Idaho Spud Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 I was trying to replace my rear buckhorn sight with a flattop sight. I removed the old sight and noticed that the rear sight didn't fit into the dovetail slot. So I sanded it, like many people recommend. And it started to go in, so I figure'd I'd punch it in from there. That was a horrible idea, as you can guess. The rear sight is completely stuck. My attempts to punch it back out have only scraped and smushed the sight further. At this point I don't care if the sight is ruined, I just need to get it off the gun without scraping the rifle any more than I already have. Has anyone dealt with this? I just feel awful, like how the hell did I get it so stuck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilli GaHoot Galoot Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 (edited) Cut it across the middle of the dovetail (like in line with the scratches) with a hacksaw, you shouldn't need to cut all the way through Edited June 22 by Dilli GaHoot Galoot 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Spud Posted June 22 Author Share Posted June 22 (edited) Thanks Dilli, I was thinking the same thing. The sight is ruined either way so no loss. Edited June 22 by Idaho Spud dill to dilli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 I don't know which way you got the other sight out, but it looks like you were trying to insert the new one from left to right. It should be the opposite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 (edited) nevermind, I was looking at it wrong. Edited June 22 by Abilene, SASS # 27489 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Spud Posted June 22 Author Share Posted June 22 A $25 lesson- don't be lazy about filing the sight down! Thanks Dilli, that did the trick! And yes Abilene, I had tried to put it in right to left when it got stuck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilli GaHoot Galoot Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 10 minutes ago, Idaho Spud said: A $25 lesson- don't be lazy about filing the sight down! Thanks Dilli, that did the trick! And yes Abilene, I had tried to put it in right to left when it got stuck A surprising number of life's troubles can be solved by cutting them in half 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 (edited) Next time, use a brass punch, about 1/4" diameter (aka drift) and a reasonable size hammer. Let the drift take the damage, not the sight or the barrel. Sights almost always install right to left and remove left to right. Using standard orientation of the gun - as if you are ready to shoot it. Looking from butt towards the muzzle. When you are filing the bottom of the dovetail of the SIGHT to get it to fit, file as close to perfectly level and straight across. Do not let the centerline "hump up" due to letting the file tip as you cut across. And don't even try to sand the sight. You want really good control of the metal you are removing. When you can insert the sight base about 1/4 of the way into the slot just with finger pressure, THEN you can apply taps with hammer and punch. good luck, GJ Edited June 22 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nostrum Damus SASS #110702 Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 And you're not an idiot. Just inexperienced and, more importantly, lacking the proper tools for the job. And even when you have the arguably proper tools, sometimes professional help is needed anyway. A good gunsmith shouldn't charge more than beer money to tap in -- or out -- a dovetail. I had to (sheepishly) ask my regular 'smith to tap out the factory-installed front blade sight on a Browning 1885 High Wall when no amount of my tapping with a brass drift punch would budge it. Two guys, a properly padded barrel vise, a brass drift punch with a modified face that would not slip off the side edge of the dovetail (they had done this before!), and one good rap with a 5-lb mallet, and voilá, job done. And yes, I gave the guys beer money. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 Get yourself a Wyoming Sight Drifter. Doesn’t look like it would work better than a hammer and punch but it does by a long shot. AND you are a lot less likely to mar the sight or gun. https://www.wyomingsightdrifter.com/store Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Badly Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 Sights? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 14 hours ago, Dilli GaHoot Galoot said: Cut it across the middle of the dovetail (like in line with the scratches) with a hacksaw, you shouldn't need to cut all the way through Or use a home gunsmith’s favorite tool, a Dremel. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Davey Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 11 hours ago, Nostrum Damus SASS #110702 said: And you're not an idiot. Just inexperienced and, more importantly, lacking the proper tools for the job. And even when you have the arguably proper tools, sometimes professional help is needed anyway. A good gunsmith shouldn't charge more than beer money to tap in -- or out -- a dovetail. I had to (sheepishly) ask my regular 'smith to tap out the factory-installed front blade sight on a Browning 1885 High Wall when no amount of my tapping with a brass drift punch would budge it. Two guys, a properly padded barrel vise, a brass drift punch with a modified face that would not slip off the side edge of the dovetail (they had done this before!), and one good rap with a 5-lb mallet, and voilá, job done. And yes, I gave the guys beer money. We all did it once.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilli GaHoot Galoot Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 1 hour ago, Navy Davey said: We all did it once.... "Once"? Uh, yeah! That's right, it was just that "one" time. 1 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kajun Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 4 hours ago, Matthew Duncan said: Or use a home gunsmith’s favorite tool, a Dremel. My gunsmith gives Dremel tools to his customers for Christmas. Kajun 1 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 7 hours ago, Mister Badly said: Sights? My local range (Bud's) requires all firearms have sights. It is one of the rules. No rule says you have to use them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted June 22 Share Posted June 22 (edited) See? He has sights: Edited June 22 by John Kloehr 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Badly Posted June 23 Share Posted June 23 Well played! Comrade Outlaw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Badly Posted June 23 Share Posted June 23 But--- 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb Mark Posted June 23 Share Posted June 23 Might also remove the sharp edges on the left corners of the filed down sight. Keeps the corners from biting into the dovetail when knocking it into position. Also maybe paint the bottom flat surface of the area being filed down using a black sharpie. Every few file strokes, measure the thickness, repaint with sharpie. Provides a visual indication that you are filing flat. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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