Rear and Front Sight Drift Tool

[Cooper]

Other than the Williams #1953 front sight tool (which is out of stock everywhere and Williams will not start production for six months), are there any tools available that can drift the front and/or rear dovetail sights? I have a .45-7- single shot, H015, that shoots to the left of center with the rear sight moved all the way over. I have tried to tap the sight with a punch and it doesn't budge. I would like to use a clamp type tool that would move the sight in small increments instead of using a bigger hammer.

Thanks!

Cooper

[Mags]

.
I'm not much help. Others should be along shortly with their ideas.
Anyway, welcome to the forum from the TV, Oregon.

Other than the Williams #1953 front sight tool (which is out of stock everywhere and Williams will not start production for six months), are there any tools available that can drift the front and/or rear dovetail sights? I have a .45-7- single shot, H015, that shoots to the left of center with the rear sight moved all the way over. I have tried to tap the sight with a punch and it doesn't budge. I would like to use a clamp type tool that would move the sight in small increments instead of using a bigger hammer.

Thanks!

Cooper

[Mistered]

A 6" section of 1/2" UHMW rod works well.

[markiver54]

Most require drifting from left to right, looking down the barrel from the receiver.

[Mistered]

Most require drifting from left to right, looking down the barrel from the receiver.

This is correct - to remove them that is.

Front sights are intended to tighten as they move from the right TO the left and then ultimately centered.

If the gun is shooting to the left as you describe with the sight moved all the way over - and I assume you mean all the way to the right - then it has other problems that will not be corrected by moving the front sight.

[CT_Shooter]

Welcome to the forum from CT. Glad you joined us.

I hope you get an answer soon, but it does sound like there is something else wrong. Having the rear sight moved all the way to the right, but it still shoots to the left of the target is troubling. Let us know how you make out.

Other than the Williams #1953 front sight tool (which is out of stock everywhere and Williams will not start production for six months), are there any tools available that can drift the front and/or rear dovetail sights? I have a .45-7- single shot, H015, that shoots to the left of center with the rear sight moved all the way over. I have tried to tap the sight with a punch and it doesn't budge. I would like to use a clamp type tool that would move the sight in small increments instead of using a bigger hammer.

Thanks!

Cooper

[Cooper]

Thanks everyone who responded. Since the screw will not move the windage any further to the right to permit the bullet to hit the bulls-eye, I need to drift the sight to the right to get the zero. Like I have mentioned, I have tried brass punches on the rear sight. While doing so, I had the barrel in a vise and removed from the receiver. It appears the sight's dovetail is too tight and I do not want to pound with a huge hammer and ding the barrel. Which is why I was hoping to find a drifting tool.

I know that the preferred sight to move is the rear sight, but since the rear would not move I was thinking of moving the front sight, it appears to be a bit off center anyway, which could be the root of my problem. But it would not move either by tapping with the punch and barrel in the vise. There are plenty of choices for pistol sight drifting tools, but they will not work with a rifle.

So...any new suggestions are welcome. I will take the rifle to the range tomorrow and see how it shoots.

Cooper

[markiver54]

Let us know how it shoots and what you decide to do. FWIW, I bought a Henry SGC and had to send it back for repair. Neither I, or my local gunsmith could get the front dovetail to move without potential damage...I feel your pain!

Oh...by the way, welcome to the forum from Western North Carolina!

[CT_Shooter]

If, after your next time at the range, it is still not shooting properly, please telephone (faster than email) HRA Customer Service (http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 127#p70193) and explain the problem and how you've tried to remedy it. I have to say, not many have actually removed the barrel from the receiver to adjust its sighting.

I will take the rifle to the range tomorrow and see how it shoots.

[markiver54]

If, after your next time at the range, it is still not shooting properly, please telephone (faster than email) HRA Customer Service (http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 127#p70193) and explain the problem and how you've tried to remedy it. I have to say, not many have actually removed the barrel from the receiver to adjust its sighting.

