Remington 721 30.06 front sight replacement

[shoen1200]

I recently received a hand me down 721.

For some reason my Uncle thought it was a good idea to grind both front and rear sights down to the level of the dovetail on the barrel.

Thankfully the barrel or front sight mount has not been touched.

I want to remove the sight bases from the barrel and install new/replacement sights.

I can find a rear sight but not the front.

Numrich company web site says the 721 and 722 use the same sight.

Brownells or Midway do not have a list of these parts that I can find on web site.

Can anyone provide a source for a factory front sight?

Or can anyone provide the height measurement of the front sight so I can order an aftermarket front sight that is the correct height?

Please let me know if you can help.

Thanks

 

[NCsmitty]

Thankfully the barrel or front sight mount has not been touched.

Are you saying that you still have the front sight ramp?

I believe that there was different height dovetail front sight inserts.


NCsmitty

 

[R.W.Dale]

If the 721 is like my 725 the front sight is one piece with the ramp and is apparently soldered on.

Explaining why it was ground off

 

[shoen1200]

On the 721 I have, the front ramp is soldered onto the barrel.

The front sight in not an integral part of the front ramp.

The front ramp has a dove-tail on top to mount the front sight.

This is a link to remington 721 front sight on Numrich web site:
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=89660B&catid=4335

I can clearly see what’s left of the base of the front sight sitting in the dove-tail notch of the front sight ramp.

My Uncle has passed away so I will never know why he would have thought it was a good idea to grind down both front and rear sights to the dove-tail base.

So.... any thought as to where I may find a replacement or sight height dimensions so I can order an aftermarket replacement sight?

Thanks.

 

[NCsmitty]

I suggest a call to Brownell's, they may be able to tell you the exact front sight blade that you need, without guessing.
You need to support the ramp on blocks if you're going to try and drift the old sight out with a punch, if you have no alternative for removing it.



NCsmitty

 

[BrocLuno]

Be careful and work slow. Local gunsmith may have a sight "pusher" that will force the dovetail out without beating and banging? The size of the front sight insert must be determined and then the height of the front sight blade will be determined by what rear sight you use.

Putting folding blade "express" sight on the rear will dictate one front blade. Putting a Williams peep on the rear will require a different front blade. Same for Ghost Ring peep. It ain't rocket science, but it does take some figuring.

Drift in the new dovetail sights with a drop of Locktite semi-soft to keep moisture out of the metal-to-metal contact. Use a flat face hard brass punch. You don't want these bits to freeze so hard you have to beat them out, and you want to be able to "adjust" them while sighting in.