[G27 Hider]

Yesterday at the range, while firing WWB 115gr FMJs through my 1994 BHP, I was going for a followup shot and my sight picture was off, so I adjusted my aim a bit and STILL couldn't see the front sight, so I broke my aim and looked down at the pistol and the front sight was gone. These are (were?) factory adjustable sights.

It seems to have sheared off from something, but I've never had this happen with any other pistol, so I'm not sure if it's common or what the cause could be.

There were some bozos not too far away that apparently hit the frame holders (this is at the 7 yd line) - so I have not ruled out the possibility of a ricochet/splashback hitting the front sight.

Thankfully, I had a G26 to finish up my remaining 9mm with on this session, so the loss of the BHP didn't end the day's festivities at the range.

Two questions:

1. Is there any known problem with front sights on the BHP shearing off like this?

2. Anyone know where I can get some good carry sights installed in the Sun Coast area of Florida? (Sarasota/Tampa area)

[Scottmkiv]

I've never heard of that happening to a BHP before.

[jungle]

The adjustable sights used on the BHP look like a hurried add on and the very high front sight has been known to shear because of weight.

Send your slide to Novak's for rapid turn around on carry sights. There may be someone in your area who can do it, but they won't have the experience of Novak.
There are several very good smiths in your area, but I don't have the listing handy.

[Walt Sherrill]

I've had it happen with a BHP, as did a friend. (Both older guns made in Belgium.) The front sights on these models were staked, and they CAN come loose and go walkabout.

[B36]

Solution--dovetailed front sight.

Any staked sight can leave, they need to be checked every time the gun is cleaned.

[G27 Hider]

Actually, this is a factory dovetailed front sight, the rib has sheared off and the dovetail is still secure. I will post some pictures tomorrow, prior to sending it off to Novak.

[ktd]

I have actually broken quite a few sights (okay something like three, two rear sights and a front), but have seen others busted off. It is a fairly common issue with staked on sights, especially when they are really big like the ones that go with adjustable sights, they have too much mass and their own inertia tends to bust them up from recoil. That is why Milletts have two stakes.

I think dovetail sights tend to break when they have been stressed from the install, like when someone whacks against the actual sight post instead of the dovetail. Could also be a design issue when the sight is really long compared to the contact area with the dovetail portion creates a weak point. If the overhanging parts of the sight blade are under pressure from the slide that could also be stressing the post/dovetail connection.

[G27 Hider]

Here we are:

http://jetdata.com/pix/bhp_poof_close.jpg

I'll post again to let you know if Novak gives me any info.

[ktd]

yeah, if you look at the slide just behind the dovetail, you can see where the back bottom of the post was pressing hard against the slide, probably put some stress on it, then add recoil stress and it eventually worked itself broken (fatigue failure).

[Jim K]

I think you would have known if a ricochet had struck that gun. It is fairly common for high type sights to break off from recoil; it happens all the time with M1911 target sights that are staked in. The GI type sights are small and don't have enough mass for inertia to be a problem, but the big high sights do.

Jim

[jungle]

One other option is to find a set of standard MKIII sights. Lots of used ones around and they will fit you dovetails and make for a neater and more durable installation.

[HankB]

This is common with the factory high ramp front sight on BHPs. I've seen it happen myself to another shooter during an IDPA match, and I've heard about numerous other instances of this from a local gunsmith.

The factory adjustable rear sight is MUCH higher than the normal fixed sights, so Browning had to make the front sight higher. They also made it significantly longer than the standard front sight; both of these design changes GREATLY increased its mass.

However, they did NOT increase the size of the front dovetail, so as a result, only a relatively small "footprint" of metal exists where the sight blade crosses the dovetail. Highly stressed, and apparently NOT made of heat-treated tool steel, this section is prone to breakage . . . as you found out.

[870]

I have had that happen 4 times.

The problem was a BAD batch of sights that were machined incorrectly - no radius at the base of the blade. Replaced under warranty, until I replaced the sights with HiViz ones.

870