Black Prince
03-18-2007, 09:53 PM
I sent my Rifle to Lee Shaver to fix the trigger and hammer problems. He returned it with just a piece of packing tape over the front sight and UPS broke the spirit level on return shipment. So I ordered two new spirit inserts from American Manfacturing Technology, the people who made the Browning sights and still do. I asked them how the level was installed and how it came out since on my observation, it did not screw and appeared to be "snaped in and glued."
The AMT technician told me that is exactly how it is assembled and for me to just get a brass wedge of a knife blade and put it on the cap edge and tap it with a hammer to make it come off. If any of you ever have to replace the spirit level in those Browning sights DON'T FOLLOW The advice from AMT or you'll break the dam thing. I did what they said and the first tap BENT the very thin clyinder tube that holds the glass vial insert. That thing is VERY thin and will bend REAL easy.
Since the glass was already broken, the best way is to use an allen wrench and a small driver and tap the end caps straight out the end of the tube. DO NOT tap the outside end of the cap or you will bend the darn thing.
Antoher thing I quickly learned after straightening the tube is that the replacement glass vials are NOT straight. They are curved in an arch so I had to mess with it for a couple of hours to get it to fit since glass is sorta inelastic. Then I learned that the replacement glass vials are NOT the same length as the one that came out of it so I had to file off the inside of the retaining end caps wihich reduces the already small area for you to use instant glue to hold them. So I had to break out the Dremel tool and grind a small recess in the little end cap ( ever tried to hold one of those things and grind on it?) Once I got the recess ground in, the end caps fit nicely so I super glued tham like the technician told me. I don't know if they are going to hold because I have not had the opportunity to shoot it yet to see if they will come off but everything looks right as of now.
Then I set a level on the barrel flat and leveled it and noticed the front level was off. Then I set the level on the top of the breach and the front sight level was still off the same anount. Well DUH? The little cynlinder tube on the front sight was bent right to left so I had to level it with the level on the barrel flat. It is all regulated now.
What I learned about the Browning front sight is that is is DAM DELICATE and even a small bump can knock it out of level. If any of you boys have one, you might want to put a small level ( I used one from Cabela's designed to go on a bow sight) on the barrel flat and check your front level. I am going to replace that front sight with one a lot more substantial. The one that came on the rifle is waaaaay too delicate to be used seriously but until UPS broke it and I had to REALLY take a good look at it, I had not noticed how flimsey it is and how easy it can be bent. If you have one, take a close look at yours and check it for any problems. It may explain those shots that land where you were not aiming or why you have to run in right or left windage when you hold the bubble correctly on the spirit level.
The AMT technician told me that is exactly how it is assembled and for me to just get a brass wedge of a knife blade and put it on the cap edge and tap it with a hammer to make it come off. If any of you ever have to replace the spirit level in those Browning sights DON'T FOLLOW The advice from AMT or you'll break the dam thing. I did what they said and the first tap BENT the very thin clyinder tube that holds the glass vial insert. That thing is VERY thin and will bend REAL easy.
Since the glass was already broken, the best way is to use an allen wrench and a small driver and tap the end caps straight out the end of the tube. DO NOT tap the outside end of the cap or you will bend the darn thing.
Antoher thing I quickly learned after straightening the tube is that the replacement glass vials are NOT straight. They are curved in an arch so I had to mess with it for a couple of hours to get it to fit since glass is sorta inelastic. Then I learned that the replacement glass vials are NOT the same length as the one that came out of it so I had to file off the inside of the retaining end caps wihich reduces the already small area for you to use instant glue to hold them. So I had to break out the Dremel tool and grind a small recess in the little end cap ( ever tried to hold one of those things and grind on it?) Once I got the recess ground in, the end caps fit nicely so I super glued tham like the technician told me. I don't know if they are going to hold because I have not had the opportunity to shoot it yet to see if they will come off but everything looks right as of now.
Then I set a level on the barrel flat and leveled it and noticed the front level was off. Then I set the level on the top of the breach and the front sight level was still off the same anount. Well DUH? The little cynlinder tube on the front sight was bent right to left so I had to level it with the level on the barrel flat. It is all regulated now.
What I learned about the Browning front sight is that is is DAM DELICATE and even a small bump can knock it out of level. If any of you boys have one, you might want to put a small level ( I used one from Cabela's designed to go on a bow sight) on the barrel flat and check your front level. I am going to replace that front sight with one a lot more substantial. The one that came on the rifle is waaaaay too delicate to be used seriously but until UPS broke it and I had to REALLY take a good look at it, I had not noticed how flimsey it is and how easy it can be bent. If you have one, take a close look at yours and check it for any problems. It may explain those shots that land where you were not aiming or why you have to run in right or left windage when you hold the bubble correctly on the spirit level.