Stupid mistake with my front site - can anyone help?

Herman · 05-24-2008, 05:11 PM

So, since I bought my ak47 about 6 months ago, the front site pin has always been drifted a little bit to the left. Maybe somebody was shooting long distances or in a lot of wind, or maybe they just put it together wrong...I'm not really sure. The other day, I was cleaning it and inspecting all of the parts, and I noticed that in the cleaning kit that comes with the gun, there was a tool that fit right over the front site pin (Not sure if I'm using the right name for it.) I started turning it, and low and behold, it was moving the pin! I, like the idiot I apparently am, thought that it was moving it from side to side...so I kept turning. Before I knew it, I'd turned it as far as it could go, and actually broke the fragile tool that I was using to turn it. This is, of course, when I realized that it's not drifting the pin side to side, but moving it up and down (As I'm sure most of you already know.) So, I borrowed my friend's tool (the same one I broke,) and I can't seem to loosen the pin...I screwed it in so tightly that it can no longer be moved by the tool that you're supposed to use. I took it out shooting today, and the pin is so low that I literally have to aim feet below my target when I'm only about 30 yards away to hit anything. Does anybody know of a tool or anything like that that I can use to raise the pin? Would I maybe be better off just ordering a brand new front site? If so, where can I find a good one?

Thanks guys,

Herman

squirrelbaster · 05-24-2008, 05:16 PM

well those tools ar eallover the internet cheap id firsttry tofind a more sturdy one and try and loosen it up. anyway im sure theres a fix here some where for you, i dont think it will com e to replaceing the whole sight.

M14man · 05-24-2008, 05:23 PM

With a little ingenuity I am sure you could make a tool that would be strong enough to slip down and grab the shoulders of the pin so you could turn it. A dremel would be great to make a tool, or a grinder-cut-off tool to make a slot in a piece of rod. Just use pliars on the tool so you could develop some torque.

Hahn · 05-24-2008, 10:49 PM

Sorry about your problem...it's things like that that rob me of my sleep.
Anyway, if you buy a new sight adjusting tool be sure it's a good heavy steel one. I've heard some are made of aluminum or some kind of cheap material that can break easily. Though I've never seen one. You'l know a good one when you pick it up..it's rather heavy for it's size.

Herman · 05-25-2008, 01:53 AM

Problem solved. I found a tool that will adjust for both wind and elevation.
Thanks a lot of the help!

05-24-2008, 05:11 PM	#1
Herman Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 32	Stupid mistake with my front site - can anyone help? So, since I bought my ak47 about 6 months ago, the front site pin has always been drifted a little bit to the left. Maybe somebody was shooting long distances or in a lot of wind, or maybe they just put it together wrong...I'm not really sure. The other day, I was cleaning it and inspecting all of the parts, and I noticed that in the cleaning kit that comes with the gun, there was a tool that fit right over the front site pin (Not sure if I'm using the right name for it.) I started turning it, and low and behold, it was moving the pin! I, like the idiot I apparently am, thought that it was moving it from side to side...so I kept turning. Before I knew it, I'd turned it as far as it could go, and actually broke the fragile tool that I was using to turn it. This is, of course, when I realized that it's not drifting the pin side to side, but moving it up and down (As I'm sure most of you already know.) So, I borrowed my friend's tool (the same one I broke,) and I can't seem to loosen the pin...I screwed it in so tightly that it can no longer be moved by the tool that you're supposed to use. I took it out shooting today, and the pin is so low that I literally have to aim feet below my target when I'm only about 30 yards away to hit anything. Does anybody know of a tool or anything like that that I can use to raise the pin? Would I maybe be better off just ordering a brand new front site? If so, where can I find a good one? Thanks guys, Herman

05-24-2008, 05:16 PM	#2
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,269	well those tools ar eallover the internet cheap id firsttry tofind a more sturdy one and try and loosen it up. anyway im sure theres a fix here some where for you, i dont think it will com e to replaceing the whole sight. __________________ "My Shotgun SAYS I AM the POLICE !"--Mooseman684 "I like Turtles!" youtube kid

05-25-2008, 01:53 AM	#5
Herman Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 32	Problem solved. I found a tool that will adjust for both wind and elevation. Thanks a lot of the help! Last edited by Herman; 05-25-2008 at 03:22 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

05-24-2008, 05:23 PM	#3
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 437 Images: 10	With a little ingenuity I am sure you could make a tool that would be strong enough to slip down and grab the shoulders of the pin so you could turn it. A dremel would be great to make a tool, or a grinder-cut-off tool to make a slot in a piece of rod. Just use pliars on the tool so you could develop some torque.

05-24-2008, 10:49 PM	#4
Hahn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 87	Sorry about your problem...it's things like that that rob me of my sleep. Anyway, if you buy a new sight adjusting tool be sure it's a good heavy steel one. I've heard some are made of aluminum or some kind of cheap material that can break easily. Though I've never seen one. You'l know a good one when you pick it up..it's rather heavy for it's size.