I have an older (1983'ish) R7 that I am fixing up. Thinking about a brass bead tipped front sight (like the old Brownings). The barrel has a dovetailed groove for the front sight.
Has anyone here ever replaced theirs. What did you use?
Thanks
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@citizen-k, Thanks but, that is for newer guns. Mine has a dovetailed groove that runs across the barrel. So, I need one that "drifts" in from the side and would prefer a bead tipped post instead of hooded globe.
I guess my other question should be about front sight height. I'll be using a somewhat stock rear sight or similar.
Okay, I found a video on how to determine the height.
Measure your dovetail across the WIDEST parts (bottom), and see if this one would fit:
https://shop.williamsgunsight.com/ecommerce/p/bead--gold--narrow-widths-001610
Now, measure the height of the TOP of the rear sight's groove when at the BOTTOM position to the top of the mechanisms tube.
Measure now the distance between top of the barrel block and top of barrel, add these two.
Chose the front sight HEIGHT that matches the result above or the closest higher. Do not purchase if you are not confident on fitting the dovetail. By all means get a specialized Dovetail file (triangular, 60°, with TWO SAFE SIDES). It is the right tool for the job.
Dovetailed front sights ALWAYS are drifted from right to left (looking in the same direction as the muzzle), they are NOT parallel. So they ALWAYS go in in that sense, they obviously come out in the reverse direction.
DO NOT round the bead. Flat beads are more consistent under changing light conditions.
Good luck and keep us posted!
HM
Muzzle hrake came off without a glitch, I rubbed a little Break Free into the set screw hole hours earlier. The dovetail is unscathed.
I found a set of rear sights on fleabay... ordered.
Get it packed and ready to send to @ekmeister... This is going to be nice...
@teleamp Are you interested in selling the original front sight? If so, I'm looking for one....
Thanks
@landmass, it's MIA, I'm looking for a non-hooded replacement...
When I got the R7, the sights had already been removed and a Beeman ribbed muzzle brake had been put on.
I have found a rear sight and am wanting to find with a partridge style front sight.
@teleamp I've never heard of anyone doing that, but it sounds like it would look real nice - something different for sure. And it looks like you're on the right track to get it done, too. You should post some pictures of it when finished... Thanks for responding.
PS. I put a muzzle brake on my R1 using the set screws that came with it. First time I cocked it - the damn thing slid all the way down. I thought I had really screwed it up, but there were no marks on the barrel, thank God. I fixed it by drilling out the holes in the brake to a much larger size, tapped them and filed a flat surface for them to seat against. It looked real nice and I've had no problems with it coming loose since.
@landmass Pics will be coming after I get the R7 back from @ekmeister.
I have some measuring and calculating to do...
I was able to find a rear sight (got it today, it looks good) for the R7, when I get the gun back (it just got to Ed today) I can do the math and come up with a front sight. It will look nice and be functional.
@citizen-k Brownell’s has what you need.
Tags
Beeman · R7 · Weihrauch · Front sight