rear sight installation

[Battis]

I bought a correct rear sight for my Krag 1896 carbine and two repro screws from S&S Firearms. The barrel screw mounting holes had been filled in long ago, but I don't know with what. They're visible and line up perfectly with the sight holes. Do those filled in holes make the mounting harder, easier or no difference? I'll probably have a machinist do it unless I can find a good gunsmith.

[Mk42gunner]

They would make it harder, because you have to somehow remove whatever was used to fill the screw holes first.

If you are lucky, someone just turned the original screws in tight and ground or filed the heads off. If that is the case, you may be able to back them out fairly easily.

If not, drilling and tapping may be necessary.

Robert

[Battis]

I never thought that someone might have ground the screw heads off. I'll check it out. I cannot find a gunsmith within 50 miles. Is there a rule of thumb as to how deep the screw holes should/might be?