M1A Rear Sight Broken/Removal

[R.D.]

Have an M1A whose windage knob does not adjust the actual sight's windage left or right. The knob spins/clicks, but no left-right movement. Currently it is "stuck" maxed out to the left. Elevation adjustment does work.

Does anyone know how to repair this? If not, any help on how to dismantle the rear sight will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the help. I browse THR often - and enjoy it - but rarely post.

 

[H2O MAN]

Try this http://www.gunsworld.com/m1m14/m14_ass_us.html


This post on Rifle - Company is also good to have bookmarked.

http://www.rifle-company.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=137

I hope that helps ~







.

 

[R.D.]

Thanks. Those links are a great source of information, but unfortunately don't talk about how to take the rear sight off. I'll definitely bookmark them for future reference, though.

**EDIT** My apologies, the first link did have the information under the section "Barrel and Receiver Group". Thanks!

 

[Onmilo]

Put a flatblade screw driver to the screw in the center of the elevation knob and hold it fast.
Apply another well fitting screwdriver to the split nut in the center of the windage knob on the right side.
Try turning the split nut tight,,righty tighty, a couple full turns should lock the windage knob to the elevation spindle and give you windage adjustment.

If the screw does not turn fairly easy or it does not give you windage with a couple turns at most, the elevation through screw is not correctly aligned with the windage knob.
There is a flat on the elevation knob through screw that must align with the raised area in the windage knob through hole.

You will have to remove the rear sight adjustment knobs and realign everything.

To do this unscre the windage knob split screw until it is fairly loose, then unscrew the windage knob and remove from the elvation knob through screw.
Turn the elevation knob to raise the apeture.
push up and forward on the apeture to free it and the apeture spring cover from the sight base and remove these componants.
Loosen the elevation knob screw enough to pull the elevation knob away from the side of the receiver.

Everything goes back together in reverse order.
Install the apeture and spring base into the rear sight base, shove the apeture all the way down then exhert pressure on the spring base until resistence is felt.
Use a dull flat blade screwdriver or a punch to snap the rear of the spring cover into the recess groove on the receiver.
Reinstall the elevation knob and note the flat spot on the screw.
Orient the windage knob so the raised area in the through hole contacts the flat on the elevation screw and use the split knob to tighten down the windage until fair resistance is felt.

If this sounds too much like rocket science take the rifle to a gunsmith that is familiar with M1 Garands and/or M14 rifles because once you get everything asssembled correctly you will need to calibrate the markings on the knobs to the sight settings.

Everything is actually easier to do than it is to write about.