Re-attaching Wilson Scattergun front sight

geologist · January 4, 2011, 02:46 AM

I had a Wilson front sight installed on the 14" barrel of my shotgun a couple of years ago.

I assume that the gunsmith used the included glue that came with the front sight.

It detached yesterday at the range while I was shooting light loads. Temperature was -3C.

What is the best way for me to re-attach it? If I degrease it thoroughly will JB weld and a clamp re-secure it?

darkgael · January 4, 2011, 06:45 AM

Try Loctite 380. It is a reinforced super glue. Brownell's sells it as it is useful for attaching SG sights. I have used it successfully on an old Savage O/U.
Hard to find in retail stores.
Pete

TheKlawMan · January 4, 2011, 11:53 AM

Whenever fastening with any kind of glue or adhesive, pay careful attention to the manufacturer's instructions, which I suspect will include removing any old bonding material from the site and perhaps roughing it up. Making it clean.

FALacy · January 4, 2011, 11:56 AM

I'm sure JB weld would work fine. Just get it right the first time.

darkgael · January 4, 2011, 01:23 PM

About JB Weld in this application.
I use the stuff for about everything else. Tubes and tubes of the stuff. What I did not like about it for front sight use is its weight. You want the sight to be tight to the barrel and JBW is thick stuff. if I push the sight down real tight, there's not a lot of JBW left to bond. And it has to set for 12-15 hours. I can't say it won't work but I have my doubts.
I did use JBW on a cut down SXS as a way to seal the gap between the barrels that was exposed by the cutting. That use was fine as you might expect.
Pete

GunCat · January 7, 2011, 09:47 PM

Does your barrel have the Remington style bead pedestal under the Wilson front sight?

If it does, I can recommend drilling through the sight and pedestal so a 1/16” roll pin can be installed through both parts. This pin adds a mechanical lock, consider it backup/insurance to help the JB weld type glue do its job.

pabuckslayer08 · January 7, 2011, 09:55 PM

JB will work but give it 48 hours to dry. It says less but give it atleast the 48 hrs before removing the clamp.

geologist · August 3, 2011, 11:39 AM

I cleaned the barrel, wiped it with solvent and let it dry. I re-attached the sight with JB Weld, clamped it and left it for 3 days.

Finally got out to the range with it, fired 20 Federal 1 oz slugs and the sight held.

Thanks for all of the advice.

dwaawd · August 3, 2011, 04:21 PM

Which JB Weld did you use?

geologist · August 5, 2011, 08:42 AM

Just the regular one, black and white caps, comes out metallic gray colored.

hogdogs · August 5, 2011, 08:51 AM

There is JB KWIK and JB WELD. I think that was why asked which one.

Brent

January 4, 2011, 02:46 AM	#1
geologist Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 247	Re-attaching Wilson Scattergun front sight I had a Wilson front sight installed on the 14" barrel of my shotgun a couple of years ago. I assume that the gunsmith used the included glue that came with the front sight. It detached yesterday at the range while I was shooting light loads. Temperature was -3C. What is the best way for me to re-attach it? If I degrease it thoroughly will JB weld and a clamp re-secure it?

January 4, 2011, 06:45 AM	#2
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	glue Try Loctite 380. It is a reinforced super glue. Brownell's sells it as it is useful for attaching SG sights. I have used it successfully on an old Savage O/U. Hard to find in retail stores. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

January 4, 2011, 01:23 PM	#5
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	about JB About JB Weld in this application. I use the stuff for about everything else. Tubes and tubes of the stuff. What I did not like about it for front sight use is its weight. You want the sight to be tight to the barrel and JBW is thick stuff. if I push the sight down real tight, there's not a lot of JBW left to bond. And it has to set for 12-15 hours. I can't say it won't work but I have my doubts. I did use JBW on a cut down SXS as a way to seal the gap between the barrels that was exposed by the cutting. That use was fine as you might expect. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

January 7, 2011, 09:47 PM	#6
GunCat Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Location: Western, KY Posts: 41	Does your barrel have the Remington style bead pedestal under the Wilson front sight? If it does, I can recommend drilling through the sight and pedestal so a 1/16” roll pin can be installed through both parts. This pin adds a mechanical lock, consider it backup/insurance to help the JB weld type glue do its job. __________________ Hardships are quickly forgotten. Intense heat, bitter cold, rain and snow, fatigue, and luckless hunting fade quickly into memories of great fellowship, thoughts of beautiful country, pleasant camps, and happy campfires. Fred Bear 1902-1988

January 4, 2011, 11:53 AM	#3
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	Whenever fastening with any kind of glue or adhesive, pay careful attention to the manufacturer's instructions, which I suspect will include removing any old bonding material from the site and perhaps roughing it up. Making it clean.

January 4, 2011, 11:56 AM	#4
FALacy Junior member Join Date: August 17, 2009 Posts: 205	I'm sure JB weld would work fine. Just get it right the first time.

January 7, 2011, 09:55 PM	#7
pabuckslayer08 Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2010 Location: South Central Pa Posts: 692	JB will work but give it 48 hours to dry. It says less but give it atleast the 48 hrs before removing the clamp.

August 3, 2011, 11:39 AM	#8
geologist Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 247	I cleaned the barrel, wiped it with solvent and let it dry. I re-attached the sight with JB Weld, clamped it and left it for 3 days. Finally got out to the range with it, fired 20 Federal 1 oz slugs and the sight held. Thanks for all of the advice.

August 3, 2011, 04:21 PM	#9
dwaawd Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Location: Kalifornstan Posts: 73	Which JB Weld did you use?

August 5, 2011, 08:42 AM	#10
geologist Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 247	Just the regular one, black and white caps, comes out metallic gray colored.

August 5, 2011, 08:51 AM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	There is JB KWIK and JB WELD. I think that was why asked which one. Brent