M1 carbine rear sight adjustment

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Have looked over the threads I could find on this general topic, but still have a few questions.

Issue: my M1 carbine (1943 Quality Hardware) has a rear sight assembly that is set very very far to the right in the dovetail base. About 1/8-inch of the assembly actually hangs out over the right edge of the base.

I have cranked the adjustable aperture all the way over to the left, and in this position the rifle still is a bit right-of-center @ 100 yards. I would think that I should center the assembly a bit so that the aperture could be adjusted to correct the windage.

First, am I correct that I should move the assembly left-ward in the dovetail?

Second, if I do so, is it just a matter of drifting it left using a brass punch (carefully)? I have read the section of the M1 technical manual on the rear sight and I cannot find anything other than this method (of course there is the sight tool made for this purpose, but obviously I don't have one of those).

I typically put a drop of Blue Locktite under dovetail-mounted sights on my milsurps, I assume that would be OK in this case as well.

 

[dfariswheel]

Right on all counts.

The M1 Carbine rear sights were staked in place originally, but Loctite is easier and doesn't chop up the receiver like staking can do.

The only watch out is to put the brass drift as low on the rear sight as possible to prevent deforming the sight, and to keep the force as close to the dovetail as possible to prevent any chance of chipping or breaking the hard receiver dovetail.

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Thanks dfariswheel.

Another thing just occurred to me. With Mosins I always disassemble and hold the receiver (padded) in a vice to work on it.

Should I take the receiver out of the stock on the M1 and work on it the same way? I only ask because I half-remember seeing photos of an M1 rear-sight project somewhere online and the rifle was not disassembled.

 

[velocette]

Mr. Battleship gun;
You can go here: http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=6
for very experienced and knowledgeable folks about M1 carbines'
It's the CMP (Civillian Marksmanship Program, formerly the DCM)

Roger

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Right velocette - forgot, actually meant to get into the CMP forums, as you say the best place to find US milsurp fans. Will go sign up now for future questions ..... and to mull over a Garand purchase I've been putting off for some time.

Meanwhile, I drifted the sight assembly towards the center fairly easily, leaving the rifle assembled, padding it in a vice, and following dfariswheel's advice about punch technique. Can't wait to get back to the range to sight it in - my favorite task in the gun hobby .....