Garand sight question

[Elza]

I wanted a smaller aperture but didn’t want to change to the NM sight. Mine is a SA ’43 with the ‘T’ bar sight so I wanted to keep it original. I took another rear sight, drilled and tapped, and put in a Williams .050 peep aperture. I was very careful and got it exactly straight and true. Only problem is the front blade looks like it is leaning to the right which, of course, it is not. With the regular battle aperture everything looks fine. Did I do something wrong here when I installed the Williams peep?

 

[Kurac]

You could have purchased a NM rear aperature for less trouble, the come in two sizes and if you rotate it you can get a 1/2 MOA change in elevation.

 

[Elza]

True, but then I would have had to change out the pinion as the gear ratio is different. At least that is what I have been told. I like my old 'T' bar sight that came on it.

 

[Dave P]

"True, but then I would have had to change out the pinion as the gear ratio is different."


False. A NM aperture has the same gears/teeth (rack and pinion) as the std set.

It is true that the threads on a NM base and windage knob are extra fine threads for less slop and backlash (and 1/2 MOA adjustments in windage).

2 ap sizes: .595 and .520 inches.

 

[Swampy]

Elza,

Dave is right.

If you want a smaller aperture you can install a hooded NM version without changing anything else.

Swampy

Garands forever

 

[DMK]

You do have to fit the NM aperture though. I don't know the proper terminology for it, but the rails on either side of the teeth are oversize to keep the aperture tight and stable. You have to file or sand it down a bit.


Elza, you say the front post is leaning over to one side. You mean it looks like it's bent over at an angle? Could the hole in the aperture itself be out of round or have a burr or other debris in it?

 

[Onmilo]

For goodness sakes don't file or sand the NM apeture rails.
Use a ceramic or very fine grade diamond hone and cutting oil.
Couple light passes down both sides of the rails should be enough to get the apeture sliding smoothly down a standard sight base.

You can use a file to shape off the bottom bar of the sight rail to 45 degrees so the apeture will bottom completely in the National Match sight base.

 

[Elza]

Learn something new every day. About the pinion, that is. That’s what I get for listening to the folks selling parts! Thanks for the info everyone

DMK: Correct. When using the new aperture the front post appears to lean to the right. When I use the standard battle aperture all is normal. The screw-in peep aperture I got from Williams looks fine. I checked it (used a twist drill as a gauge) and no sign of anything burred or out-of-round. It certainly has me scratching my head!

 

[Kurac]

The parts guys are partialy right. The NM sight base has a notch so the apperture does not bottom out but you can still use a regular base as long as you don't adjust the windage too low. The pinion is the same though long or short they will both work.