JB weld to hold in a front sight?

[teddy12b]

I'm finishing a project for my long range Puma 92.  I replaced the rear sight with a ladder type, and had to replace the front sight to accomodate the new rear.  Now that the front sight filed to the right height, it's a little loose.  I'm thinking about the next trip to the range getting it zeroed and then trying to put a little dab of JB weld in the nooks and cranny's to hold that front sight in place.  I know if I did that the front sight would never move again.  I would hope there's a better way to secure the front sight, but I'm not aware of it if there is.

Any suggestions?

[Dee]

Make a shim to fit in the bottom of the dove tail on the rifle out of a piece of aluminum soft drink can. Then just tap the sight back in on top if it. I shouldn't even show.

[teddy12b]

Dee,
   I've heard about that, but how reliable is it?  Won't that come loose over time due to recoil?  I can give it a shot tonight, but I always thought that was supposed to be more of a temporary fix than a permanent one.

[Dee]

No it it should never come out. The recoil shouldn't affect it. Another way to tighten it up, is to remove the sight, and take a blunt brass punch, and on top of the dovetail, on each side of the gap, on the rifle barrel, and give it a couple of sharp raps with a light hammer which " will shrink the inside dimensions" of the dovetail without marring the barrel finish. This last method is my prefer ed method, and also after the hammer and punch method, add a little blue loctite in the dovetail before re-inserting the sight will insure a good fit. Locktite is not just for threads. Your problem with this last method, make the problem go away completely.

[teddy12b]

I did actually do some light taping on the dovetail area you're talking about last night.  I didn't want to push my luck so I didn't get too carried away with it, but it did snug up a little.  I guess I'll try that again tonight and if that doesn't work I use the tin shim.

[zoner]

i have taken a hammer and a center punch and dimpled the bottom of the dovetail notch in the base or barrel dovetail....tapping the punch makes a center hole and upsets or raises the metal around the center hole...should be able to tighten up the fit that way.

[drdougrx]

DUCK TAPE.....AINT IT OBVIOUS??

[Keith L]

DUCK TAPE.....AINT IT OBVIOUS??

Uncle Red?  Is that you?

[Dee]

Doc that's tha silliest idea I've ever heard. Duck tape is for stocks, and recoil pads. Bailin wire is for everything forward startin at the tang on a rifle.

[drdougrx]

Dee....you'er soo right...I do stand corrected!!! 

[gunnut69]

The correct method is to move the metal that's been displaced back to where it belongs. I use a smooth faced steel punch that's flat faced. This will push metal but not scar the blue. Light taps and lots of them are the trick here, and keep the punch moving as we don't want flat spots. Start at one side and move to the other. This usually comes from driving the sight in/out towards the wrong side. Remember in from right to left--out from left to right..as viewed from the rear of the barrel. Burring the bottom of the dovetail will help but may leave an unsightly gap beneath the sight. A straight edge layed onto the barrel over the dovetail will let you know if there has been distortion of the lips of the dovetail..

[teddy12b]

The correct method is to move the metal that's been displaced back to where it belongs. I use a smooth faced steel punch that's flat faced. This will push metal but not scar the blue. Light taps and lots of them are the trick here, and keep the punch moving as we don't want flat spots. Start at one side and move to the other. This usually comes from driving the sight in/out towards the wrong side. Remember in from right to left--out from left to right..as viewed from the rear of the barrel. Burring the bottom of the dovetail will help but may leave an unsightly gap beneath the sight. A straight edge layed onto the barrel over the dovetail will let you know if there has been distortion of the lips of the dovetail..

I pretty much did that the other night.  I took a flat punch and lightly tapped the edges of the dovetail in towards the opening.  It worked very well too.  The front sight was very tight going back in so it should be good now.  For a novice hack job it turned out pretty good.  I need to get some pictures of it up and hopefully get it to the range now soon.  Deer season is only a couple months away now!