So I've had this CVA .50 caliber Hawken pistol kit on my workbench partially finished for about a year. I got around to browning the barrel and polishing the brass a few weeks ago and decided to see how all the pieces fit together. The front sight slides in and out of the dovetail with no resistance and seems to be too small for the dovetail. Being a complete novice, I don't know if this is how it's supposed to be. I thought it should fit tight and need to be forced in, but it's loose. Any thoughts on proper installation?
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
CVA pistol kit question
- Thread starter bsgodfrey
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
2 ways too fix it.
* Simply knock the outside edges of the barrel dovetail down a little with a hammer.
* With a small pointed punch, punch or "dimple" the bottom of the dovetail on the barrel. This will raise some of the metal and make a friction fit.
* Simply knock the outside edges of the barrel dovetail down a little with a hammer.
* With a small pointed punch, punch or "dimple" the bottom of the dovetail on the barrel. This will raise some of the metal and make a friction fit.
Once the gun is sighted in, and you have the blade in the position you want, you can take the same sharp punch and "peen" the edge of the barrel steel down on the top of the base of the blade.
It usually only takes a single "dot" or two right along the edge too hold the base firmly in place.
It usually only takes a single "dot" or two right along the edge too hold the base firmly in place.
To answer your question, the sight is supposed to be a firm interference fit with the barrels dovetail slot.
Normally, there is quite a bit of interference. Enough to make some pretty serious tapping with a hammer necessary to drive the sight into the dovetail slot.
You could use an epoxy to glue the sight in but you would not be able to adjust it later if it needed it.
By deforming the dovetail as the others said the interference will keep the sight in place but it could still be adjusted later on.
If you decide to deform the slot, don't go hog wild but do make some pretty serious dimples into the slots bottom. A good center punch and a small hammer is needed to make these dimples.
Normally, there is quite a bit of interference. Enough to make some pretty serious tapping with a hammer necessary to drive the sight into the dovetail slot.
You could use an epoxy to glue the sight in but you would not be able to adjust it later if it needed it.
By deforming the dovetail as the others said the interference will keep the sight in place but it could still be adjusted later on.
If you decide to deform the slot, don't go hog wild but do make some pretty serious dimples into the slots bottom. A good center punch and a small hammer is needed to make these dimples.
Similar threads
- Locked
