M48 front sight adjustment

[Hinnerk]

I recently bought and cleaned up an M48BO. I took it to the range and tried it out with 5 round groups of 4 different brands/types of ammo (PPU 8mm Mauser, PPU mil surp M75 "sniper", Hornady 8x57 JS, Sellier & Bellot 8x57 JS). I obtained about 2-3" groups at 50 yards (my first time firing a high powered rifle and first time shooting in over 25 years, bear in mind). However, all groups were about 4" left of the center of the target. By comparison, all 10 rounds fired through my old .22LR squirrel rifle were in the black, so I am supposing the cause may be that the sights are off on the M48. I am estimating that the front sight would need to be drifted over about 0.04" to put the groups on center. Anyone have any experience with this or recommendations? Perhaps I should just gain more experience with this rifle before making adjustments? I should point out that the different groups had various elevation on the target (about 6" spread) with lowest to highest in the same order as the ammo listed above although they were not fired in that order.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

The front sight can be drifted easily left or right. The only hard part is getting the hood off and back on. M48BO is a neat variant, congrats.

[Hinnerk]

I have used a snap ring pliers to remove the front sight hood. That method works pretty well for that trick.

Once the front sight is drifted, is any other action needed to fix it in place?

[pacrat]

Also note that front and rear sights move in opposite directions to get same results in POA.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have used a snap ring pliers to remove the front sight hood. That method works pretty well for that trick.

Once the front sight is drifted, is any other action needed to fix it in place?

I have made slight FS adjustments on Mausers and they held fine. If there was a lot of wear in the groove I suppose it might move, but in most cases once you drift it it should stay put.

P.S. The Yugo M48 is one of the sturdiest and handiest bolt action rifles ever made. Anyone with even a passing interest in Mausers should have one.

[emcon5]

It should fit pretty snug, nothing you need to do to get it to stay in place.

I would love to stumble across one of the IDF Mauser front sight tools, they are really slick.

SVT-40 posted a photo of one here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...0&postcount=15

[6mmintl]

If your in the bay area PM me and you can come over and we will fix it, but you should replace it with a Brownells square post front sight (which need minor fitting) if your serios about shooting well with it at the range or in competition.

I have about four new ones if interested.