M1917 Front Sight adjustment?

I recently rebuilt a bubbaed M1917, put a new stock on it, new bolt stop and extractor, new barrel band, front and rear hand guard, and rear hand guard ring you know? The works! Anywho, when I was removing the front sight it became a HUGE hassle, eventual I got it off with a front sight puller from ebay. But when I was taking it off I didn't realize the front sight spline didn't have a cutout for it and I bent the metal forward and pulled a tiny bit of the barrel forward with it. I didn't realize this until I went to put the front sight back on. I smoothed it out with a dremel piece and greased it up and slide the sight on with difficult, not form the piece I hurt though as that was at the back of the spline, eventually I got my sight back on but I couldn't get it squeeze all the way past where that tiny pin needed to fit. I gave up as I was exasperated, So I took it out to the range just to see how it functioned. It works wonderfully, however I found that it was shooting six inches to high but beside that it was a nail driver. What can I do to repair the front sight? I assume it must be to the damaged spline or something, help would be appreciated, I could post pics if you want them.

You should be able to take it off again and use a small set of files to do the inside of the sight. The key should be stoned smooth again. Then drill through to give you the groove in the key to run the pin through, if you have one.

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Originally Posted by Snowman1510

shooting six inches to high

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Where was your hold on the target? The sights on M1917 were set up for a 6 o'clock hold on a standard US military target. 6" high sounds about right for 100yds and a center of target hold.

Battle sight likely to be a bit high at 100yds as it was set for 300 yards. IIRC. 6" seems about right.


Note that the lowest setting on the upright position of the sight is 200yds. So expect a couple inches higher than ideal for 100yds, usually.


But if you want to alter your POI, then find a slightly taller front sight blade.


Don't remember the sight radius off hand but when you measure it, plug it into the equation for a close approximation to the change needed:


Front sight height change in inches= (6/3600) x (sight radius in inches)

Springfield Sporters has piles of M1917 parts. Not expensive and in good shape. Good luck with the project.

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Originally Posted by Steve762

the battle sight

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Meaning that with the sight lowered and a center point of aim on a man, you'd hit in the kill area between 100 and 400 yds. Without having to aim up or down...so if the rifle groups then it's fine.