Front sight fell off 91/59

[SeanCasey]

I was shooting my 91/59 today and after shooting it I went to pick it up and noticed the front sight was sitting on the ground next to it. Not sure how it came off, it certaintly is not loose and cannot be reattached without tools. I guess I need to go get the tools and spend a range session resighting it. I just wish I knew how it came off.

[sixersgo]

cant you just tap it back in with a wrench or some sort of metal object and hammer with a piece a cloth under to protect the metal?

[GOEX FFF]

I'm not sure I'm following, if its NOT loose how did it come off?

If you mean it came out of it's dove tail slot, tap it back in with a brass tap hammer and use a punch to stake it back in.

[dotalchemy]

I'm not following...

How did you not notice until you saw it on the ground? They're fairly integral to the whole "hitting something", unless you were aiming at a Nimitz...

[SeanCasey]

Believe me I am not sure how it came off. I shot it, set it down (on the ground ontop of its soft gun case), and the next time I look at the gun, the front sight was off of it (came out of the dove tail slot). I keep thinking maybe someone stepped on it? Basically the firing line is an open area (no benches or anything) at the police range my academy class is using and we finished our quals and had time to spare so we could bring our personal toys out but when not shooting it had to go on the ground along the firing line. It certaintly never has even felt loose before and has been spot on accurate, and it will not go in without the use of a tap hammer. Fixing it isn't soo much the issue, ths is really more of a rant to blow of some steam from having the fix it and get it sighted in properly (and the fact that I didn't get to shoot it more).

[big103]

Those dove tails are pretty tight on the front sight sight base. You should see a witness mark on the front sight base and on the sight. If it has not been messed with sense the factory set it back and you should be good to go. I have an M44 that the front sight was real lose on. I took it out to show someone while standing in grass. Never found it again.

[SeanCasey]

Ha! Never noticed the witness mark before. I checked and sure enough it's there. That should get me back in business more quickly.