Well guys I finally finished up this plastic sight problem. I finally called H&R and got a nice and seemingly well informed young woman named Casey. She says there is no way for them to replace the plastic sights with metal ones and that she had a set in front of her as we spoke. She also said most people liked them(!!!) I politely disagreed and said perhaps they liked the firesight aspect but not the "made out of plastic" part. She agreed there were problems with them staying put and suggested a drop of loctite, AFTER they were sighted in.
She said she had been searching and asking for something to tell customers regarding a replacement that would fit but could only offer that the dovetail is a standard 3/8" and perhaps if the customer purchased a 3/8 sight insert from Williams or some other company they could replace the plastic part.
I asked her the reasoning of using metal sights on all other open sighted barrels but plastic sights on one barrel only, the .500 S&W, no real answer, just a company decision, also that many/most liked them. I find that difficult to believe, skewed statistics I guess.
In answer to my direct question, if the company was going to phase out the accessory barrel program, she answered with a resounding NO!!, she said that was a large and important part of thier sales and they were having trouble keeping up with the orders.
So, I am stuck with the crappy plastic rear sight that does not stay in place unless I want to loctite/glue it in position and the company seems to be doing well, especially the accessory barrel part.
I will continue my quest for a replacement rear sight for the .500 barrel....<><....
