The sight keeps coming loose

skeetshooter · March 19, 2009, 10:34 AM

I have a Taurus .22 mag pistol with a rear sight that can be adjusted for windage. But, after so many rounds of firing, the sight comes loose.

I'm afraid to over-tighten the little set screw because I don't want to strip the threads. Any suggestions?

Here is a picture:

hoytinak · March 19, 2009, 10:42 AM

Loctite it.

skeetshooter · March 19, 2009, 12:53 PM

Will Loctite allow me to keep adjusting the sight until it's right and still do the job? I can't loosen the screw to use the Loctite once the gun is sighted in because the sight will easily slip out of place.

Hawg · March 19, 2009, 01:28 PM

You can peen the edges of the sight just a little bit where it fits into the dove tail. That will make a tighter fit and still allow it to be adjusted. Once it's sighted in use blue loctite on the screw. Use red loctite and you'll never get it back out without using heat.

ISC · March 19, 2009, 02:27 PM

use a punch to stake it in place

skeetshooter · March 19, 2009, 02:48 PM

>use a punch to stake it in place<

Not exactly sure what you mean by that.

ISC · March 20, 2009, 04:26 AM

use a punch to deform the metal slightly where the dovetail overlaps the rear sight. You can use a center punch, which will be most secure, but will leave a small punch mark. This will leave a small dimple that will force a small amount of metal from the dovetail into a small indentation on the sight. You can also use a round nose punch which will tighten the gap without leaving an indentation in the metal.

skeetshooter · March 20, 2009, 06:29 PM

Ok -- got it. That sounds like it ought to keep it place after it's sighted in alright. In attempting that, however, it would be just my luck to knock it out of place.

If I'm going to scratch the gun, maybe I should simply scratch a mark to line up after it's sighted in, and then loctite it. Sometimes the decision is the tough part!

A/C Guy · April 15, 2009, 01:15 PM

Blue loctite will allow you to still adjust the sight. The non hardening formulas allow you to loosen and retighten the screws a coupe of times before needing another application of a drop or 2.
There is a blue loctite that is a stick (like lipstick) that you can use.

Scorch · April 16, 2009, 06:50 PM

Before doing anything else, tighten the set screw. That's what the set screw is for.

skeetshooter · April 16, 2009, 08:14 PM

A/C Guy --

Thanks for the insight on the blue loctite -- that sounds like the way to go on this.

March 19, 2009, 10:34 AM	#1
skeetshooter Junior Member Join Date: March 17, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	The sight keeps coming loose I have a Taurus .22 mag pistol with a rear sight that can be adjusted for windage. But, after so many rounds of firing, the sight comes loose. I'm afraid to over-tighten the little set screw because I don't want to strip the threads. Any suggestions? Here is a picture:

April 16, 2009, 06:50 PM	#10
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Before doing anything else, tighten the set screw. That's what the set screw is for. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 19, 2009, 10:42 AM	#2
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	Loctite it.

March 19, 2009, 12:53 PM	#3
skeetshooter Junior Member Join Date: March 17, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	Will Loctite allow me to keep adjusting the sight until it's right and still do the job? I can't loosen the screw to use the Loctite once the gun is sighted in because the sight will easily slip out of place.

March 19, 2009, 01:28 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	You can peen the edges of the sight just a little bit where it fits into the dove tail. That will make a tighter fit and still allow it to be adjusted. Once it's sighted in use blue loctite on the screw. Use red loctite and you'll never get it back out without using heat.

March 19, 2009, 02:27 PM	#5
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	use a punch to stake it in place

March 19, 2009, 02:48 PM	#6
skeetshooter Junior Member Join Date: March 17, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	>use a punch to stake it in place< Not exactly sure what you mean by that.

March 20, 2009, 04:26 AM	#7
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	use a punch to deform the metal slightly where the dovetail overlaps the rear sight. You can use a center punch, which will be most secure, but will leave a small punch mark. This will leave a small dimple that will force a small amount of metal from the dovetail into a small indentation on the sight. You can also use a round nose punch which will tighten the gap without leaving an indentation in the metal.

March 20, 2009, 06:29 PM	#8
skeetshooter Junior Member Join Date: March 17, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	Ok -- got it. That sounds like it ought to keep it place after it's sighted in alright. In attempting that, however, it would be just my luck to knock it out of place. If I'm going to scratch the gun, maybe I should simply scratch a mark to line up after it's sighted in, and then loctite it. Sometimes the decision is the tough part!

April 15, 2009, 01:15 PM	#9
A/C Guy Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Location: Apache Junction, Az Posts: 308	Blue loctite will allow you to still adjust the sight. The non hardening formulas allow you to loosen and retighten the screws a coupe of times before needing another application of a drop or 2. There is a blue loctite that is a stick (like lipstick) that you can use.

April 16, 2009, 08:14 PM	#11
skeetshooter Junior Member Join Date: March 17, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	A/C Guy -- Thanks for the insight on the blue loctite -- that sounds like the way to go on this.