Author Topic: how to move dovetails?? (Read 626 times)

Mack in N.C. · « **on:** June 01, 2003, 05:13:14 PM »

i have a barrel that the front and rear sights are dovetails.....do you have to warm these up to move them or just tap them???..thanks mack.... :

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2003, 08:56:44 PM »

Use a hammer and a non-marring punch, I like bronze or a well fitted polished steel punch. If they are a bit difficult don't heat the barrel or sight, freeze them both. A couple of hours in the deep freeze causes the metal to shrink making the dovetail cut a bit larger and the sight's male dovetail a bit smaller. If you use bronze(brass) and it marks the steel a little Brownells OxphoBlue and steel wool (0000) will clean it right up. If using steel punches make sure they fit and polish them well.

savageT · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2003, 03:58:22 AM »

Quote from: Mack in N.C.

i have a barrel that the front and rear sights are dovetails.....do you have to warm these up to move them or just tap them???..thanks mack.... :

Mack,
IMPORTANT issue..........When removing a sight, ALWAYS tap the sight out of the dove-tail from the LEFT SIDE as you are looking down the barrel from the shooting position. This is reversed when installing a sight into the dove-tail groove (Tap from the RIGHT). There is a taper. Check closely that the sight is not pinned or staked in place.

Jim

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2003, 08:27:13 AM »

SavageT is right there is a taper but these sights can be moved either left or right to adjust them. If they become loose a few light taps with a polished flat faced punch at the edge of the dovetail will tighten them a bit. Don't get carried away just a little light tap or two will be all it takes, and usually not even that..