Blackhawk front sight?

[mudygmc]

Hey guys I pucked up a sbh 44 a little while back. Got a really good deal on it I think. But turns out maybe not. It looks like somebody had ground down the front sight. I can not get the rear sights to adjust enough to sight it in at 35yds. Ive tried many loads 44mag and 44spl. The best i can get out of the sights is 8in high. Some previous owner must have either shot some ultra low powered loads or shot it at way longer range than im comfortable with to grind down the sight that far. Im curious what the best option would be to get a new sight installed? Is there a good smith that can handle it fairly easily and timely. Or is it best to send it back to the factory. Ive tried building it up with a couple different epoxys now. Nothing will stay on for any duration though. Any ideas would be great.

Adam

[Outpost75]

I would send it back to the factory unless you have a local smith who can mill a standard 3/8" dovetail slot in the existing sight base so that you can install a replacement high front sight. Not sure where you are, but John Taylor has done similar work for me and made a new front sight from scratch.

251476

[Hrfunk]

It might be a cheap and easy fix to try filing down the rear sight, or replacing the rear blade with a shorter one.

Howard

[Thumbcocker]

I have had a few modified with the front sight blade cut off and the base milled with a grove in it to take a Ruger front blade. A small roll pin holds the new blade in.

[mudygmc]

I live in NW North Dakota. Does anybody know a shop they'd recommend somewhat close. I can send it by mail too to a quality shop. Like to get it fixed so i can shoot it accurately. I appreciate the info.

Adam

[Greg S]

A shameless plug here for our own 2Dogs who makes some nice front sights for various pistols. I just happened to butt dial him yesturday and he called back to see if he could do anything for me. I explained the situation and he ran his idea he put together for a Black Friday Special. Give him a jingle.

PM sent.

[cabezaverde]

I have a .45 Blackhawk convertible that has the same issue. I think it was a known problem a number of years ago.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

If you send it back to Ruger they can put a new barrel on it

[megasupermagnum]

Am I missing something? I cant remember ever seeing a blackhawk or superblackhawk without a removable front sight. It looks like most were either a screw, or a roll pin.

[onelight]

Am I missing something? I cant remember ever seeing a blackhawk or superblackhawk without a removable front sight. It looks like most were either a screw, or a roll pin.

The stainless have a blued sight secured with a roll pin , and the single six has a screw.

[megasupermagnum]

The stainless have a blued sight secured with a roll pin , and the single six has a screw.

So what's the problem? Just replace the front sight with a new one.

[onelight]

So what's the problem? Just replace the front sight with a new one.
The blued blackhawks do not have a removable front sight al least not for most of us I wish they did.:-?

[megasupermagnum]

Whoops. Well I would look into having it milled off and a dovetail slot cut then.

[bmortell]

based on my calculations it would need to be a minimum of 38 thousands higher per a 6" sight radius, more if its longer less if its a shorter sight radius, plus a bit more for loads that are further off, plus a bit more so your not fully down on the rear all the time. maybe that helps something

[country gent]

A quick Fix that might work for you is to build up the front sight taller than you need it and file back in. Here a couple pieces of flat aluminum and small clamp. Will be need. JB weld mixed with fine steel filings, ( this should allow it to blue) or solder. Rough up the top surface of the blade with a file or sand paper Coat the small aluminum flats with a release agent several times and clamp on each side of front sight with a small clamp. A parallel clamp works well. Mix the JB and add the fine filings mixing well. Work well into "slot" between flats well working air out with a tooth pick or bamboo skewer. When cured remove plates and clean up sight in and blue or paint/dye. Or, clean front blade to bright metal, clamp aluminum to it each side flux heat and build up with solder to where it can be cleaned up to zero. here you will have a silver tipped blade.

The JB way can be done pretty easily in the shop or reloading room. A vise to hold the pistol in gives a third hand and helps a lot. Once cured and fitted the JB will absorb paint and hold it well or if filings are added blue. If going with the filings mix some and find the ratio you need first before the sight. Either the JB or solder will file in easily and finish easily, with just fine files and or hand tools.

