Putting Sights back on a Rifle - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Diesel Smoke · 11-14-2006, 04:36 PM

I have the oppertunity to buy a nice Marlin 1894 CS from a friend of mine. For some reason he took off the iron sights and added a 6.5x14 scope, then had the sight mounting holes filled with solder. I have no idea why as the gun is chambered in .357, so having a large scope doesn't make sense. Anyhow I want the gun, but not with the scope. What is required to get the solder out of the old holes so I can put the sights back on? He's offering to do it, and says he'll just melt it out with a blow toarch. Seems a little overkill to me, so I am wondering if anyone here has done it and can tell me where to find the proper technique? I'd rather I do it.

Thanks!

bronko · 11-14-2006, 05:03 PM

Never done it, but I'd imagine heating it up w/ a torch is the best way. Oddly enough I'm looking for a lever action .357!!!

Cue-Ball · 11-14-2006, 05:08 PM

Either that or you could retap the holes and do it lightly, as the solder will tap easily, as opposed to the barrel.

nooblet · 11-14-2006, 11:37 PM

I would think heating it just enough for the solder to melt then re-blueing the barrel would be your best bet. If you would want to take it to a gunsmith to get it re-taped that would seem to work just fine as well I would think. The obvious difference being one you do yourself for free and the other you have to pay a gunsmith to do. I personally would not attempt to re-tap the holes myself, but that is of course your decision.

Let us know how it turns out, I'm actually very curious.

Chris

santa · 11-14-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooblet

I personally would not attempt to re-tap the holes myself, but that is of course your decision.

Let us know how it turns out, I'm actually very curious.

Chris

Why not. Just like drilling and tapping any other whole. Biggest problem I see is knowing the thread count and pitch, but I can't imagine there being to many possibilities.

I vote for slapping that fawker in a drill press nice, tite, and straight and drilling and tapping it.

Diesel Smoke · 11-15-2006, 12:11 AM

Well I have to give him an answer by tomorrow. I was hoping for a bit more information, like, "yeah sure, this is how I did it!" It isn't that I don't trust him to do a good job, it just sometimes he gets a little to over confident in his abilities and I would hate to see him ruin a good gun.

I'll let you guys know what I do. Right now I am leaning towards just buying the gun from him and putting the sights back on myself.

santa · 11-15-2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Smoke

I'll let you guys know what I do. Right now I am leaning towards just buying the gun from him and putting the sights back on myself.

When you get it, just drill it under a size and leave yourself some fudge factor. It really is just a chunk of metal that's been manipulated to kill and maim

SilverZuk · 11-15-2006, 05:49 AM

Heat to remove solder and/or drill tap.
Order new sites from Marlin, but you have to have it shipped to a Gunsmith, dealer, etc. They won't ship to individuals without FFL.
It is a load of crap, I just went through this last year with a 45-70 I got a deal on.

Diesel Smoke · 11-15-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverZuk

Heat to remove solder and/or drill tap.
Order new sites from Marlin, but you have to have it shipped to a Gunsmith, dealer, etc. They won't ship to individuals without FFL.
It is a load of crap, I just went through this last year with a 45-70 I got a deal on.

Thanks for the info. He still has the original sight set. If I need a new set I can have them shipped to my gun club as they are an FFL. No charge as well!! Any recommendations of how to heat? Torch, soldering iron, other??

Budd · 11-15-2006, 05:49 PM

BTW - I have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Special in the .357 flavor and I love it.

Handloading I use 14.6g of lil gun under a Cast Performance 180g bullet - yields about 1800 fps. Very fun gun!

Good Luck!

usmcdoc14 · 11-15-2006, 05:52 PM

how about ordering a a DIY dovetail cutting kit from midway usa and putting a dovetail front sight of your choice on it.

usmcdoc14 · 11-15-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Smoke

Thanks for the info. He still has the original sight set. If I need a new set I can have them shipped to my gun club as they are an FFL. No charge as well!! Any recommendations of how to heat? Torch, soldering iron, other??

mapp gas or oxy/act as silver solder needs HEAT !!!

Diesel Smoke · 11-15-2006, 07:02 PM

Well, it isn't really an issue anymore, seeing as the gun is sitting next to me as I type. I went over too look it over and he had already put the sight back on it. It turns out only the front sight was removed as the rear fit fine under the scope. So, with my pocket a little light I am one gun richer!! I am extremely happy, it's a gun I loved to shoot when he owned it and now it's mine!

Thanks for all the advice, now I just need to start researching hunting loads, the above is a good place to start. Figure it'll be a good brush gun for deer.

