Left or right?

[Ol Gabe]

I got in a discussion with a Pard the other day about the installing procedure for a new/different dovetail sight and afterwards was about as confused as when we first started the discussion, I said 'left side' and he said 'right side'.
Soooooo, I'm asking the experts here since I've never done it: which is the correct side of the barrel to install a dovetail sight from, the left or the right as you look down the barrel from the recvr.?
Next question: which file is the best to use, a triangle Rat-tail or something more speicfic if it is needed?
Thanks in advance, sure I'll be enlightened!
'Ol Gabe

[Laredo Crockett]

I believe that installation is left to right, same as for thru pins, but my memory, as well as other things, don't work as well as it once did.

[jiminy criquet]

I file my dovetails by hand (along with the matching part), so the answer would be whatever side fit's best.  But I find them usually fitting best from the left side, muzzle facing away from you.  Go figure.

Oh, FWIW, I use a set of 3 small triangular files, one of which (the smallest) has one side ground smooth for detailed cleanup work....or taking metal off of one surface without impacting the other surface.

[Wolfcamp Hill]

a machinist/gunsmith friend told me the dovetails are cut with a mill that cuts a consistant width slot so it makes no difference which side unless someone has modified the slot.  i reckon this makes sense since a tapered slot would limit the amount of windage adjustment you could get without running into problems with the sight blade becoming too loose or too tight in the dovetail slot.  also, make sure the file you use in the slot is made with the same angle as the slot and the sight.  most files are 45 degree and some slots are not.  i found out about this the hard way.

wolfcamp

[Montana Slim]

Industry practice has generally been to install right-to-left.
Thus if there is a taper on either the dovetail or sight, removing from left-to-right will preserve some of the "fit" still available to aid in retention after re-installing. Of course a tad-bit of work with a ball-peen hammer will snug things up right quick.

Slim