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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Filling of front sight slot (Read 8051 times)
Pentz
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Filling of front sight slot
Mar 20th, 2015 at 8:59pm
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My CPA half octagon came with a front sight slot in the Shilen barrel.  I did not think to ask Gail about that detail upon ordering.  Open to any innovative methods of plugging it, some fancy detailing to "round it out" would not be out of place?
  

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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #1 - Mar 20th, 2015 at 11:39pm
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It isn't very innovative, but why not just put a period-looking front sight on it and call it good instead of trying to hide it with something. I think these rifles look natural with a sight in any event- just one man's thought. Of course, if you really don't want a front sight the real way to do it is to send it back and get an inch or so whacked off. Again, just my thought.  Pat
  
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harry_eales
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #2 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 2:50am
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Pentz,
It is not unusual in such cases for the dovetail to be filled with a very close fitting blanking plate, the only problem is matching to colour of it to blend in with the rest of the barrel's blue.

Harry
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #3 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 10:27am
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Another option is a fancy dovetail filler. I use old broken rear sights to make them. Most have a point on one end, and I use my Dremel and a file to shape a matching point on the broken end. Then blue the bare metal, and tap them in place. Looks better than an open dovetail, or a plain looking filler.
  

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Pentz
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #4 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 1:40pm
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I'd rather add something that clearly does not match than a poor match.  Wondering about silver and letting it tarnish....or brass.
  

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nuclearcricket
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #5 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 3:53pm
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Another solution would be to mix up a little glass bedding compound and stain it black with a little lamp black or in-letting black. That should pretty well match the color of the barrel and make it all but invisible. If nothing else, it will totally fill in the slot and make it snag proof.
Sam
  
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #6 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 7:36pm
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You might install a dovetail style base that fits the Lyman 77 sight, and slip the 77 on and off as desired.
  

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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #7 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 8:41pm
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BROWNELLS - SIGHT DOVETAIL SLOT BLANKS

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Fill Empty Dovetails For A Clean, Finished Appearance

The perfect cure when removing factory sights or restoring antiques to original space. Mild steel blanks machined slightly oversize for a close, perfectly blended fit in barrel sight dovetails. Easy to shape, file and blue.
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #8 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 9:42pm
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Brownells also has these:
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I've got 5-6 of them if you're interested in this style? I'll have some with me tomorrow at the OAC show in Portland.
  

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Pentz
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #9 - Mar 21st, 2015 at 11:43pm
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I'll be there as always.  Who do I look for?
  

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marlinguy
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #10 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 8:33am
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Pentz wrote on Mar 21st, 2015 at 11:43pm:
I'll be there as always.  Who do I look for?


Can't miss my tables. They're always full of Ballard rifles.
  

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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #11 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 9:04am
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How about having someone machine you a dovetail blank with a spirit level in it.
  

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slumlord44
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #12 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 5:25pm
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I think those are available from a couple of sources.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #13 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 5:53pm
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Seanmp wrote on Mar 22nd, 2015 at 9:04am:
How about having someone machine you a dovetail blank with a spirit level in it.


Since his gun will be scoped, a spirit level filler would be hard to make use of. Not sure how one would see it?

Nice meeting you today Pentz! I'm sure we'll see each other again!-Vall
  

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Re: Filling of front sight slot
Reply #14 - Mar 22nd, 2015 at 8:48pm
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Yes the OP said he wanted something for looks
« Last Edit: Mar 22nd, 2015 at 9:58pm by Seanmp »  

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