Thank again all!

11-14-2006, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Diesel Smoke "Official" Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27575 Location: Oregon, Our voters are that Dumb Posts: 3,361	Putting Sights back on a Rifle I have the oppertunity to buy a nice Marlin 1894 CS from a friend of mine. For some reason he took off the iron sights and added a 6.5x14 scope, then had the sight mounting holes filled with solder. I have no idea why as the gun is chambered in .357, so having a large scope doesn't make sense. Anyhow I want the gun, but not with the scope. What is required to get the solder out of the old holes so I can put the sights back on? He's offering to do it, and says he'll just melt it out with a blow toarch. Seems a little overkill to me, so I am wondering if anyone here has done it and can tell me where to find the proper technique? I'd rather I do it. Thanks! __________________ Wheeling?!?!? WTF is that?

11-14-2006, 05:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
bronko Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Member # 18748 Location: Roaming the Northeast Posts: 1,340	Never done it, but I'd imagine heating it up w/ a torch is the best way. Oddly enough I'm looking for a lever action .357!!! __________________ Bummin around in a SAS'd 88 Toy w/ a 3.4 :flipoff2:

11-14-2006, 05:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cue-Ball Rock God Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17311 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 2,248	Either that or you could retap the holes and do it lightly, as the solder will tap easily, as opposed to the barrel. __________________ Nex Pro Evinco "Death Before Defeat"

11-15-2006, 12:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Diesel Smoke "Official" Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27575 Location: Oregon, Our voters are that Dumb Posts: 3,361	Well I have to give him an answer by tomorrow. I was hoping for a bit more information, like, "yeah sure, this is how I did it!" It isn't that I don't trust him to do a good job, it just sometimes he gets a little to over confident in his abilities and I would hate to see him ruin a good gun. I'll let you guys know what I do. Right now I am leaning towards just buying the gun from him and putting the sights back on myself. __________________ Wheeling?!?!? WTF is that? Last edited by Diesel Smoke; 11-15-2006 at 12:11 AM.

11-15-2006, 05:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
SilverZuk Hillbilly Houndsman Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13420 Location: Kenna, West Virginia Posts: 6,824	Heat to remove solder and/or drill tap. Order new sites from Marlin, but you have to have it shipped to a Gunsmith, dealer, etc. They won't ship to individuals without FFL. It is a load of crap, I just went through this last year with a 45-70 I got a deal on. __________________ The penalty for punching someone in the mouth is way too high in our society. www.MountaineerOffroad.com Last edited by SilverZuk; 11-15-2006 at 05:52 AM.

11-14-2006, 11:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
nooblet Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Member # 70402 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,370	I would think heating it just enough for the solder to melt then re-blueing the barrel would be your best bet. If you would want to take it to a gunsmith to get it re-taped that would seem to work just fine as well I would think. The obvious difference being one you do yourself for free and the other you have to pay a gunsmith to do. I personally would not attempt to re-tap the holes myself, but that is of course your decision. Let us know how it turns out, I'm actually very curious. Chris

11-15-2006, 05:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
Budd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Member # 28368 Location: OC, California Posts: 3,123 Blog Entries: 13	BTW - I have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Special in the .357 flavor and I love it. Handloading I use 14.6g of lil gun under a Cast Performance 180g bullet - yields about 1800 fps. Very fun gun! Good Luck! __________________ '68 Jeepster, GN powered

11-15-2006, 05:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
usmcdoc14 Fistful of Boomstick Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13344 Location: Norfawk, VA Posts: 12,149	how about ordering a a DIY dovetail cutting kit from midway usa and putting a dovetail front sight of your choice on it. __________________ Doc-14 Tactical Products: When it absolutely, positively needs to be made from random crap found in the back of my garage. You cant ban knowledge, learn to make your own guns right Here. New York, Colorado, Maryland, Conneticut….is your state next? Yes it is. Write, Vote and Fight.

11-15-2006, 07:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
Diesel Smoke "Official" Join Date: Feb 2004 Member # 27575 Location: Oregon, Our voters are that Dumb Posts: 3,361	Well, it isn't really an issue anymore, seeing as the gun is sitting next to me as I type. I went over too look it over and he had already put the sight back on it. It turns out only the front sight was removed as the rear fit fine under the scope. So, with my pocket a little light I am one gun richer!! I am extremely happy, it's a gun I loved to shoot when he owned it and now it's mine! Thanks for all the advice, now I just need to start researching hunting loads, the above is a good place to start. Figure it'll be a good brush gun for deer. Thank again all! __________________ Wheeling?!?!? WTF is that?

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