installing front site

[ronster]

installing front site on a pietta 1851. wanting to drill a small hole and i am going to put a small hex round head screw for a bead site. seen people use dimes and such. wanted to know two things. how for can i drill into barrel. i know not to go all the way through and what is the best way to center the site. thanks in advance.

[Pettifogger]

I'm still trying to visualize what a "hex", "round head" screw looks like.  A hex has six sides and round is, well, round.  If you are going to drill and tap the barrel put in a shotgun bead.  Makes a much nicer sight than a screw.

[ronster]

well its not a hex screw typo. its actually rounded. i've lined it up and it doesn't look bad it looks like a black bead site just can't remember what the screw is called. thought about the shotgun bead like in your pic and it does look nice. i am tired of putting money in on this gun just ready to finish it. i think it will coming out looking pretty good. thanks for the help.

[Pettifogger]

If you don't already have a good set of drills and taps drilling the hole and tapping it might get expensive for one sight.  The hole is going to be a blind, shallow hole and to get any threads in it you need a bottoming tap.  A regular tap is tapered and you won't be able to get enough threads in there.  One other thing you can do is pull the existing sight (they are pressed into the hole), measure it with some calipers and then get a piece of brass rod from a hobby shop.  If the rod is a little larger than the hole or you want a thicker front sight you can put a piece of the brass rod in an electric drill and use a file to cut a shoulder on it.  You can soft solder it in the hole or if the fit in the hole is close enough you can also use some red loctite.

[Fingers McGee]

One other thing you can do is pull the existing sight (they are pressed into the hole), measure it with some calipers and then get a piece of brass rod from a hobby shop.  If the rod is a little larger than the hole or you want a thicker front sight you can put a piece of the brass rod in an electric drill and use a file to cut a shoulder on it.  You can soft solder it in the hole or if the fit in the hole is close enough you can also use some red loctite.

A length of 1/8inch brazing rod will make boucoup front site posts.  Chucked in a dremel or drill, using some jewelers files, you can make a new post in a few minutes.  Red Loctite will hold it in the hole indefinitely

FM

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I had small driftable sights dovetailed into my 1851 C&B and Richard Masons.  Now, what about the Uberti 1862 Police?  There is a VERY small bead sight, that could stand a lot of he77-raisin'.

[Paladin UK]

Fer SC........
I inlet a little brass blade sight inta mine



Werks jest fine, she was shootin way too high!!

Paladin (What lurvs his little ole #62  ) UK

[Angel_Eyes]

Hey UK Palomine.

Now I do believe I have seen those primer holders somewhere!

Are they all your own work or bought in?  (Price??)

AE

[Paladin UK]

Fer AE.
All my own work!!
They take forever (Aint got CNC) But They make all the difference.  No Jamming up, No hot metal fragments in yer face or hand!!










No mods needed (Cept on colts OTs need the gap in the hammer tigged). Roogers Spiller, Cattlemen hammers are fine 

Paladin (Whats werkin on an new idea  ) UK

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings Paladin ...

beautiful work and a stroke of genius ! yet I am puzzled - "Those Who Must Control"  register and regulate BP cylinders but somehow small pistol primers are a commodity? Better not tell them - after they regulate the primers next will be Kitchen Matches and the very lathe that you made these little beauties upon!  I guess they don't realize that anyone can drill through a bar to make a cylinder? :-O

Come on down here and retiure in the U.S.  Paladin! The Pound is up, the Dollar is down and there are numerous AZ, NM Texas and Oklahoma properties available at bargain basement prices. With your skills you can set up shop and join the others making Open Top parts !

yhs
prof too hot and grumpy today

[Paladin UK]

Dont tempt me Professor!!!

Once I`ve had both hips done (One should be done before sept).  We, (Me `n` Annie `O`), might jest give it some serious thought.

This `merry Ole England` that I loved so dearly has disappeared completely up Mr. PC`s arse!!

Nearly EVERY SINGLE PARD On your side of the pond that I`ve chatted with on these forums has made me feel welcome.

A true testament to the Global Bonding between Cowboys!!

Paladin  (What Lurvs playin cowboy with Reeeeeeel Guns!!) UK

[Deadeye Dick]

Dear Professor Too Hot and Grumpy,
Please send some of that hot weather this way. We have only had one day that just made 70. The last two months have for all practical purposes have been solid rain or lots of rain or mostly rain or sunny weather in the forecast, but never arrived without more rain.
As for the skills of PUK, I completely agree. We could use some more pard's with his kind of talent.
Residing in cloudy and rainy Oregon and am still wet and cold,
Deadeye Dick

[Professor Marvel]

With the Greatest Appologies to Ronster for Hijacking his Front Sight Thread :-(

My Dear PUK -
(Gads I love that shorthand moniker, I am absolutely certain you are completely smirking at the pun, you devil)

By Gum you sir are "up" horribley late!

In all sincerity: I weep for you. Please do come on over. You will be welcomed with open arms, by fellow CAS shooters and other Reasonable Men. I participate in another "old timey" forum based in the UK involving steam driven devices, and they lament horribly over the existance of CHAVS and the citizens' inability to "do" anything about them let alone defend themselves, even with a stick!

My Dear Deadeye -
indeed the weather has gone nuts, we are all looking at flood levels exceeding the hundred year mark, going higher each year, the same with temperature highs and lows. But at least you still have sea-food you can eat without "extra oil"

Ronster:
Back on Topic, if you search the gunsmithing threads here you will find further examples of well-done front site blades set into dovetails (one by PUK as I recall) which offers another alternative that includes windage adjustment .

yhs
prof (getting better as the clouds roll in) marvel