Yes, seems a bit extreme!
Don't know exactly what Henry did with my SGC. The ticket merely said, replaced front sight.
Could tell it was the original barrel though.

[Mistered]

Something is very wrong here.
I have never had a sight, front or rear I could not remove and I have removed and installed many. Some have been very tight and rusted but I have never had one I could not remove.
Did you have the barrel in the vise jaws centered on the sight you were trying to remove (I hope so) and were you tapping from the left TO the right to try remove it?

[roddy]

I use a piece of 5/16" aluminum rod and a hammer. Sometimes, you just have to hit them harder. Any marks that the aluminum leaves on the sight or barrel can be wiped off with bore solvent (the same goes for brass punches).
I do have the Williams sight pusher tool, but it is intended for front sights that are on a ramp, or in a raised portion of the barrel, like a 10/22. Using it on a sight that is dovetailed directly into the barrel won't work well, and may chew up your barrel.

Don't forget...sight adjustments are opposite front to rear...to move the POI right, move the rear sight right, and/or the front sight left.

It sounds like Cooper has noticed, but others may not have...the rear sight on the H015 is windage adjustable via a screw. I would make sure the front sight is centered first, then revisit the rear one. Don't be afraid to give it a little more than a tap...just make sure to use a 'punch' made of a softer material than your barrel/sight. UHMW plastics, aluminum, and brass all work good. I picked up a 3' length of aluminum rod at Home Depot for next to nothing, and cut off a 6" piece to use as a punch. If I ever lose it, there's 5 more in that chunk of rod...

[The Wiz]

welcome to the site, Cooper!

[Cooper]

Yes, for the most part I had the barrel in the vise, which is why I removed the barrel from the receiver. I did not remove the forearm from the barrel. I did not clamp onto the wood during the process. And yes, I did strike them from the left going to the right, since that was the direction I needed to go.

--Cooper

Something is very wrong here.
I have never had a sight, front or rear I could not remove and I have removed and installed many. Some have been very tight and rusted but I have never had one I could not remove.
Did you have the barrel in the vise jaws centered on the sight you were trying to remove (I hope so) and were you tapping from the left TO the right to try remove it?

[Cooper]

Thanks for the info that the Williams Sight tool is for ramped sights. I did not catch that in my research. I saw one on Ebay that I almost bought. I don't understand why there are so many pistol sight pushers but none for rifles. A drifting tool such as this would be perfect for gradually moving the sight instead of knocking it all the way out.

I will try and track down a UHMW rod. Though my punch kit does have some plastic punches that might be UHMW.

--Cooper

I use a piece of 5/16" aluminum rod and a hammer. Sometimes, you just have to hit them harder. Any marks that the aluminum leaves on the sight or barrel can be wiped off with bore solvent (the same goes for brass punches).
I do have the Williams sight pusher tool, but it is intended for front sights that are on a ramp, or in a raised portion of the barrel, like a 10/22. Using it on a sight that is dovetailed directly into the barrel won't work well, and may chew up your barrel.

Don't forget...sight adjustments are opposite front to rear...to move the POI right, move the rear sight right, and/or the front sight left.

It sounds like Cooper has noticed, but others may not have...the rear sight on the H015 is windage adjustable via a screw. I would make sure the front sight is centered first, then revisit the rear one. Don't be afraid to give it a little more than a tap...just make sure to use a 'punch' made of a softer material than your barrel/sight. UHMW plastics, aluminum, and brass all work good. I picked up a 3' length of aluminum rod at Home Depot for next to nothing, and cut off a 6" piece to use as a punch. If I ever lose it, there's 5 more in that chunk of rod...

[Cooper]

Update...The rifle sights are now much better. The drifting attempts with the punches appear to have moved either the front or the rear a small amount and now my bullets are striking more on the vertical axis of the bullseye, with a good number of bullets in the bullseye.

Thanks again everyone for helping me through this.

Still wish it was easier to adjust and less violent...