Front sight fail

woodhog

January 20, 2012 15:19

I recently purchased a Marlin Cowboy ltd in .45 colt. Shooting it yesterday the front sight, which is in a dovetail notch simlpy fell out. It was evidently secured by some liquid, as evidenced by a little residue on sight and notch. My question is how do I get this sight to stay in. It slips back in freely but very loose. Any ideas?

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  17tobyracing

  January 20, 2012 15:24

  Slightly peen the dovetail on the sight to tighten the fit and use a drop of red loctite.

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  p3skyking

  January 20, 2012 15:34

  Solder would be my answer.

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  yoshmyster

  January 20, 2012 15:35

  Or tap a small screw thread in to the sight and run a set screw through it. Or buy a sight with that alerady done for you. I suppose you can push a shim under the dove tail but I reckon this is just a temp. solution.

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  tsr1965

  January 20, 2012 15:47

  The correct answer is to tighten the dovetail. It sounds like it was a little oversized from the factory. It should not require ANYTHING to stay put(including adheasive, solder, or a set screw!), if fit properly. Remember the sight goes in from the right side when looking down the gun from butt to muzzle.
  
  The proper way to tighten the dovetail is to use a brass punch and mallet to peen the upper edges of the dove tail down. Go slow and try fitting as you go. You should have to use that same brass punch and mallet to drive the sight in.
  
  Best

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  charliemeyer007

  January 20, 2012 15:58

  +1 tsr. If its really oversized you might need to get the next wider base and recut the dovetail. A file with a safe side helps do it right.

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  CSI21

  January 20, 2012 16:26

  I would use the set screw method, less work and not changing the gun, or send it back to marlin, they stand by thier work.

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  woodhog

  January 20, 2012 18:34

  thank-you gentlemen

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  v35

  January 20, 2012 18:56

  The front sight needs to be very tight in its' dovetail. A setscrew alone on a loose fit isn't a cure.
  Remove the sight and using a brass punch and hammer, tap the dovetail
  to tighten the fit. It should be tight enough that you have to drive the sight in (from right to left)using your brass punch.

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  Txs

  January 21, 2012 10:30

  A dovetail can be tightened by placing the shank of a larger drill bit lengthwise along the cut and rapping it with a hammer.

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  260

  January 21, 2012 14:26

  all good advise but you all or missing something simple...
  all one has to do is with a small prick punch is dimple the barrel under where the sight sits. then with a brass drift, tap in the sight.. left to right.

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  Txs

  January 21, 2012 14:34

  quote:Originally posted by 260
  all good advise but you all or missing something simple...
  all one has to do is with a small prick punch is dimple the barrel under where the sight sits. then with a brass drift, tap in the sight.. left to right.
  IMO it's better to simply tighten the dovetail so it works as designed rather than mar the gun - even if it is concealed by the sight blade.

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  dcs shooters

  January 21, 2012 16:17

  quote:Originally posted by 260
  all good advise but you all or missing something simple...
  all one has to do is with a small prick punch is dimple the barrel under where the sight sits. then with a brass drift, tap in the sight.. left to right.
  
  
  This is the correct way to tighten a dovetail [;)]
  And the best looking way for it [^]

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