Thread: Loose front sight dovetail

I have a slightly loose front sight dovetail.

Which locktite or araldite should I use ?

Sight is tight in the dovetail when the barrel is cold but has moved out of line when the barrel is hot.
Tap back to middle but loose again when its hot.
Only a whisker of play there.

Lightly tap down the edges of the dovetail with a small hammer. That will tighten it up a treat (standard gunsmithing trick).

I would try one the Loctite 6xx series retaining compounds if you don't want to do as suggested above although that is the better option

Originally Posted by gundoc

Lightly tap down the edges of the dovetail with a small hammer. That will tighten it up a treat (standard gunsmithing trick).

As above^^^^

As gundoc says. I’ve recently done the same thing when installing a new front post.

Should do the same to my m1 carbine, rear sight is loose as a goose at the moment. Will be doing as gundoc says

Definitely try the tap tapa tapa (happy Gilmour there).
Funnily enough I read somewhere a while back it is also used at times to tighten loose double shotgun hinge pins.

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Definitely try the tap tapa tapa (happy Gilmour there).
Funnily enough I read somewhere a while back it is also used at times to tighten loose double shotgun hinge pins.

Not recommended for tightening shotguns! There are two correct methods for doing that; reaming the joint and fitting a slightly larger hinge pin (not possible on some guns), or cutting a dovetail and fitting an insert in the hook. Neither are jobs for amatuers.

Originally Posted by gundoc

Not recommended for tightening shotguns! There are two correct methods for doing that; reaming the joint and fitting a slightly larger hinge pin (not possible on some guns), or cutting a dovetail and fitting an insert in the hook. Neither are jobs for amatuers.

Agreed. read a very detailed article only a few months back where they did the reaming job. very interesting

Well bugger me days, that's what I've done a few times myself when I have milled out a bit much and I`m not a gun smith. Must be in my D N A.