Tips for a stubborn sight dovetail

[Imageview]

So I have an old Winchester 62a that I'd like a taller front sight on. Knocking out the rear sight from the dovetail was a piece of cake, but the front sight refuses to budge. Any tips for getting it moving?

[Imageview]

Left to right (From the rear, as if I were aiming).

[ar15barrels]

I use a 2x air riveter with an aluminum sight pusher bit that I made by turning down the back end of one of the Dawson notched punches that Dawson gives you with every set of sights.
i cut off a worn out 0.401 pneumatic punch and drilled a 7mm hole in the 0.401 punch base so i can slip the Dawson aluminum punch into the 0.401” punch base. That gives me a stepped aluminum sight punch that’s fits into my air riveter.
make sure you are good at controlling a pneumatic riveter before you try this on guns because it can get away from you if you are not experienced.

[GunDog]

Looks to me like the OP needs to engage the services of a qualified/experienced gunsmith, such as Randall, to accomplish the task at hand without doing any damage to a fine old Winchester rifle. Doing so would no doubt be money well spent.

[hermosabeach]

do you have a micrometer? What is the size of old vs new?

[bigbossman]

Try using a penetrating oil such as Kroil. The could be a bit of corrosion or rust under the sight.

[ar15barrels]

do you have a micrometer? What is the size of old vs new?

It sounds like he has not gotten the old front sight out so he can not measure it to compare the new one yet.

I use the XS sight dovetail measuring tool to keep the gauge wires flat to the base when measuring sights and I use 1/16" dowel pins for measuring dovetail cuts.
The instructions with the XS gauge give you an angle chart and the formula to get the fit you want.

https://xssights.com/content/Install%20Instructions/DVTL-MG%20Instruction_Single.pdf

Lacking such tools, you can lap the bottom of the dovetail on a bench stone until it will slip half-way into the slot with finger pressure and then push it the rest of the way with your chosen sight pushing method.

[Imageview]

I use a 2x air riveter with an aluminum sight pusher bit that I made by turning down the back end of one of the Dawson notched punches that Dawson gives you with every set of sights.

This makes a lot of sense, but aside from lacking the tools I do agree it would be likely to get away from me. Gotta know your limitations.

To answer some of the other comments:

Engaging someone like Randall is a possibility, but he's a long drive for me. The local gunsmith has already had one of my rifles for two years and no progress in sight so I won't be giving him another. Not sure which half of the rifle counts as the receiver in this case, so not sure it's shippable to Randall in specific (I believe for registered parts you want someone on hand correct?).

62As came with two different sight heights that I am aware of, both were very short. Replacement sights are cheap so I bought a couple different heights to try once I get the existing sight loose. Can always use extras if I don't need them.

Rust is a strong possibility, this is an 83 year old rifle and the sight look to have not be moved that entire time. Kroll oil, or maybe a combination of a heat gun and some dry ice, would be a reasonable choice.

Hand fitting sights is something I've done a fair amount of, either with a bench stone or files. I've never had half this much trouble getting an existing sight loose however.

[ar15barrels]

Not sure which half of the rifle counts as the receiver in this case, so not sure it's shippable to Randall in specific (I believe for registered parts you want someone on hand correct?)

Typically the part holding the barrel and bolt is the receiver but it's always the only part with the serial number when only one part has the serial number.
When multiple parts are serialized, it's the part with the manufacturer's name/city/state and serial number.

You only have to make the drive once because I do the work while you wait.

[Scota4570]

Once the sight is all mauled up and did not move, do this. Take a hacksaw and cut it down the middle 90* to the barrel. Do not cut into the barrel. Once you get close to cutting through the tension will be released and the sight will drift out easily.

Modern guns use mostly standard dovetails. Your Winchester is not likely a goofie size.