cutting dovetails in receivers for insertion of rear sights ?

[preventec47]

I need to cut a dovetail on top of the receiver of a NEF handi Rifle  so I can
insert a std lever action rear sight or peep sight.   As a woodworker I
am familiar with routers and router bits and I assume that there
is similar equipment for cutting steel.  IS this the typical
type of thing most gunsmiths have equipment for or where
would I go to have it done?    Better if I want to do it myself
what kind of equipment do I need ?
Would it be a mill ?  If so  Where do I get the cutting bits ?

I believe I have found that there are two std sizes of dovetails
for signts.  Can anyone confirm?    Does anyone here
do this kind of work ?

Thanks
Scott in Atlanta, GA

[CannonKrazy]

In order to make a clean percision cut for the dove tail you need a milling machine. It can be done without but the risk of damaging the barrel would be to high. I remember someone asked this question awhile back on this site and the results listed a jig and file along with the company that furnished it.

Here is a cheap source for cutting tools.  http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRAR?PMSECT=572

[preventec47]

Oh yea!  thats what I am talking about.   for less than 30 bucks I can get
the cutter and only need to get access to a milling machine.
I also have to research what the cut width and angles are that are
used with the lever action rear sights I want to use.

Thanks much..  This is awesome.

[scott cudworth]

Brownells has the correct cutters.....I do most of mine in a drill press with a compound vise....the cutters are not the way to go for one slot....have a smith do it for you.Experimentation can be costly in screwed up barrels.And the cutter does many if cared for.

[Rangr44]

FWIW, I would NEVER dovetail either the small receiver top, or the barrel chamber re-inforce, of a Handi for ANYTHING - as it would weaken an already minimum strength area.

On the other hand, it's quite common practice to D/T the barrel chamber re-inforce of Handi's for scope mount bases - which holes could also be used for peep sight mounting.

.

[madcratebuilder]

A dovetail can be cut with a dovetail file, very straight forward manual labor.  In some cases it's faster than setting up the mill and making multiple cuts.

[Nobade]

Williams makes peep sights that bolt to the already drilled and tapped holes on Handi Rifle barrels. There is no need to go cutting on one.

[preventec47]

All of NEF's and H&R  regular smooth bore shotguns are NOT already drilled and tapped.
Whats more, the barrels of these guns are too thin to weaken by drilling holes in them.

The receiver is the only remaining option.
To the poster who is afraid of weakening the receiver, if he were to do
a load path analysis, he would see that all stress on the receive is in compression.
So if you fill a dovetail snugly,  there is no possibility of extra compression breaking
anything.

[Rangr44]

[To the poster who is afraid of weakening the receiver, if he were to do a load path analysis, he would see that all stress on the receive is in compression. So if you fill a dovetail snugly,  there is no possibility of extra compression breaking anything.]

And..............You bought your engineering degree, where ?          

 Good Grief/Good Luck.

.

[Nobade]

The remaining option is to solder on the sights to the barrel.