How do you replace the elevation nut on a rear sight

Nightowl · #1 10-14-2020, 06:55 PM

I have a 617-4 rear sight that the elevation screw and the adjustment screw with the square head seems to have stripped threads. I bought a screw and elevation screw, nut or whatever you want to call it, but can't get the old one out of the sight body. I see it has a small ring keeping it in and have not figured a way to remove it. Anyone have experience with replacing them??

armorer951 · #2 10-14-2020, 06:59 PM

I use a magnifier (I'm old) and a small probe, like a hat pin to remove the snap ring. You might put the assembly in a clear bag while making the attempt. You know the ring will be off to parts unknown if you don't.

cgt4570 · #3 10-14-2020, 07:27 PM

As stated above, use a bag!
After you remove the C-clip, when you start to raise the elevation screw (actually a nut) out of the sight base, the detent pin and spring will come out with force.
Same process for putting it back together and getting the detent pin back in without launching it. I've lost a few.
I use a small screwdriver to press the detent in, and if the screwdriver slips before you get it back in the barrel of the sight base, the pin and spring go into orbit.

CH4 · #4 10-14-2020, 08:06 PM

I use a dental pick. Takes me about 5 minutes start to finish. Just take care not to launch the bits or you’ll be in touch with Brownells. I found bag works great in theory, but not in practice; it’s like taking a shower in a wetsuit. I put a piece of scotch tape under the opening of the C clip to minimize scratching the the bottom of the sight.

Nightowl · #5 10-15-2020, 08:05 AM

Thanks for the help. Since I could buy the replacement parts, I assumed that it was possible to do, I just had no luck on my attempts. The dental pick sounds like a good place to start!

Hondo44 · #6 10-16-2020, 01:40 AM

The adjustment screw nut retainer (actually a split ring spring). So first find the split, and apply the dental pick at that point. Then pull the tool point around under the ring and it'll finally come off (and fly).

To reinstall, find something hollow that fits over the screw nut but not the split ring and push it back on.

I use the clear 1 gallon size ziplock bag to keep parts from flying into the next zip code.