P14 foresight base

[tbonesmith]

Hi, anyone know how to get the foresight base off a P14? I've driven out the cross pin, and tried to drive it forward, but it won't budge, I can see the key at both ends dressed off, I've applied heat and tried again, no dice. Do I need a puller or something, or just more heat and violence? Don't want to damage anything.

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[jamie5070]

Get a good penetrating oil like kroil and let it soak in for a week. Then try tapping it and applying heat if it still won't move. You may want to make a U-shaped piece that rests on the edges of the sight so that you get even force applied when tapping on it. If that doesn't work, you can make a cut length wise on the bottom side and then tap it off. The sight bases are fairly common for the p-14/1917 rifles. If you do have to cut it to get it off, (chuckindenver, he posts on the csp Jouster sites) sugjested wraping a piece of tape on both sides of the site before cutting. you will hit the tape with the dremill wheel before the exposed barrel if you slip.
john

[Mick]

Whack it with a big hammer and a brass drift and it will move.

[jmoore]

Big hammer, SI! Brass not so much. The base is fairly soft, so use wood, plastic(nylon or delrin), copper in that order. Brass will work harden and deform the base. (learned this the hard way) Also, protect the barrel from errant big hammer blows! It'll move.

[Mick]

Brass is softer than steel. Works for me every time.

[jmoore]

Actually, work hardened brass, 2024t3, and 7000 series aluminum alloys have a rather higher yield strength than mild steel or alloys that haven't been heat treated. 6000 series aluminum is pretty soft and is more likely to be found in the regular world, but ya gotta be careful! No sense dinking up a perfectly usable part if you don't have to, I'd rather destroy the driver than the gun part. If a really soft driver won't work take a baby step harder. Again, BIG hammer does less damage!

I've had a M1917 for 30 years which I marred the front sight base driving it off soon after it was purchased, and I'm annoyed with myself every time I look at it! Its original though, so there it stays.