how tall front sight do I need ?

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dekibg

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I got GSG 22LR conversion kit for my 1911.
I am using the tallest out of 3 sights that came with the gun.
This current sight has the height of .240
Gun is shooting 4 inches too high at 25 yards (900 inches).
Sight radius is 6.5 inches.
How tall should be the new sight ?
I called GSG and they said that they don't have the taller than one I am already
using. I will need to buy it somewhere else. How tall ?
I know that there is a formula out there. I am not sure how to use it to figure out the height of new sight needed.
Thank you
 
Here's the SIGHT CORRECTION CALCULATOR from the Brownell's site. It'll help you determine much more front sight or how much less rear sight you might need.

https://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=13093/GunTechdetail/Sight_Correction_Calculator

You'll need a front sight that's HIGHER, or a rear sight that's lower. It might be easier to get a lower rear sight -- and GSG might have a REAR they can send you one without charge. (I'm unfamiliar with the GSG unit, so don't know how they do their rear sight.)

I just tried it using your data and it says you need a .03" higher front or .03" lower rear. You may have a hard time finding something THAT much higher or lower.

You should be able to change you HOLD on the target to address that, pretty easily.
 
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1911 guy said:
The actual numbers come out to .029", but .03" is pretty darn close.
Click to expand...

That (.029) IS the number I came up with using the calculator, but figured someone would have trouble finding any sight that was .029 higher, while something .03 higher might be possible -- and make you hit just (maybe) 1/10" lower than the desired 4 inches. :rolleyes:

Changing point of aim to be an almost negligible 3/100ths of an inch might be easier.
 
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dang, that will be pretty tall sight, double than what I have already :eek:
thank you for your help !
 
I was actually thinking about building up the front sight as you suggested, but how do you do that ?
 
Try Dawson Precision. They offer steel and fiber optic front sights for the GSG pistol up to .300" tall, plus they are very good, helpful people. Their website also has a sight height calculator.
 
dekibg said:
dang, that will be pretty tall sight, double than what I have already
thank you for your help !
Click to expand...

Unless I read something wrong, you misinterpreted what you've read. At 25 yards, it takes a very small adjustment to get the point of impact to change by 4 inches.

We're talking about increasing the height of your front sight by about 3/100ths of an inch (.029 or .03) - not doubling anything. According to a fraction converter I found on line (which converts decimals to fractions) .029" equates to a bit less than 1/32nd of an inch.... That's a very tiny adjustment. (You'd have to be holding the gun on target VERY STEADILY to even notice the difference after the change was made.)

It would be hard to notice the added difference in sight height by just eyeballing the sight -- unless you had two sights were side by side, one with and one without the change.

.
 
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thank you very much Sir !
Now it makes sense.
Then, maybe is not even worth bothering with new sight, I will just aim lower.
The only thing is that my original 1911 is pretty much straight shooter, and this conversion kit is supposed to be ( at least partially) a training platform.
I will get used to it, but it will take time to have two different POA's when shooting different calibers from the "same" gun.
Again, thanks a lot everyone for answers !
 
Why not file off the rear sight?

You can turn the slide up-side down on a mill file, and use a sheet of thin plastic or brass shim stock to protect the front sight.

Then just slide the whole slide on the mill file to remove rear sight material while keeping it square with the world.

It may be necessary to cut the notch deeper with a needle file once you get it shooting POA.
Then touch it up with cold blue when you get it done.

Here is the sight file I made by surface grinding 3" of teeth off a 12" file.
A little oil on the smooth surface keeps it from marring whichever sight you are not filing off.

As shown, it would be filing front sight while the rear slides on the smooth surface.

image.jpg

Rc
 
the sights on the conversion kit are plastic. Is that going to work ?
 
Yes.
Even easier the steel, as no cold blue needed.

Probably leave a fuzzy edge on one edge, but you can clean it up with 600 wet or dry black sandpaper after you get it zeroed.

Rc
 
Just be careful -- as it will be VERY EASY to take off too much. (Then you'd have to shorten the front sight... :what:

If you've got a feeler gauge somewhere (I think I still have one in my toolbox, from back when you had to adjust tappets and points), you'll see just about how much to take off. Draw a line on the sight with a pencil before your start, and stop when you get there.
 
thank you guys !
That is very smart way around - let's take care of rear sight that I already have instead of front one that I would need to order ;)
 
Measure the rear sight height before you do anything. Measure often while taking material off and use a straight edge to keep everything level.

Remember, you're only taking off .029-.030 inch. You'll need a set of calipers to measure it, your eyeball and a ruler isn't going to cut it.
 
If the sight is plastic, just get some sheet plastic and glue it on. Measure it before to get it close to your needed addition. Then go test it. Nothing beats a good reason for a range trip!

Mark
 
use a straight edge to keep everything level.
Click to expand...
He doesn't need a straight edge if he does it the way I told him too in post #13.

There is nothing else 'straight' to 'edge' anyway except the top of the sight held flat against the file.

rc
 
I just want to let everybody know that being a relatively new member here I am really very happy with this community and everyone's willingness to help by investing some of their own time in answering and advising.

p.s.
oddly, my conversion kit likes Remington Thunderbolts
Winchester 333 would not cycle the slide
 
You can buy plastic shim stock in various thicknesses. Get some in say .005,.010 thickness and glue them in place till you get the right height. If the shim stock trick doesn't work you can peel or file it off. I worked in a tool crib before I retired and we had plastic shim in different thicknesses and corisponding colors.
 
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