Slop in peep sight on A3

[redbob59]

It has side to side and up and down slop.I don't think there should be any slop but I don't know.Is there a way of tightening it up? I'm soaking the screw with penetrating oil as I can't tighten or loosen it.

Information

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[ABPOS]

I think mine moves some too. But it's still pretty accurate. I'll give a look soon here and see.

[Randy A]

There are two separate springs in the A3 sight, one is a flat spring that is located behind the windage knob. There are two styles of knob (IIRC) one has a pin and the other a set screw. Remove either and the knob will come off, revealing the flat spring (round, with an ear at the 3 and 9 o clock positions. Two reasone for slop on windage, 1 spring is missing, 2 one or both or the guard ears is bent in and the spring cannot take up all of the free play.
As far as your evevation, after removing the windage knob to check the spring, screw the windage screw on out the left side of the sight, lift out the sight (aperaturer and ramp, for lack of better words) check that there is a spring and plunger in the bottom of the ramp. My guess is it's either stuck up from 65+ year old cosmoline, or they're missing.
If the side(s) are bent in I strongly recommend not disturbing the sight housing, they can be a PITA. What I do is lay a cloth inside the sight (protect finish) and use a (very) large set of snap ring pliers to spread the ears back out, they're tough as hell . You can position them so pressure is applied to one ear or the other. I've never had a problem and they're good as new.

[redbob59]

Thanks for the replies.There two flat springs behind the windage knob don't know if that matters.Have the spring under the ramp but no plunger.If anyone has a schematic of the rear sight I'd appreciate seeing it.

[ABPOS]

wow, a learning process for me. I have a CMP booklet, I wonder if it's in there.

[Randy A]

Here you go, item G is what you're missing. Bottom of page 4 is where the sight stuff starts,,,, looks like they're out of most of it. I'll take a look, I might have one. Numrich Gun Parts Corp. - The World's Largest Supplier of Firearms Parts and Accessories

[gsimmons]

Maybe call Bill Ricca, he's an 03 guy isn't he.

[Randy A]

I checked, don't have just the plunger, but I got a few assemblies with messed up guards. I picked up an old shop inventory, there are tons of that stuff, many new in grease and wrap. Some Hadley, some Remington. Like I said earlier, if yours is in good shape, leave it on, they used to stake them in place after sighting and trying to remove them can occasionally be messy.

[redbob59]

Thanks again for the great replies.I'm going to try and find a complete rear sight assembly.I wonder if I could use the ball from the end of the pen as a plunger?