If you wanted a brass bead the sight could be cut down to make it "square" and low temp braze used instead of solder and cut to height.

[Todd N.]

Here's a silly idea. Do you own a screwdriver? Is your front sight Ruger original? You could always buy one of these for $8.69 plus shipping and install it yourself.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004313733?pid=187825

This is the factory Ruger Front Sight Base and Post for .44 magnum. I suggest blue loctite on the screw.

Or is yours different? Could you post a picture of it?

[contender1]

"I have had a few modified with the front sight blade cut off and the base milled with a grove in it to take a Ruger front blade. A small roll pin holds the new blade in. "

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

On a BLUED Ruger SBH,, the front sights are silver soldered on. Removal & replacement will also require a reblue. They are not screwed on.
Another option is to gently heat the original one, remove it & D&T the bbl for a screw on sight,, but there is the issue some folks have with higher pressure loads & the small possibility of D&Ting too deeply.

By far,, the most common method is to go the route of milling off the rest of the blade,, having a groove cut for a replaceable blade & install a new blade.

There is a similar question on the ruger forum dot com,,, where member Hondo offers an EXCELLENT tutorial on how to DIY using a Dremel. Look in either the revolver section or the gunsmithing section. I do believe it's in the revolver section. If you can't find it,, PM me & I can send you a copy. I saved it for future reference for folks.

[Todd N.]

"I have had a few modified with the front sight blade cut off and the base milled with a grove in it to take a Ruger front blade. A small roll pin holds the new blade in. "

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

On a BLUED Ruger SBH,, the front sights are silver soldered on. Removal & replacement will also require a reblue. They are not screwed on.
Another option is to gently heat the original one, remove it & D&T the bbl for a screw on sight,, but there is the issue some folks have with higher pressure loads & the small possibility of D&Ting too deeply.

By far,, the most common method is to go the route of milling off the rest of the blade,, having a groove cut for a replaceable blade & install a new blade.

There is a similar question on the ruger forum dot com,,, where member Hondo offers an EXCELLENT tutorial on how to DIY using a Dremel. Look in either the revolver section or the gunsmithing section. I do believe it's in the revolver section. If you can't find it,, PM me & I can send you a copy. I saved it for future reference for folks.

I have a 10" blued SBH that I bought NIB from a dealer. It is a one owner gun. It has exactly the front sight that I recommended in my previous post. I also own 2 other SBH- 1 blue, 1 Stainless- that have a silver soldered base and a pinned front blade.

Ruger is no different than any other gun manufacturer in that nothing is carved in stone. Just like Winchester, Smith & Wesson and Colt, Ruger has made guns with a myriad of variations over the years.

This is part of what makes collecting so fun and challenging!


And if the OP wants a truly original look, he can send it back to Ruger who will happily repair to factory new condition.

[cabezaverde]

Any idea what Ruger charges to fix this? Do they actually install a new barrel?

[sixshot]

I've been doing the JB Weld build up for many years but Fermin (2dogs) is a much better way to go. Have him narrow it to 1/10" while you're at it & he will have it back to you in no time. It will be a post style front sight & you will love the workmanship.

Dick

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Any idea what Ruger charges to fix this? Do they actually install a new barrel?
Yes they put a new barrel on around $200. They did mine for free but I asked what it would cost they also reblued my pistol

[cabezaverde]

251548

This is what I did with mine a number of years ago. I don't shoot it much but like the sight picture. Has held up so far. It is a piece of light pipe from a shotgun sight.

[mudygmc]

I don't have the pistol with me here. I left it in my other safe at my dad's. I don't have enough gun storage at my place. I think i will give Fermin a call and see what he can do. If it doesn't workout i willhunt for a smith that can cut a dove tail in the existing base.

Adam

[contender1]

Todd N. You are correct. However,, MOST of the more common SBH's that are blued have the soldered on front sight. The screw on front sight isn't common for most of the blued centerfire guns. And yes,, "never say never" with Ruger. I've been collecting them for over 30 years & I still get surprised occasionally.