Wandering Rear Sight - Temporary Fix?

[Bix]

I just realized that the rear (factory adjustable) sight in my Glock 34 is wandering around a bit in the dovetail. I'm happy to have an excuse for my erratic shooting, but I've got a pistol class scheduled this weekend, so this is a problem.

I plan to see a smith as soon as possible and get a proper set of sights put on the gun, but until then, I need a temporary fix to keep the sight in place for a 2 day, 1000 round course (I know, I know, ).

A quick search turned up the remedy of peening the dovetail with a sharp punch to hold the sight in place, but I am looking for something more temporary. As I said, I plan to have a smith install a real sight in the near future, so I'd like to avoid the kitchen-table metal butchering if possible.

My instinct is to put a bead of blue loctite on either side of the sight, to sort of "caulk" the thing in place. Any better ideas? I really don't want to loose valuable class time mucking around with a silly equipment failure.

Thanks,

Bix

 

[1911Tuner]

Temporary Fix

Howdy Bix,

Make a shim from a strip of plastic and wedge it under the sight as you push it into the dovetail. (Good a time as any to get rid of that 18% credit card)

In a pinch, a piece of a business card will also tighten it up until you can refit a rear sight.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[Red_SC]

Nope, don't cobble it together with no stinkin' shims and business cards. Bubblegum and duct tape, m'boy, bubblegum and duct tape.

As always, Tuner pulls through.

 

[Bix]

How'd I know duct tape was going to come up

Thanks much, Tuner, I'll give it a try.

 

[1911Tuner]

re: Duct Tape

If it hadn't been for duct tape and bailin' wire, my first car wouldn'ta
got me outta town...

Bix, if the plastic or cardboard are too thick, you can try other things...
I shimmed the dovetailed front sight on a WW2 P-38 in 1982 with a
strip that I cut from the brass liner of an old stripper clip...and it's still
there. Feeler gauge blades come in .001 increments....and you can cut'em with a good pair of scissors up to about .020 inch thick.

Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

Carry on.

Gunny Tuner

 

[Ken Rainey]

Just saw this one....

The plastic Glock rear sights have a "shim" under them from the factory - a little metal plate that the plastic rear sight sits on/in and wedges in the dovetail......installing sights on a Glock is simple and quick with a sight installing/adjusting tool....a pistolsmith or gunsmith would probably have one and more than likely the local Police or Sheriff's Office (if they use Glocks - they'd likely have an armorer) will have one and extra rear fixed sights too that can be slid in place in a matter of minutes. It's kind of rare that one is loose in the dovetail unless it's been moved around quite a bit - but once it is removed, it may never go back in cause the factory shim may come off and getting it to stay in place while pushing the sight on is iffy - you got about a 50% chance - and if it does come out ok, then adding loctite when putting it back is the thing to do. Glock will probably send you a new rear sight for free if you call'em - 770-432-1202 - you'll just have to assure them that either a Glock armorer (what they prefer) or a pistolsmith will put it on, they may know of one close to you....course, if your gonna change to aftermarket sights then this doesn't matter but a new fixed rear Glock sight installed shouldn't be more than $10 from a smith or armorer...an adjustable one probably $25 and sending your slide to Glock will get it for free but then you got to pay shipping to get it there and be without it....

You might be surprised at how good you can shoot without it! (if necessary)

For a quick fix, I'd try the loctite if I couldn't find a Glock armorer close by.


Good shootin' at the pistol class...

Ken

 

[Bix]

update......

Well, the rear sight held in place with the corner of an old bus pass jammed beneath it. Thanks again for the sage advice.

The class was great, and the night shooting portion drove home the need for new sights. Folks with tritium (even if only in the front sight) shot substantially better after dark than those of us with regular sights.

Conventional wisdom says Heinies for Glocks, right?

 

[Ken Rainey]

Good to hear that your fix come thru for you. I prefer the Meprolight sights - they are easy to use in daylight or dimlight and have a brighter glow than others I have seen - it's gonna be an individual preference thing. Look at the different ones available (if you can) and then choose - most all the companies will stand behind them.

Ken

 

[1911Tuner]

re: Fixed

You have just accomplished an Expedient...Field...Repair.
Outstanding! Carry on.

Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

OOrah!

Tuner

Ken...Picked up another black Lab today...Dumped on Helsabeck Road...
About 6 months old...Starvin'...Ribs and hip bones stickin' out...The whole
enchilada. Lord, will I NEVER learn?

Anybody want a pretty Lab pup? Just add a generous helpin' of love
and about 15 pounds.

 

[Ken Rainey]

ANOTHER DOG!!?? Whats' Sassy and the gang gonna think about that?? or are they gettin' use to it?

I think that word is gettin' around and people know what paths to leave 'em on so that you'll find 'em........ hope the gubment people don't find out and charge ya for runnin' a kennel!!

Best to ya Cousin,

Bonehead