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Thread: need help with win 94 front sight

  1. #1
    Boolit Master



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    need help with win 94 front sight

    I have an older 30-30 Winchester 94 /octagon barrel rifle probably late 40's or early 50's vintage and I need to remove and replace the front sight. I don't know the best way of doing that, so I could use your help and suggestions. This was a rifle my Dad bought after the war and that front sight has never been correct.
    thanks
    atr
    Death to every foe and traitor and hurrah, my boys, for freedom !

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
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    Try talking to these guys. They should be able to help.
    https://homesteadparts.com/shop/index.php

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    .

    To remove the sight, place the muzzle end of the barrel securely in the padded jaws of a solidly-mounted bench vise, then use a brass drift pin and a heavy hammer to push the old sight out of the dovetail slot ( no love taps), towards the loading port side (RH).

    Place the tip of the drift pin in the middle of the LH side of the sight's male dovetail, and not on the barrel metal or the upper portion of the sight.

    Install the replacement sight into the barrel's female dovetail, starting on the rifle's RH side, towards the left side of the barrel.

    Ensure that the replacement sight is at least as tall as the original sight, taller if a receiver peep sight is to be used as the rear sight.

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  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    If the sight is very tight, a brass punch will likely be needed. Brass can dent sight metal sometimes though, so you should try a nylon punch to start.

    Why are you needing to replace the sight atr, just need a different height?
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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    .

    Soaking with a few drops of a penetrating oil can help with moving a stubborn sight that's been in place for a long time.

    .
    Now I lay me down to sleep
    A gun beside me is what I keep
    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

  6. #6
    Boolit Master



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    thanks guys, you have given me the information I needed.
    best
    atr
    Death to every foe and traitor and hurrah, my boys, for freedom !

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by pietro View Post
    .

    Soaking with a few drops of a penetrating oil can help with moving a stubborn sight that's been in place for a long time.

    .
    I suggest Kroil for the oil.

  8. #8
    Moderator Emeritus / Trusted loob groove dealer

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    Quote Originally Posted by pietro View Post
    .

    To remove the sight, place the muzzle end of the barrel securely in the padded jaws of a solidly-mounted bench vise, then use a brass drift pin and a heavy hammer to push the old sight out of the dovetail slot ( no love taps), towards the loading port side (RH).

    Place the tip of the drift pin in the middle of the LH side of the sight's male dovetail, and not on the barrel metal or the upper portion of the sight.

    Install the replacement sight into the barrel's female dovetail, starting on the rifle's RH side, towards the left side of the barrel.

    Ensure that the replacement sight is at least as tall as the original sight, taller if a receiver peep sight is to be used as the rear sight.

    .
    I found that putting a baggie taped into place over the end of the barrel to be a good thing when walloping a sight out. They can fly and hide.
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  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master
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    50 / 50 acetone + transmission fluid (sometimes even 60 / 40) is the best stuff I've used to penetrate stubborn pieces stuck together. Warm the piece slightly and paint on the fluid mix. Repeat several times for really stuck stuff.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy




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    If the new sight is way too tight to fit, place a fine or medium coarseness file flat on a bench and draw the bottom of your new sight (just the part that will touch the bottom of the dovetail on your rifle) over it by hand, change the direction every few passes to even out any irregularity with your pulls. This will reduce the width of the bottom of its dovetail, as well as that portion's height which will nearly always make it fit. If that doesn't work and you need to modify the full width of the dovetailed area on your new sight you will want a safe-edge dovetail file which are available on brownells: https://www.brownells.com/tools-clea...?sku=080648160

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check