[SaaM]

I appear to have the exact opposite problem as everyone else in the world. My front sight on my M44 is loose and slides to either side during shooting.

How do I tighten it up without damaging it to the point where I can't move it again? When the marks line up, it's fairly accurate. But every here and there I notice my shots drifting hard left (or missing completely) and I know it's time to try to move the (very hot) sight back.

Anyone else have this issue and a good fix?

[DMK]

I'd try heating and crushing the crossbar slightly in a vice to make it oval out a bit.

[SaaM]

Which part is the cross bar? The dovetail on the sight or the slot into which it rests?

[Sunray]

Change the sight or try shimming. Staking it in place is the best thing though.

[Cosmoline]

The dovetail on the sight is the ONLY part you should be messing with . The slot is part of the barrel and is harder steel by far. The sight is soft steel and can be replaced for a few bucks. In the past I've had good luck holding it in a vice and mashing the edges out along the sides to give it more gripping contact. If the gap is really big you can add a shim.

[SaaM]

Thank you all. I shall vise it a little today. There's a place down the road I can pick up front sights if I hose it up, so I'm not worried about my lack of skill with anything approaching a power tool.