Loose 1911 Sight

ymerej · October 18, 2024, 10:53 AM

Long(ish) time member, but first time truly posting.

I have a Sig Sauer 1911 Nightmare and the rear sights. I can actually slide it, but it takes a bit of force; either way, should I just reach out to SIG ARMS and see about mailing into them? We don't have any good local gunsmiths so it seems like this is my only option at the time.

I have a sight setting tool that fits the P220-P229 but obviously won't fit the same with a 1911.

thanks in advance for the feedback.

WmMunny · October 19, 2024, 11:02 AM

Better to use a title relating to your question ;-)

**Unclenick** · October 21, 2024, 09:20 AM

It depends on how confident you are about doing it yourself. If it moves, you can use a brass drift punch and a small hammer to knock it out completely and then use a prick punch or an automatic center punch to put a dimple or two on the flat surface under the sight, then drift it back with a plastic or brass hammer and, if you need it, the brass drift punch. The raised edges of the dimples will make friction contact with the sight, making it harder to put back, but that's what holds it. You drift it back short of center, shoot a group, check where the center is, tap it a little further, shoot again, etc., until the bullet's average position is neither left nor right of where you are aiming. You try to get this tapping inward in just one direction because the dimple is scoring the underside of the sight slightly, so if you have to knock it back the other way, the grip is a little less firm.

There are alternatives. You can overlap the slide and sight with some duct tape and shoot it, loosen it, and move it until you find the right spot. Once you have it, you can apply the purple wicking-type Loctite to it and let that set before taking the tape off. How long it will last is unknown, as I haven't used that method myself. I've seen guns where someone drilled and tapped a hole through the lip of the dovetail slot in the slide for a tiny set screw and, after finding the right sight location, continuing the hole into the sight itself and using Loctite on the screw, but I can't say I was impressed with the looks of the result, and it won't work with some sight shapes and types.

**44 AMP** · October 21, 2024, 01:41 PM

There are several possible alternatives, Uncle Nick mentioned a couple, others include using a shim in the dovetail, rather than making a dimple. Or you can stake the sight in place, but that pretty much removes your ability to adjust it.

Can't hurt to contact SIG, especially if the gun is under warranty. If the only issue is a loose rear sight, they can easily fix it, and won't need the entire gun to do it, just the slide w/sight. (waaay less hassle and much cheaper than shipping the entire gun..)

The screw method also works, but if you're not set up with the right tools and the skill to DIY and do a good job, its best left the pros, and you have said there aren't any local to you.

My Dad's Govt Model (which I inherited in 2003) has a "Micro" brand adjustable rear sight, and it has a set screw to lock it down. With the screw loose, you can easily slide the sight in the dovetail.

Call SIG, at worst, the only thing you're out is the time and cost of the call.

Never personally had to deal with SIG customer service, and while I have read some people complain about it on the internet, some people complain about everything, on the internet. Friend of mine has dealt with them a couple times, and is very positive about their friendliness and the good service he got.

1972RedNeck · October 21, 2024, 04:00 PM

I have a P229 that had some problems. A couple emails to Sig and they took it back and worked on it. Didn't fix the problem, but they were very responsive and prompt. Definitely worth an email or phone call.

georgehwbush · October 21, 2024, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

... Call SIG, at worst, the only thing you're out is the time and cost of the call.

Never personally had to deal with SIG customer service, and while I have read some people complain about it on the internet, some people complain about everything, on the internet. Friend of mine has dealt with them a couple times, and is very positive about their friendliness and the good service he got.

i second the motion. i did use sig's warenty department one time. they did me a solid.

bamaranger · October 22, 2024, 12:59 PM

On a Tisas 1911 I own, the rear sight is mounted in a dovetail, with a hex screw through the top of the sight that bears on the bottom of the dovetail. With the hex screw torqued as much as I dare, the rear sight would wander in the dovetail and the problem seemed to get worse as time and shooting amassed. Windage POI would eventually drift a couple of inches at 20 yds requiring a rezero, only for it to eventually happen again. Dimpling alone did not help. So I Bubba'd it.

I redimpled the underside of the sight, then rezeroed. I then mixed and applied a very small quantity of JB weld and worked it into dovetail slot on either side of the dovetail slot. Using my fingers I smoothed and evened out the bead to a very fine amount. The dry JB is very nearly the same color as the finish on the slide and the sight. You can see my fix if one looks for it, but it is not visually offensive. (in principal..... well that's another matter). The sight has not moved since, 500 rds or so. A redneck fix for sure, but it works. The pistol is now holding zero with its primary load.....200 gr LSWC.

I don't know if I had bad dimensions, soft steel or what?

Bill DeShivs · October 26, 2024, 02:19 PM

If a sight is loose in the dovetail, It's pretty simple to tighten the dovetail with a brass
or plastic hammer.

