Fitting a new fore-end and it is fouling the front sight base

[Peter Laidler]

Quite a common problem Kiwi. Just carefully re-shape the nose cap by dollying in the front face, re shape the contour of the barrel recess and make good.

[Kiwi]

Quite a common problem Kiwi. Just carefully re-shape the nose cap by dollying in the front face, re shape the contour of the barrel recess and make good.

Thanks Peter. Can you please expand on the term 'dollying in'? Is that peening with a ball peen hammer or use of a punch etc?

[Peter Laidler]

Dollying. A word used to describe the re-shaping of metal - As in dollying the dent out of the wing of your car. Just carefully reshape the end cap or if you have buckets of them, as we did, just bin the full end cap with the half radius and replace it with the variant with a virtually full cut-away at the front. Easy

[Kiwi]

Well I took the plunge and removed the end cap and did a little filing around the edges to clear the area the front sight base fits on the barrel. There isn't much of a separation between the front sight base and the end cap when installed, but it is there. I have marked in pen the outline of the front sight base on the end cap, should this area be removed so there is no chance of the front sight base and end cap touching or as on long as there is some clearance between the front sight base and end cap is that fine? Would the same apply when the front sight protector is installed? Should the end cap be relieved further still to ensure that also has no chance of contacting the end cap?

[ssj]

I assume the later end caps are like they are because of this problem?

[Peter Laidler]

I would think it was just an authorized change to make best use of a manufacturers facilities or materials