Posted: 4/3/2011 12:12:45 PM EDT
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Trying to install a 3D Ledge rear and a target front sight, both with tritium. Is this something I can do myself? I'd certainly like to learn, its one of the few 1911 tasks I've yet to try.
Neither front nor rear fit in the notches, whereas both old sights are easy to start with thumb pressure. I looked at another 1911 of mine where a professional did the sight install, and the front angle of the rear is filed down...is that typically the only place they're oversized? I've hit that angle on the new sight with a stone, and nothing seems to have changed. Should the angle stay the same or are they shipped oversized and off-angle? For the front sight, which dimension(s) are usually shipped oversized? Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks! |
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Quoted:
Trying to install a 3D Ledge rear and a target front sight, both with tritium. Is this something I can do myself? I'd certainly like to learn, its one of the few 1911 tasks I've yet to try. Neither front nor rear fit in the notches, whereas both old sights are easy to start with thumb pressure. I looked at another 1911 of mine where a professional did the sight install, and the front angle of the rear is filed down...is that typically the only place they're oversized? I've hit that angle on the new sight with a stone, and nothing seems to have changed. Should the angle stay the same or are they shipped oversized and off-angle? For the front sight, which dimension(s) are usually shipped oversized? Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks! what 1911 are you installing it in? Did you get the Heinie's that are cut for Novak sight cuts? If it's a Springfield, the rear notch is slightly smaller than the Novak. The front Springfield sight has a different dovetail than the standard Novak cut. The Springfield front sight is 60* as opposed to Novak's 65* i have blog on installing a rear sight on a Springfield with "Novak" sight cuts. http://quacksgunstuff.blogspot.com/2011/02/replacing-sights-on-springfield-fixed.html |
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I'm installing it in an RIA slide that was cut for Novaks. Both sights are listed on the Brownells website as being for Novaks cuts, and another pair fit into the Novaks cuts I had a smith mill into a GI slide.
The packaging for the rear states that it should require fitting as it's shipped oversized. |
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I got these off of the 1911forum.
the front dovetail cut on the RIA is deeper than the Novak cut sight, so you'll need a bit of work to make it fit, and it still won't be perfect since there will be a gap at the bottom of the dovetail. Dawson was making sights for the RIA Tactical with the proper dimension. 
the RIA rear sight is .487", while the Novak cut is .500", so you will have to file the sight to fit like in the previous link. 
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Thanks much!
Quoted:
I got these off of the 1911forum. the front dovetail cut on the RIA is deeper than the Novak cut sight, so you'll need a bit of work to make it fit, and it still won't be perfect since there will be a gap at the bottom of the dovetail. Dawson was making sights for the RIA Tactical with the proper dimension. http://photosbydon.smugmug.com/photos/1238600695_Cv8gJ-O.jpg Math never was my best subject, so I'm going to ask some dumb questions.  By deeper, you mean that the depth from the floor of the notch to the top of the slide is greater than the similar measurement on a traditional Novaks cut. I would think that would be the sight would slide in easier, but not be as secure...
Quoted:
the RIA rear sight is .487", while the Novak cut is .500", so you will have to file the sight to fit like in the previous link. http://photosbydon.smugmug.com/photos/1238600711_pzjTQ-O.jpg .487 being the front-to-back width of the dovetail base? Is that the only difference between the two styles? If so, it would seem that my current plan of doing my fitting on the front angle seems to be the best plan. The Heinie package said that they were .002-.003 oversized, which means I could be removing a bit more metal from that front slant. |
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Quoted:
Thanks much! Quoted:
I got these off of the 1911forum. the front dovetail cut on the RIA is deeper than the Novak cut sight, so you'll need a bit of work to make it fit, and it still won't be perfect since there will be a gap at the bottom of the dovetail. Dawson was making sights for the RIA Tactical with the proper dimension. http://photosbydon.smugmug.com/photos/1238600695_Cv8gJ-O.jpg Math never was my best subject, so I'm going to ask some dumb questions. By deeper, you mean that the depth from the floor of the notch to the top of the slide is greater than the similar measurement on a traditional Novaks cut. I would think that would be the sight would slide in easier, but not be as secure...
correct, i am referring to the height of the sight dovetail. but it wouldn't be easier to install because the .330" part of the sight will not be at the bottom of the dovetail, which would be the .330" i believe that some have filed the bottom of the sight blade to lower the sight into the dovetail. so you would need to take off about .015" from the bottom of the sight blade, which will then lower the sight of the height. Quoted:
the RIA rear sight is .487", while the Novak cut is .500", so you will have to file the sight to fit like in the previous link. http://photosbydon.smugmug.com/photos/1238600711_pzjTQ-O.jpg .487 being the front-to-back width of the dovetail base? Is that the only difference between the two styles? If so, it would seem that my current plan of doing my fitting on the front angle seems to be the best plan. The Heinie package said that they were .002-.003 oversized, which means I could be removing a bit more metal from that front slant. i always take material off the rear of the sight dovetail. i've never installed Heinie's, so call them to see where the recommended area is to file. |