October 18, 2024, 10:53 AM	#1
ymerej Junior Member Join Date: August 14, 2024 Location: ⃤ ⃝ ⃤ ⃝ ⃤ ⃝ ⃤ Posts: 4	Loose 1911 Sight Long(ish) time member, but first time truly posting. I have a Sig Sauer 1911 Nightmare and the rear sights. I can actually slide it, but it takes a bit of force; either way, should I just reach out to SIG ARMS and see about mailing into them? We don't have any good local gunsmiths so it seems like this is my only option at the time. I have a sight setting tool that fits the P220-P229 but obviously won't fit the same with a 1911. thanks in advance for the feedback. __________________ SIG Sauer P228 WG (.357/.40) + SIG Sauer P228 (.357/.40) + SIG Sauer P229 SAS (.357/.40) + SIG Sauer M11A1 (9mm) + SIG Sauer P226 (9mm) + SIG Sauer 516 (.223/5.56) Last edited by Unclenick; October 21, 2024 at 09:21 AM. Reason: fixes

October 21, 2024, 09:20 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,742	It depends on how confident you are about doing it yourself. If it moves, you can use a brass drift punch and a small hammer to knock it out completely and then use a prick punch or an automatic center punch to put a dimple or two on the flat surface under the sight, then drift it back with a plastic or brass hammer and, if you need it, the brass drift punch. The raised edges of the dimples will make friction contact with the sight, making it harder to put back, but that's what holds it. You drift it back short of center, shoot a group, check where the center is, tap it a little further, shoot again, etc., until the bullet's average position is neither left nor right of where you are aiming. You try to get this tapping inward in just one direction because the dimple is scoring the underside of the sight slightly, so if you have to knock it back the other way, the grip is a little less firm. There are alternatives. You can overlap the slide and sight with some duct tape and shoot it, loosen it, and move it until you find the right spot. Once you have it, you can apply the purple wicking-type Loctite to it and let that set before taking the tape off. How long it will last is unknown, as I haven't used that method myself. I've seen guns where someone drilled and tapped a hole through the lip of the dovetail slot in the slide for a tiny set screw and, after finding the right sight location, continuing the hole into the sight itself and using Loctite on the screw, but I can't say I was impressed with the looks of the result, and it won't work with some sight shapes and types. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

October 21, 2024, 01:41 PM	#4
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,476	There are several possible alternatives, Uncle Nick mentioned a couple, others include using a shim in the dovetail, rather than making a dimple. Or you can stake the sight in place, but that pretty much removes your ability to adjust it. Can't hurt to contact SIG, especially if the gun is under warranty. If the only issue is a loose rear sight, they can easily fix it, and won't need the entire gun to do it, just the slide w/sight. (waaay less hassle and much cheaper than shipping the entire gun..) The screw method also works, but if you're not set up with the right tools and the skill to DIY and do a good job, its best left the pros, and you have said there aren't any local to you. My Dad's Govt Model (which I inherited in 2003) has a "Micro" brand adjustable rear sight, and it has a set screw to lock it down. With the screw loose, you can easily slide the sight in the dovetail. Call SIG, at worst, the only thing you're out is the time and cost of the call. Never personally had to deal with SIG customer service, and while I have read some people complain about it on the internet, some people complain about everything, on the internet. Friend of mine has dealt with them a couple times, and is very positive about their friendliness and the good service he got. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 22, 2024, 12:59 PM	#7
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,799	Bubba On a Tisas 1911 I own, the rear sight is mounted in a dovetail, with a hex screw through the top of the sight that bears on the bottom of the dovetail. With the hex screw torqued as much as I dare, the rear sight would wander in the dovetail and the problem seemed to get worse as time and shooting amassed. Windage POI would eventually drift a couple of inches at 20 yds requiring a rezero, only for it to eventually happen again. Dimpling alone did not help. So I Bubba'd it. I redimpled the underside of the sight, then rezeroed. I then mixed and applied a very small quantity of JB weld and worked it into dovetail slot on either side of the dovetail slot. Using my fingers I smoothed and evened out the bead to a very fine amount. The dry JB is very nearly the same color as the finish on the slide and the sight. You can see my fix if one looks for it, but it is not visually offensive. (in principal..... well that's another matter). The sight has not moved since, 500 rds or so. A redneck fix for sure, but it works. The pistol is now holding zero with its primary load.....200 gr LSWC. I don't know if I had bad dimensions, soft steel or what?

October 26, 2024, 02:19 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 11,106	If a sight is loose in the dovetail, It's pretty simple to tighten the dovetail with a brass or plastic hammer. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

October 19, 2024, 11:02 AM	#2
WmMunny Member Join Date: October 23, 2021 Location: Deep South Posts: 87	Better to use a title relating to your question ;-)

October 21, 2024, 04:00 PM	#5
1972RedNeck Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2015 Posts: 377	I have a P229 that had some problems. A couple emails to Sig and they took it back and worked on it. Didn't fix the problem, but they were very responsive and prompt. Definitely worth an email or phone call.