Different dovetail sizes on B.P. guns??

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Joshboyfutre

Joshboyfutre

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I need to get new sights for my Hawken rifle and as I'm shopping around all I can seem to find is 3/8 dovetail if they are even labeled. I have an Ardesa Hawken style rifle, the dovetail notch seems to be approx. 5/16". Does anyone know where I can find the proper style sites or how I can find out what the size are on the ones that I'm looking at as most of them don't list it.
 
Joshboyfutre said:
I need to get new sights for my Hawken rifle and as I'm shopping around all I can seem to find is 3/8 dovetail if they are even labeled. I have an Ardesa Hawken style rifle, the dovetail notch seems to be approx. 5/16". Does anyone know where I can find the proper style sites or how I can find out what the size are on the ones that I'm looking at as most of them don't list it.
Click to expand...
I am thinking you you need to buy or make (grind a safe side) a dovetail file.
 
There are a lot of Italian made replicas that do not conform to modern standards for sight mounting thus have undersized dovetail slots in the barrel.

You might want to consider this alternative. Rather than enlarge your present barrel dovetail, order the sight you like and file it down to fit. Go slow and constantly check for fit.

The advantages to this are:

1. you will not need a special smooth side dovetail file. I can't imagine trying to make one and they cost $50 at Brownell's site.
2. You will not be altering your barrel in any way
3. If the worst case scenario happens and you somehow mess up, you are only out the cost of the sight.

Cheers
 
forward observer said:
There are a lot of Italian made replicas that do not conform to modern standards for sight mounting thus have undersized dovetail slots in the barrel.

You might want to consider this alternative. Rather than enlarge your present barrel dovetail, order the sight you like and file it down to fit. Go slow and constantly check for fit.

The advantages to this are:

1. you will not need a special smooth side dovetail file. I can't imagine trying to make one and they cost $50 at Brownell's site.
2. You will not be altering your barrel in any way
3. If the worst case scenario happens and you somehow mess up, you are only out the cost of the sight.

Cheers
Click to expand...
 
Patocazador said:
Yep, a triangular file with one side smoothed off will do the trick .. but it may take a while.

Make sure the barrel wall is thick enough if you need to file deeper.
Click to expand...
This is how I would do it too. Remember, you're not filing down by toward the muzzle or breach, depending on your eyes. Older eyes file towards muzzle to set the rear sight closer to the muzzle.
 
I really don't know if this rifles worth all that work to be honest fellas. I bought it for $90 and for some reason it shoots super high with every set of sites I've put on there. I finally filed a rear sight down to get a good zero but it's so low I can't hardly get a good sight picture LOL but I have the measurement for the difference between the front and back now. I actually think it's a bad Barrel and I can shoot it the way I have it now it's just a bit of a pain, literally... the odd way I have to hold it makes it jump up and pop my cheek pretty good. Might just buy a new rifle. I'll probably try filing a pair of sites to fit the dovetail it has and if that doesn't work this Baby's Gone
 
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