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Hey guys I have this 1892 in 25-20. I have been trying to sight the thing in, and just discovered the culprit, sort of. The rear sight is running at an angle from the dovetail to the actual buckhorn . In other words the pointer on the dovetail part is not necessarily in line with the sight. Has anyone ever had this issue, and can it be corrected without damaging the entire sight? Or should I just leave well enough alone??? Thoughts are very welcome.
Steve
You simply need to drift the sight in its dovetail from right to left a bit to center it up. Doing that will most likely result in the need to adjust the front sight in its dovetail slot (in the opposite direction). The front sight is the preferred point of adjustment to correct windage errors, though sometimes it might be preferable to adjust both the front and rear sight to fix a gross windage issue.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Are you saying to tap the sight at the rear of the tang and force it over to align it back up straight? How are they fastened to the dovetail part?
Steve
slk said
Are you saying to tap the sight at the rear of the tang and force it over to align it back up straight? How are they fastened to the dovetail part?Steve
No… It needs to be tapped on the side of the forward end of the sight directly above the dovetail slot. That will move the entire sight in the direct you are tapping it. It is preferable to temporarily remove the elevator piece before moving the sight in the dovetail so that it does not laterally scrape across the top of the barrel. If you are not familiar with the concept of adjusting/moving open sights, you should take it to someone who is. Moving the sight will require a brass or aluminum drift punch, and a small hammer.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert I do not think you are understanding what I am talking about. Look at the run off form the dovetail to the rear of the tang. You can see in the picture that it is at least 1/16 off the side of the barrel and tapering to nothing at the far end at the sight window. I am very familiar to adjusting sights. This one seams to be more or less bent to one side. That tang is roughly 3″ long. It is not a 90* angle to the dovetail as it should be. Look closely at the pic. I am thinking some dummy before me tried to adjust it by taping at the rear of the tang instead of the dovetail. Looking down the barrel from the rear the sight has been driven to the left at the buckhorn it’s self. So someone managed to move the sight off of a 90* from the dovetail. I hope I have explained that ok???
Steve
Hi Steve. Very easy fix. Remove rear sight (push out to the right). Now lightly tap down apposing corners of barrel dovetail. You may need a couple of tries to get it exactly right, but just go gently. Eric
Just a note of precaution. To keep the sight from leaving a scratch mark on the barrel; remove the elevator and slide a thin card {business or playing type card) under the back part of the sight before moving it. Just to be safe. I suspect the sight may have been replaced at some point. I don’t recall the front point being that blunt on any of my 92s, maybe on real late guns. Could be wrong on that observation. Roger B.
slk said
Bert I do not think you are understanding what I am talking about. Look at the run off form the dovetail to the rear of the tang. You can see in the picture that it is at least 1/16 off the side of the barrel and tapering to nothing at the far end at the sight window. I am very familiar to adjusting sights. This one seams to be more or less bent to one side. That tang is roughly 3″ long. It is not a 90* angle to the dovetail as it should be. Look closely at the pic. I am thinking some dummy before me tried to adjust it by taping at the rear of the tang instead of the dovetail. Looking down the barrel from the rear the sight has been driven to the left at the buckhorn it’s self. So someone managed to move the sight off of a 90* from the dovetail. I hope I have explained that ok???
Steve
Steve,
I think would have helped if the picture was oriented at a 90-degree angle. My eyes immediately went to the fact that the dovetail base (front) of the sight is noticeably to the right of center on the barrel. I do not understand how the sight could have been bent along its longitudinal axis without warping it, or distorting the milled groove for the elevator piece, but who knows what actually happened. I would temporarily remove the sight and then try to slowly straighten it in a padded jaw bench vise.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Steve. The sight is not bent, the dovetail slot is distorted. Straighten the slot, then carefully replace the sight,keeping it straight as you bump it in to place. Its not hard, just go slowly , may need a couple of tries to get it dead straight. Eric.
I was wondering the same thing about it being visibly bent, which it appears not to be. There are no kinks. How in the world could it move on the dovetail base. Is that tang soldered to the dovetail base? Now one thing I have not checked is if the dovetail is cut 90* to the barrel. I sure hope it is. If it is not that would present a worse issue.
Steve
slk said
I was wondering the same thing about it being visibly bent, which it appears not to be. There are no kinks. How in the world could it move on the dovetail base. Is that tang soldered to the dovetail base? Now one thing I have not checked is if the dovetail is cut 90* to the barrel. I sure hope it is. If it is not that would present a worse issue.Steve
Steve,
If it is an original barrel, Winchester cut the dovetail across the barrel at a perfect 90-degree angle. After you remove the sight, please take a clear close-up picture(s) of the empty dovetail cut.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Online
Steve, I have had after market sights that are not straight, try another sight if that’s the same then you have to play with the dovetail. Your sight looks to be a later type. T/R
I am in agreement with TR and think you should check the sight’s dovetail for damage and alignment. As Bert stated, the barrel dovetail should be correct at 90 degrees. Roger B
SLK, It’s the incorrect sight for the gun and looking at the mounting it’s not all the way in the dovetail (look at the distances laterally with the forend wood. Tap it to the left and see if it doesn’t straighten up.
Just my 2 cents.
B
SLK, might be the base of your sight going into the dovetail is distorted IF the dovetail is not? Might want to verify! Good luck.
rogertherelic said
Just a note of precaution. To keep the sight from leaving a scratch mark on the barrel; remove the elevator and slide a thin card {business or playing type card) under the back part of the sight before moving it. Just to be safe. I suspect the sight may have been replaced at some point. I don’t recall the front point being that blunt on any of my 92s, maybe on real late guns. Could be wrong on that observation. Roger B.
I like your response. I always put a thin piece of something under the sight so as not to scratch the barrel.
Be VERY careful if you try to bend the sight. They will snap quite easily. A straight edge will tell you if it is bent.
Don’t worry about where the pointer is. Locate the buckhorn where it needs to be.
Well I took it to the range today after removing the rear sight. I drove it back in and it aligned up pretty darned good this time. The dovetail was good. Problem I am having now is I am at the bottom elevation notch, and still shooting a little high at 50 yards. I am thinking at 100 yards it should drop some and maybe be close. The front sight is the same height as my 32-20 and I have no issues with that rifle. This little 25-20 is throwing me for a loop.
Now all of that being said. My eyes are not what they use to be either, and I am not using regulation 100 yd targets. The ones I am using are more for about 25 yds. If I was shooting at a deer it would be dead, but not the case with targets….
Steve
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