Rossi / Puma front dovetail too large.......a solution

[rbertalotto]

I wanted to replace the simple dovetailed front sight on my Brass Framed Rossi 1892.





I ordered a new sight with a large white bead made by Marbles from Midway. Same height as the existing sight.



But when I went to install it I found the DT in the Rossi barrel was too large and the sight would simply pass right through with little friction.

On my recently acquired Uberti 1873, the front site is easily moved in the DT, but is secured with a set screw. So I drilled and tapped the Marbles sight to accept a 4-40 set screw. This also allows very easy windage adjustment in the field.





Thought this might help someone in the future.

[wecsoger]

Good solution but my OCD-ish kicks in when I see only *one* setscrew. I would have stuck one on the other side just for visual balance.

Just had a sideways thought. Would that be a metric, not an inch dovetail?

Regardless, an excellent fix.

[AJMD429]

Good solution but my OCD-ish kicks in when I see only *one* setscrew. I would have stuck one on the other side just for visual balance.

Wow - I thought I was the only one with that much 'OCD'. . .

I'd have probably done something even crazier for 'balance' - like drilled right through the center of the bead.

Good solution, though.

[Hobie]

That's a neat solution. I JBwelded mine in place. Still there.

[rbertalotto]

Actually, it isn't "my" solution. This is the way Uberti set their front sights in their rifles. I'm trying to find if this was done "in the day" on original Winchesters.

Maybe two set screws would look better............easily done!

[Ysabel Kid]

Good solution but my OCD-ish kicks in when I see only *one* setscrew. I would have stuck one on the other side just for visual balance.

Wow - I thought I was the only one with that much 'OCD'. . .

I'd have probably done something even crazier for 'balance' - like drilled right through the center of the bead.

Good solution, though.

No wonder I like it here so much - we all share the same insanity!

That front sight just jumps out at you. I may have to replace a few for my aging eyes!!!

[Warhawk]

I've been known to put a shim of beer can material under a loose dovetail sight. Might take something a bit thicker, or a doubled up piece of beer can.

[K1500]

Good solution but my OCD-ish kicks in when I see only *one* setscrew. I would have stuck one on the other side just for visual balance.

Me too. Nice looking work. I have used the shim as well.

[1894c]

thank you--great post ... :)

[gak]

Yes, nice job!..Now for the odd duck rear dovetail on early Rossis. I know some similar info has been posted (shims, etc--I'm trying to locate the thread(s), but it's still an irritant that you can't just plop in a good ol' 3/8" carbine ladder site 'n such without much to do.

[O.S.O.K.]

Nicely done! I will be copying that in the future... I just peened the lips down a little with a brass hammer and it snugged it up enough to hold the sight securely. But I like your fix better.

[rbertalotto]

I just peened the lips down a little with a brass hammer and it snugged it up enough to hold the sight securely.

I've done this dozens of times, but I don't like it.

With the sret screw, adjustment is super easy. I'd like to find an even smaller set screw. In reality, it doesn't "stand out" near as much as it does in that flash photo. In fact, I never noticed it on my Uberti until I changed that sight to a Big Bead............

[COSteve]

Nicely done! I will be copying that in the future... I just peened the lips down a little with a brass hammer and it snugged it up enough to hold the sight securely. But I like your fix better.

I found that if strike some groves in the bottom edges of the sight that tightens them up so they fit just fine.

[Bruce Scott]

Actually, it isn't "my" solution. This is the way Uberti set their front sights in their rifles. I'm trying to find if this was done "in the day" on original Winchesters.Maybe two set screws would look better............easily done!

Winchester's No.21 sight had the set screw.

[Pete44ru]

I've been known to put a shim of beer can material under a loose dovetail sight. Might take something a bit thicker, or a doubled up piece of beer can.

+1 - Yep, the ole' BCS (beer can shim). .

.

[rossim92]

I hope you used a brass tipped set screw. The cup point set screws leave burr and set marks in metal. Nice idea though, makes for easy adjustment in the field.