Often the front sight on a
Mil-Surp rifle leaves a lot to be desired.
Sometimes the tapered sight doesn’t give a good
sight picture for aging eyes. Many Mil-Surp sight
blades are worn and battered. Or, as often
happens, the front sight is to just low for 100 yard
zero.
In a previous article, “A
Non-Permanent Way To
Adjust a Mil-Surp front Sight”, we described how to
use Agra-Glass Gel epoxy to build up a front sight
for 100 yard zero. This is a non-permanent
solution, and won’t alter your rifle. A heat gun
will soften the Gel and it can be removed.
Recently I began thinking about
a more permanent way to alter the front blade on a
Mauser, SMLE or any type rifle with a dovetailed
front sight. What got me started was an older
gentleman at the range saying the tapered post was
hard to sight with. He commented that he could see
square posts much better, and it needed to be taller
for 100 yards. The parameters for this project
would be; a simple, inexpensive way to put a taller,
square post blade on a rifle.
I noticed many rifles used a
round pin for a front blade. When sighting a rifle,
this gives the same sight picture as a parallel
sided, square topped blade. Decapping pins for
reloading dies are hardened and blued. I felt one
of these pins would work well. A 5 pack of RCBS
decapping pins cost about $2.50
I had no desire to permanently
alter the original front sight. I ordered another
SMLE front sight from Numrich Gun Parts Corporation,
www.e-gunparts.com . I ordered it on Sunday and
it arrived by mail the next Thursday. That’s good,
fast service. The delivered price was $6.80. The
sight I received is clean and correct, what more
could one ask?
