Click on any of the images below to see a larger version of the image.

Adobe Acrobat PDF Version of Article - Click Here

By Mark Trope & R. Ted Jeo

Authors may be contacted at orst86@gmail.com

When I began to shoot mil-surp rifles in a big way, I found, as others had before me, that few were adjusted for 100 yard shooting.  The designers obviously had other ideas in mind!  The question was how to adjust sights without affecting the originality of the rifle.  This ruled out cutting the rear sight notch deeper, or welding material on the front sight post to make it higher.  Neither of which are easy to do anyway.

Companies such as Numrich Arms (Gun Parts Corp) and Brownells sell newly manufactured replacement front sights for Mauser pattern rifles.  However, they do not fit all dovetails without some sort of filing to install them and require the correct use of a safety edge file and also exact reproduction of the dovetail angle.  Even so, the new sight will still require adjustment by the time honored method of  “Shoot & File” until the rifle is zeroed for the selected load, be it military ball or handload.  Additionally, many other types of mil-surp rifles besides Mausers are being used today.  In general, no replacement blades other then Mauser style are available in any sort of quantity or quality.

 It seemed that if a replacement was going to require fitting, why not build up the original front sight to zero at 100 yards, in such a way that was completely reversible?  

 In our conversations, Ted and I set parameters for this project.  It had to be totally reversible, not affecting the originality of a rifle.  The results would have to be achieved in a simple, inexpensive way that anyone can accomplish at home.  In other words. CHEAP and EASY!

 ACRAGLAS GEL® is well known for bedding rifle actions.  The inexpensive kit comes with release agent, resin, hardener and two packets of dye, one black, one brown.  The instructions are straight forward and the gel itself is fairly easy to work with.  Clean up is pretty easy also, as, while the gel is still soft, household vinegar can be used to wipe up smears.  After the gel has set up & hardened, a heat gun could soften it to a point where it can be easily removed, leaving everything as it originally was. The kit runs about $15-$20 and is available from Brownells or other shooter supplies or you may be able to find it at your local sporting goods store.

We felt ACRAGLAS GEL® held promise for this project.  However, using the bedding compound safely sandwiched between a rifle action and stock is a far cry from the compound standing unsupported near the blast from a rifle muzzle for repeated shots.    Would the compound remain in place, or, simply crack and fall off?  We’re happy to report ACRAGLAS GEL® exceeded our expectations on all counts!  Here is our step by step method. 

First, remove the front sight blade and completely degrease it with a spray cleaner such as a spray gun degreasing solution, spray brake pad cleaner, or even lighter fluid. Once degreased, the blade can be clamped in a vice.   As in our photo example (Italian 6.5mm Carcano), guns with front sights to tightly wedged in or have an integral front sights, the entire rifle may be clamped in an upright horizontal position (as shown in figure 1). 

Figure 2  The form is made from a soda can and shaped by bending/folding around the sight blade.  Making the form higher than required is best.

OK, the blade is clean & secure and our forms are made.  The gel kit has a small bottle of release agent.  Use it to coat the insides of the forms and allow them dry completely.  A small brush or even a pipe cleaner works well (as shown in figure 3 ). You may want to put two coats of release agent in your form.  Allow the release agent to dry completely before going on.

Figure 3  A pipe cleaner works well to coat the inside of the form with release agent.

Figure 4  The form can be held in place using alligator clips or bent paper clips.

Figure 5  Mix up enough gel to finish the entire job.  Only a very small dab of black dye is needed.  Use a toothpick to work the gel into the form to make sure that no air bubbles exist.

After removing the forms a small, fine cut file will clean up the edges nicely, and, give it a nice matte black color (as shown in figures 6 and 7 ).  Wait at least 3 days before shooting the rifle; this will give the gel time to finish hardening.

At the range, set the rear sight at its lowest notch.  Proceed to shoot and carefully file down the top of the sight to regulate for your chosen load.  Remember, it takes very little material removal from the sight blade to adjust height at 100 yards, cut slowly & carefully.                                                                                                                                

 See you at the next Mil-surp shoot.

Figure 7  The finished product after being shaped with a small file.  Note that the shiny black gel has matted nicely after being filed.  Final height adjustment filing will take place at the range.

 ACRAGLAS GEL® is a registered trademark of Brownells, Inc.

Adobe Acrobat PDF Version of Article - Click Here