever so slightly and test (and keep it up until he sees the results he wants) but he could also try some higher-velocity ammo or a lighter round.

Just my 2 pennies. YMMV
 
martin when you say you have adjusted it as far as possible .... you mean of course the rear sight will not go any higher correct ..??? The rear sight goes up alot ...it seems strange that you are still shooting low.

Garand rear sights are the way to go if you are going to use iron sights.


M14 Doc instructions


To remove sights follow these steps:

First adjust windage all the way to the left as far as it will go.
Next, undo the windage lock sleeve with flat blade screw driver, turn until loose, do not try and remove, collar is held in with a retaining clip.
Next, with collar loose, undo the windage knob and remove the knob.
Remove elevation pinion by pulling out of sight base
Remove aperture
Insert flat blade screw driver into aperture area under sight cover and gently pry up until it springs loose.
Done.

Installation,
Clean and regrease all parts
Install sight base and rear cover together
Dab of grease to receiver at sight location recess
Use flat blade screw driver under back of sight base on bottom lip of sight cover and push firmly, sight cover should snap into place
Next, install aperture
Next install elevation pinion, ensuring it is completely in and meshed with aperture.
Slide sight base to the left side
Install windage knob and hold with your thumb, turn the lock collar only in a reverse direction until you feel it sink in a bit it has now engaged the pinion shaft correctly
Next turn the collar with screw driver forward until it comes just snug
Then turn windage knob to engage with sight base
Adjust lock collar as needed to tighten or loosen the sight knobs

To adjust elevation to agree with barrel length follow these instructions
For standard length barrels:
Turn elevation knob to put aperture at it's lowest point.
Next turn elevation knob to put aperture 8 clicks from bottom
Firmly grasp elevation knob and undo screw in elevation knob. You want to prevent any movement of aperture and knob while undoing the screw
Once loose, again hold aperture so it can not move and turn knob to line up the 200 yrd/mtr sight mark with the sight mark on the receiver
Tighten screw while holding knob firmly
Turn windage and observe 8 clicks from bottom to 200 yard zero

For 18 inch barrels try 12 clicks from bottom for 200 zero (M-14 Doc)
 
Don't shave down that tall Norc front sight (yet) :D Keep it for any shorty project. They were made by some high school shop class that did not get the memo from the (reverse) engineers of this Norc platform. :D

USGI or Springfield Armory (Brownells) front sights are available and they are not expensive. Just replace it and see what happens. Discover, make mistakes and learn from all this experience.

Hey, the reason I'm such an expert on the M14 is because I've fxcked up enough spare parts for all of us and learned from doing all these tweaks.

Replacing your rear sights is straighforward. You really need NM sights with their half MOA adjustments? You shooting in competition?

Honestly, the USGI sight increments of 1 MOA are really all you need if you are preparing for the zombie apocalypse with iron sights. I'm still rocking the Italian Piettro Beretta versions found on Ebay. :D

Let us know which way you decide! It's all good. Keep having fun with the M14 addiction! :)

Cheers,
Barney
 
Andy was one guy who had some for $70 shipped but he is sold out I heard....I found some on ebay recently and they came from Italy as well $74 shipped .

spcamno has a set of new USGI ones 0n the EE and they look nice. I think he was asking $100 shipped
 
http ://ww w.ebay.ca/itm/M1-GARAND-REAR-SIGHT-COMPLETE-PB-MARKED-308-30-06-PINION-NOS-/320910184829?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab7bcd17d#ht_1910wt_1396



Just bought one just then... $73 shipped.

Should be in the mail soon!!! :p
 
I'll be replacing it with USGI rear sights, in the mail from treeline.. waiting for it.. I just noticed that comment on the Springfield NM sights about "gunsmithing" so I wondered what I was getting myself into. Sounds like not much!

I will let you guys know how it goes. I will probably replace the front sight as well. OTOH, I think the flash hider is just ever so slightly tilted, not a lot, just a little. As I understand it.. not much I can do about that? I got the front sight centered on the barrel now but I notice it's not completely vertical. I don't think I am able to use one of those gas lock front sights either, right? Because norc barrels don't match? So I have to live with that, or replace/fix the flash hider?

Also, one more thing, anybody know where I can get a 2nd job to pay for all the stuff I am suddenly motivated to buy? USGI wood stock now, NM oprod, rear sight, three crates of that canam norc ammo, and next up will sadlak front rail thing and a bipod. Oh and those 10 round AIA magazines that my wife doesn't know I bought. I used to think I had a good income.. then I got my PAL in March :cheers:

Lol. It's fun!
 
The front sights on some were not made correctly and the base is tilted to one side , others have front sight issues due to the barrel not being tightened on enough ( barrel indexing is off).
If the front sight looks like it was manufactured correctly and it leans to the right as you look from the rear of the rifle the barrel needs to be tightened a bit .
 
chalkriver said:
The front sights on some were not made correctly and the base is tilted to one side , others have front sight issues due to the barrel not being tightened on enough ( barrel indexing is off).
If the front sight looks like it was manufactured correctly and it leans to the right as you look from the rear of the rifle the barrel needs to be tightened a bit .
Click to expand...

Hi Chalk. I have a similar problem with the front sight on my 305 leaning to the right. I had the FS off and it is the splines on the barrel that dictate where the sight finally lies. Ha !! I thought, the barrel just needs a snug up and everythings good. But if I were to snug up the barrel and straighten the front sight, the handgaurd would also rotate, far enough to contact the stock. Do you think that would be an issue or could I just shave a few thou off the handgaurd. Plan B is to just whip off the front sight and get the file out and slowly level er up that way,Id probably have to take away no more than .5 mm. Any thoughts ?
 
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