Hand cutting a dovetail

[fiver]

you might not get the good job, but you could shoot for a ride into the next town on the tour bus...

 

[KeithB]

I've got a Wrangler. I like it but its a $200 gun, I don't see Ruger going to any great lengths to straighten out the sights.

There is a lot of meat in the barrel at the muzzle end so no problem there. The frame is pretty flat and parallel on the sides at the front so it would be no problem to line it up vertically in a milling machine vise. I know you asked for advice on doing it by hand but this job is of the size and scale where even a fairly small table top milling machine could do what is required. Knowing my own skill level even if I didn't own a mill I would ask around and find someone who did. I would bet the barrel is some type of mild/low carbon steel, the ceramic coating might be a little hard to cut through with anything but once through the material should file/drill/tap? just fine.

Checking the crown is good advice, mine looks good but.... Have you tried several brands of ammunition? I've found different brands sometimes shoot to different lateral points of impact.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Cheap gun or not, it's still a Ruger and it still has a warranty. If the barrel isn't clocked correctly, Ruger needs to fix that or replace it. If it is properly assembled and you just want a drift adjustable front sight, that's a different situation.

 

[KeithB]

Cheap gun or not, it's still a Ruger and it still has a warranty. If the barrel isn't clocked correctly, Ruger needs to fix that or replace it. If it is properly assembled and you just want a drift adjustable front sight, that's a different situation.

I agree. If there is some measurable error in the gun, i.e an overly wide cylinder/barrel gap or a bad crown for example, then I would definitely send it back.

It would be easy enough to see if the front sight is lined up straight with the frame, just lay a straightedge along the side of the frame top strap and measure the distance from it to the sight. Do that on both sides and compare measurements. (This assumes the cylinder lines up straight within the frame, but the frame is probably what the factory used to align it for the minimal machining it undergoes so I think it's a safe bet.)

What if it's lined up straight and the problem is how the user grips the gun and what brand of ammunition is used, what then? I don't see Ruger dealing with that. I have seen three good shooters use the same handgun and ammo and shoot to three distinctly different points of impact. That's why they invented - gasp - adjustable sights!

If the gun shoots small enough groups to be acceptable then I would most definitely settle on a brand of ammo it likes and then figure out the best way to make it shoot where I look. And yes, that would probably involve powered machinery. I know my own skill level with a file.

 

[Tomme boy]

I have tried 3 types of ammo so far. I was looking it over and the front sight is already bent over to the left. So they must have did a somewhat sight in. Like I said, I have had 3 emails into Ruger with no response. I might just order a ramped front sight for it. Williams and Marbles make a few that should work fine. They have a 0.100" height, then order the right sight that slides into the dovetail on the ramp.

Marble's Front Sight Ramp .100 Height .375 Dovetail Slot .687 Barrel

These classic front ramps are CNC machined from bar stock steel and hot blued. The dovetail cut is the industry standard .375" (3/8") and the...

www.midwayusa.com

I already have a 6-48 bottoming tap. I think this may be the cheapest cost effective way to do this. And I think it would look ok as well.

 

[KeithB]

For $11 that looks like a great solution. And I think it would look fine. Not the traditional half nickel profile but not out of bounds either.

What size groups are you getting?

 

[Tomme boy]

Depends on the ammo. The best I have done at 15 yds has been about 1.5" with some OLD PMC Target standard vel. Aguila copper hp were about 2" at the same distance.

Before I do anything I am going to go shoot it some more to make sure it is not me. Depending on the day is how I can see. I have to shoot iron sighted guns first if I go out. If i shoot a bunch of scoped guns first I get eye strain and cant see the sights well. You know..... GETTING OLD!

I found a front sight on Ebay with this mount it will be really close to the same overall height it is now. I have a height of 0.225" front sight now. With the 0.1" base and the 0.16" insert that should be close enough.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The 3 emails to Ruger with no response appears to be a bigger problem than the gun itself.
Perhaps a phone call? An actual letter by snail mail? Have the dealer that sold the revolver call?

 

[Tomme boy]

Well made it to the range today. Shot several groups with 3 different ammo at 15yds. They all shoot about 1" high but centered. I could see pretty well today. Last time I was having a little difficulty seeing the sights. I was up almost 30 hours at the time I went then. I guess that ws my body saying dummy go get some sleep.

I got the parts to do this, but they will be set aside for the moment.