Sight Shiming

[ole pizen slinger]

Need some help guys. I was setting my rifle up for a no wind zero and the front sight is considerably off center. I figure I can shim one side of the rear sight in order to take some of the windage out of the front sight. Any of you guys have any experience with shiming sights for a no wind zero? I need to know what thickness of a shim to use, or at least some idea of what to start with. Sight radius is 35 1/2 inches. Rear sight is a MVA long range Soule. Front sight is MVA #112 and is off set to the right, as looking from the butt of the rifle, 4 of the small increments on the front of the sight. All help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
OPS

[Lumpy Grits]

If your bbl is an oct. then "plum" the top "flat"(side-to-side)with a bubble level. If it's a round bbl, then "plum" the side of the action. Then put a bubble level against the side of your tang sight. It should have a centered bubble.
If not, them shim till it does. Start with a .003" shim under the left or right side of the rear tang sights base.
FWIW: Different loads will move your "no-wind" zero around some.
The front sight(MVA #113)on my #1 .45-90 is also off set to the right some for my "NWZ".
That same front sight on my Hartford .45-70 is a touch to the left.
To me, it's no big deal....
Good luck,
LG

[Orville]

The old dead guys used paper

[deerhuntsheatmeup]

OPS

Micheal's has some .005 brass shim stock that comes in a roll. I have found good use of it for other stuff as well.

Best, Barvid

[Brent]

I second the use of beer or soda/pop cans, although the last time I recommended it, it was thoroughly trashed by an expert.

If you need multiple thicknesses, just fold it over and tap the fold flat with a light hammer on a steel surface. I generally make up a shim with about 4 folded layers, then go to the range and try it, shave off a layer with my pocket knife and repeat. Pretty darn easy. Just make it small, and like Dan says, account for the screws (and also the spring underneath for some sight bases). The shim should not protrude from the side of the base.

[shovel80]

How about just Carefully filing down the side of the base bottom that is too Tall??

Terry..

[Brent]

How about just Carefully filing down the side of the base bottom that is too Tall??

Terry..

Works great until you have to move that sight to a different rifle or you rebarrel the on it is on, etc.

[Bad Bill]

I've used alum cans too as are available easily and work easy. However, this wa for when the rear sight needed shimming. In your case why not deal with the front sight. An offset rear to compensate an off set front sounds lke troublr Not sure what you mean by front being offset, but a whack with a hammer ought to fix it. Off the gun, of course and the right touch using a piece of leather to mount it in and protect it. Not for the faint hearted or fumblers.

[Steve Rhoades]

You guys are going to put shims on your new Shiloh?
Dedicate a sight base to the rifle and fit it properly to the tang.
If you can't do that then take it to someone that can (and I don't mean pop can)
There is nothing that takes away from the fit and finish of a Shiloh than a brass, paper or alum shim sticking out from one side of a sight base.
Sorry but that's my opinion and I don't need to have Brent castigate me for it.
Steve R.
AZ.

[Brent]

Sorry but that's my opinion and I don't need to have Brent castigate me for it.
Steve R.
AZ.

You are the one castigating it appears. I don't see anything sticking out from the side of my sight base. Certainly, neither you or anyone else as noticed anything either.

I can't afford to dedicate sight bases to anyone rifle when they go at $90 a pop. For those that can, more power to ya.

[ole pizen slinger]

Thanks to all of you fellows that replied. Got some good advise on this one. Thanks again.
OPS

[Timberlake]

OPS,

Steve Rhoades has the best solution, IMO. Did the same with my rifle(s) long time ago. Never looked back.

TL
2nd GUSA

[montana charlie]

Because whatever you do with (or do to) your rear sight, you will always use the front spirit level to align everything else, I start there.
With the rifle plumb with the universe, check the spirit level to see if it agrees that the gun is straight up and down.

If the spirit level disagrees with the universe, fix it before changing anything else.

CM

[Kurt]

Do like Steve suggests. Fit the base to the tang and leave the base on the rifle and get a different base for the other rifle and just move the staff.
A $3.00 plastic level is the last thing I would trust. Even a Machinist level will just get you close in the shop. You might still have to do the final fitting after some range work.

[Jim Kidwell]

.......................Jim

You guys are going to put shims on your new Shiloh?
Dedicate a sight base to the rifle and fit it properly to the tang.
If you can't do that then take it to someone that can (and I don't mean pop can)
There is nothing that takes away from the fit and finish of a Shiloh than a brass, paper or alum shim sticking out from one side of a sight base.
Steve R.
AZ.

Geez, How time flies. Has it been a year already???? Rhoades usually has one good suggestion every year. ...............................Jim