Sighting Problems on a late Inland

[browningautorifle]

A bit of a story to help illustrate... I bought a Danish return a dozen years back and attempted to sight it in. It shot right of POA at 25 and when adjusted, the error was back at 100. When adjusted, the error returned at 200. Now go back to 25 and you shoot far to the other side. I thought the sights were out of index and went home to index the barrel. When I cam back, the same thing happened but started at a lower point. I was up to the range and home four times that day. Turned out the barrel was bent, way back where it's thickest. That didn't happen anywhere along the way, the barrel was brand new and a 1960 VAR issue. Every time the gun went out to be zeroed it was wrong so back it went and reissue a new one. That's the easiest thing to do. I had to remove it and use a hydraulic press and make a straightness gauge to sort it out. About six inches forward of the breech, the gauge wouldn't pass...that was from the factory.

When they finish the barrels they go to the heat treating ovens and they droop after heating. They have to be straightened by men paid to do that very thing. All of them...except this one. Brand new in 1960 and never right.

[GotSnlB28]

Although not acknowledged I stand by my original post. The front sight on the carbine is original and was filed slightly presumably in the factory. I don't see any evidence of this rifle ever having a flip sight. I have owned a few late original Inlands and the front sight is a similar height. Try some USGI Lake City.

[USGI]

Try some USGI Lake City.

What vintage? I've got 40's, 50's, and 70's? I've been shooting carbines enough that I don't think I'll see any difference at 25 yds. Thanks! - Bob

[Brian Dick]

A simple rule of thumb for adjusting the front sight is that you always adjust INTO the error, not in the opposite direction. If it shoots high, you need a higher front sight. If it shoots low, you need a lower front sight. I filed a nos replacement on an original Quality Hardware with flip sight several years ago. Someone had cut off the sight "wing" protectors so it needed replacing. I took another Inland i have that's perfect and checked POA at 25 yards, then carefully filed the front sight on the Quality Hardware until it was shooting to the exact same point. It's now perfect. Always use the ammo the weapon was designed for to make these alterations if necessary. That holds true for ALL military rifles.

[USGI]

OK, I just checked the height of the blade on my front sight vs. a new one, and found that the blade has been filed down maybe .010"-.012" - that would probably have raised the POI about 2" at 100 yd. or 1/2" at 25 yd. - Bob

[painter777]

GIUSBOB,
Here is a NRA sale Inland 5,093,600 from Erie Army Depot 1963.
Front sight has never been touched.

Notice this sight was made like a A Frame?
Having no vertical back side.

FWIW

[USGI]

Front sight has never been touched.

I know what you mean by "never been touched," but it'd be hard to explain that gouge at the top of the blade to a layman. Now I'll have to go see if I can take a picture of a sight at that angle, and make it look like an A Frame! I've seen other "N" sights machined similar to this one, without the appearance of the blade as sitting on top of a narrow rib. This one is way different than any I've ever owned. - Bob

[painter777]

GIBOB,
Just for kicks..... Before doing anything to your frt sight

Try pulling the barreled receiver and rehang it into the recoil plate. Shoot twice to check impact.

Pull apart B/R like above then with plate screwed down a 1/2 turn, Rehang and shoot twice to check impact.

Again pull B/R Now with plate screw backed up 1 full turn, Rehang and shoot twice to check.

Any Changes ?

[USGI]

Hey, remember I shoot from an old rickety lawn chair, sitting on uneven ground in a gravel pit. Can't see very well either, so maybe rearranging the chair would help, too! At the rate I'm getting things done lately, it's going to be awhile before my next shooting trip, but will let you know if I see any changes using your suggestions. Getting ready for the Oregon Arms Collectors Show in the morning - need to get up at 5 AM. - Bob

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[USGI]

There might have been more, but I just saw (2) carbines on display at the OAC show Sunday morning. Both were Inlands with upgrades and a few mixed parts. One was on a vendor's table and priced at $1275. The other was carried in by a guy (wife was with him) and was asking about the value. It was his first carbine and purchased recently at his LGS. The only thing he had done so far was carefully clean and re-oil the stock. It was an IO Type 3 with a faint rack number on the grip - stock looked nice. A "carbine buddy" of mine disassembled it for him and we both told him the markings we saw on the various parts. We gave him an estimate of the value being at least $750-$800. He and the wife both looked pleased to hear that. He hasn't fired it yet and wants to keep it. Said he paid $240 for it, because "that was the price the gun store had on it." So, the moral of the story is, there are still deals on carbines if you look in the right places! Charlie, here's my best tries at making my Inland front sight look like the "A-Frame" you pictured above. Over on the CC Forum, Dan and others have a thread on Niedner sight markings - explaining that the rib behind the blade was sometimes machined off to change (or repair) a previous stamp job. Sounds good to me.

On that target I pictured above, I loaded a mag with 10 rds. of Remington MC and fired the first 3 with the elevation set on 100 yds. When I saw it was hitting low, I went to the 250 yds. setting and fired the rest of them. I think I went a few clicks on the windage at the same time, but in the wrong direction. This was the first time I had shot the Inland and the first time for shooting any carbine for nearly 5 years. - Bob