+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Mounts for Red Dots on Older Pistols!

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Last On
    Today @ 05:39 PM
    Location
    Pordenone, Italy
    Posts
    2,315
    Real Name
    Ovidio Gentiloni
    Local Date
    07-08-2025
    Local Time
    12:44 AM
    Thread Starter
    Thank you. I expressed myself a tad unclearly.
    I meant something that would fit in the dovetail groove where the normal iron rear sight is installed.
    Something similar to this one.

    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

  2. #2
    Contributing Member ssgross's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 09:49 AM
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    1,716
    Local Date
    07-07-2025
    Local Time
    06:44 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Ovidio View Post
    Something similar to this one.
    I was just shopping for new tritium front sights a few weeks ago for some 1911's and saw the style in your picture picture. Don't know what pistol you're thinking of, but he installation isn't really any different than fitting any other dovetail sight. Measure the dovetail very carefully carefully though. They aren't all the same. Here, for example, are some front front sight info for 1911's https://media.midwayusa.com/productd...dimensions.pdf

    The key thing I found out is that the measurements you'll find everwhere are all nominal, and don't take into account cutter wear, slop when cutting, etc. For example, one of the pistols I was fitting up a front sight for was from Fusion firearms. They advertise "Novak Standard" dovetails. However, my front sight dovetail measures 0.312 at the base, and the Novak front sights are .330 nominal but have an actual measure of up to 0.340--0.345. I even called Fusion and talked to Tyler who was in charge of the production for the day to make sure I wasn't supposed to order the Wilson combat (0.300 and 60deg) ones.

    The point being that these front or rear dovetail sights are not supposed to be "drop in". As such, make sure you have the correct angled file on hand! Brownell's sells a 65deg. file with safe edges. Do not touch the dovetail on the slide, other than to maybe break the edge at the opening so you can drift without peeling off the corner. I practiced with a triangle needle file and stone on a cheap solid sight I bought along with the expensive tritium one for just this purpose thinking it shouldn't be that hard. But with almost 30 thous. to remove...needless to say I bought the correct file before touching the tritium sight. It was almost laughably easy with the correct tool (and the usual dose of patience).

    To double check the correct angle, measure your dovetail...arctan(2*depth/(bottom - top))...times 180/pi depending on what kind of calculator you have. Get the bottom width more accurately by measuring the base of the old sight.

  3. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to ssgross For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. MAS 45 - Odd Stock Dots
    By hatrick in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 01-10-2018, 01:18 AM
  2. Older .30-06 casings
    By Kickwrench in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 12-07-2016, 05:10 PM
  3. Older vs Newer?
    By Mikester in forum Swiss Rifles
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 09-03-2015, 05:52 PM
  4. No.4 Long Branch: Connecting the dots help
    By milprileb in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-02-2011, 03:27 PM
  5. 30 carbine PDW - Older can be better
    By imarangemaster in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 10-31-2009, 01:21 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts