How do I move my m44 front sight?

Sparkytfl · 09-06-2007, 08:43 PM

It seems to be stuck. I tried a brass punch a guy let me use at the range, didn't move, the hammer he had was tiny though, obviously made for fine adjustments. So I got home and put a wedge of wood at the edge between where it mounts and where the loop starts, banged on it with a good sized plastic mallet a bunch of times, made a ton of noise but still won't move. I've seen a special clamp type thing for this but it was only for a 91/30.

At the moment it seems to be shooting right around 3.5 to 4 inches to the right at 50 yards. I tried folding vs extending the bayonet, but that just makes it hit a bit under an inch lower with it folded with no side to side change.

I'd just like to move it so I don't have to use huge pieces of paper at 100yards or have to aim off. Or so I can remove it to install a set of these Peep Sights by MOJO Sighting Systems. Also as a side question, anybody tried those yet?

toolman · 09-06-2007, 09:35 PM

Some of these fit extremely tight. Try supporting the barrel on a block of wood and use a brass punch (you can usually find brass round or square stock at the local hardware store), and a regular ball pien hammer to move it. Move the sight in the direction the gun is shooting. FWIW, the 91\30 tool will work on all M\N's except for the Finnish guns. Once you get it off, use a small file to take a couple of thousandths off, just enough so it will move but still fit tight. I've heard some good reports on the Mojo sights but never tried them myself.

Zephri · 09-06-2007, 10:07 PM

Yes, I use the mojo sights on my m38 and they work pretty well. They allow for windage and elevation adjustments with the provided allen wrench and are easier to see then the orig. sights.

Although I've only bore sighted it, I might fine tune it to see what kinda of groups I can get next time at the range.
As a side note I bought the back site only.

billy · 09-06-2007, 10:29 PM

i had to BEAT on mine with hammer and punch. reallY wallop it.
im not used to having to beat the snot out of a firearm.
crude? yes

just_a_car · 09-06-2007, 11:59 PM

Might want to try heating it up really good. I seem to recall that some sights were put on with a light bit of solder. A light application of a propane torch should do the trick if that's the issue. Then give it the good wallop that they've suggested.

I was lucky in that my 91/30 is dead-on at 25 yards, since that's how far back the indoor range I go to is.

ArkansasHunter · 09-07-2007, 12:10 AM

Though it wasn't a Mossin, my son ordered Trijicon sights for his personal Glock and I found out they will only come out one way and go back the way they came out.
So maybe the same is true with Mossins and other firearms.
On the Glock the stock sights came out the left side as in when your holding to shoot the gun left side...
Just A Cars suggestion would probably be the best way to adjust them...A.H

MosinDave · 09-07-2007, 12:11 AM

when I moved the front site on my M38, it required a brass punch, a hammer, and a table vise.

Sparkytfl · 09-07-2007, 06:29 AM

I did try resting the barrel on a block of wood, but I was a bit afraid if I clubbed the thing too hard I'd bend or flatten the barrel somehow. Am I just needlessly worrying about that? I'll try it again after work. Also the torch thing, if I can find my torch nozzle.

billy · 09-07-2007, 08:20 AM

i was hitting it so hard i used pliers to hold the punch so i wouldnt lose fingers if i missed!

Sparkytfl · 09-07-2007, 06:45 PM

Cool, I got it. It wasn't soldered or anything, just really stuck. I did find some leftover cosmo in it though, just when I thought maybe it was all gone. I had to put it on the basement floor with the barrel resting on a block of wood and beat it with a hammer and chisel. Yeah I know the chisel's not brass and yes it did leave a bit of a mark, but it did work. Then I filed and 1000grit papered the surfaces so it slides mostly on but needs a few whacks with a plastic mallet to get it the last quarter inch. Also I stuck some grease in there.

So thanks for giving me the confidence to really go at it, I didn't realise it was normal for them to be that stuck.

Once I adjust the horizontal I can proceed to filing down the nail since I have to set the rear site for 400 to shoot at 50-100. Plus it's noticeably taller than the center line of the hood, and my eyes seem to want to line up with the hood rather than the top of the nail.

Or I'll just go ahead and order the new sights if it would help my aim. It would help me with evaluating my handloads if I could shoot more accurately. I did get five in about an inch and a third from 50yrd yesterday, but I'm averaging closer to 2.5in. Of course I haven't used aperature sights since target shooting in boy scouts. Are they faster or slower as far as target aquisition, and would they be better or worse if I ever wanted to try hunting like in semi-low light?
I hope there's no problem with me stearing the thread in a new direction now that the main topic's resolved.

res45 · 09-08-2007, 03:48 PM

This article might interest you at some point if you want to modify your front sight.
Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle - Mosin-Nagant Front Sight Modification

NRAJOE · 09-08-2007, 04:15 PM

Awhile ago on EBAY there was a Russian armorers tool for moving the front site....bid on it...got wayyyy too pricy in the end....very rare...wish I had kept a pic of it.

SwedeSteve · 09-08-2007, 09:44 PM

Mojo works great! Really love mine. Billy, being a man with a hammer must of put this fine tuning right up your alley! HA!

09-06-2007, 08:43 PM	#1
Sparkytfl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY, USA Posts: 128	How do I move my m44 front sight? It seems to be stuck. I tried a brass punch a guy let me use at the range, didn't move, the hammer he had was tiny though, obviously made for fine adjustments. So I got home and put a wedge of wood at the edge between where it mounts and where the loop starts, banged on it with a good sized plastic mallet a bunch of times, made a ton of noise but still won't move. I've seen a special clamp type thing for this but it was only for a 91/30. At the moment it seems to be shooting right around 3.5 to 4 inches to the right at 50 yards. I tried folding vs extending the bayonet, but that just makes it hit a bit under an inch lower with it folded with no side to side change. I'd just like to move it so I don't have to use huge pieces of paper at 100yards or have to aim off. Or so I can remove it to install a set of these Peep Sights by MOJO Sighting Systems. Also as a side question, anybody tried those yet?

09-06-2007, 09:35 PM	#2
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 6,039 Blog Entries: 24	Some of these fit extremely tight. Try supporting the barrel on a block of wood and use a brass punch (you can usually find brass round or square stock at the local hardware store), and a regular ball pien hammer to move it. Move the sight in the direction the gun is shooting. FWIW, the 91\30 tool will work on all M\N's except for the Finnish guns. Once you get it off, use a small file to take a couple of thousandths off, just enough so it will move but still fit tight. I've heard some good reports on the Mojo sights but never tried them myself. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

09-06-2007, 10:07 PM	#3
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 1,141 Blog Entries: 6	Yes, I use the mojo sights on my m38 and they work pretty well. They allow for windage and elevation adjustments with the provided allen wrench and are easier to see then the orig. sights. Although I've only bore sighted it, I might fine tune it to see what kinda of groups I can get next time at the range. As a side note I bought the back site only. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!"

09-06-2007, 10:29 PM	#4
billy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 15,741 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 158	i had to BEAT on mine with hammer and punch. reallY wallop it. im not used to having to beat the snot out of a firearm. crude? yes __________________ ignint mcnugget... the slug o love sez... remember kids two warning shots to the head for safety!

09-06-2007, 11:59 PM	#5
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,737	Might want to try heating it up really good. I seem to recall that some sights were put on with a light bit of solder. A light application of a propane torch should do the trick if that's the issue. Then give it the good wallop that they've suggested. I was lucky in that my 91/30 is dead-on at 25 yards, since that's how far back the indoor range I go to is. __________________ CETME Owners Group - Founder AK-47 owners Group - Member The Mosin Men Group - Member

09-07-2007, 12:10 AM	#6
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,265	Though it wasn't a Mossin, my son ordered Trijicon sights for his personal Glock and I found out they will only come out one way and go back the way they came out. So maybe the same is true with Mossins and other firearms. On the Glock the stock sights came out the left side as in when your holding to shoot the gun left side... Just A Cars suggestion would probably be the best way to adjust them...A.H

09-07-2007, 12:11 AM	#7
MosinDave Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 571	when I moved the front site on my M38, it required a brass punch, a hammer, and a table vise.

09-07-2007, 06:29 AM	#8
Sparkytfl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY, USA Posts: 128	I did try resting the barrel on a block of wood, but I was a bit afraid if I clubbed the thing too hard I'd bend or flatten the barrel somehow. Am I just needlessly worrying about that? I'll try it again after work. Also the torch thing, if I can find my torch nozzle.

09-07-2007, 08:20 AM	#9
billy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 15,741 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 158	i was hitting it so hard i used pliers to hold the punch so i wouldnt lose fingers if i missed! __________________ ignint mcnugget... the slug o love sez... remember kids two warning shots to the head for safety!

09-07-2007, 06:45 PM	#10
Sparkytfl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY, USA Posts: 128	Cool, I got it. It wasn't soldered or anything, just really stuck. I did find some leftover cosmo in it though, just when I thought maybe it was all gone. I had to put it on the basement floor with the barrel resting on a block of wood and beat it with a hammer and chisel. Yeah I know the chisel's not brass and yes it did leave a bit of a mark, but it did work. Then I filed and 1000grit papered the surfaces so it slides mostly on but needs a few whacks with a plastic mallet to get it the last quarter inch. Also I stuck some grease in there. So thanks for giving me the confidence to really go at it, I didn't realise it was normal for them to be that stuck. Once I adjust the horizontal I can proceed to filing down the nail since I have to set the rear site for 400 to shoot at 50-100. Plus it's noticeably taller than the center line of the hood, and my eyes seem to want to line up with the hood rather than the top of the nail. Or I'll just go ahead and order the new sights if it would help my aim. It would help me with evaluating my handloads if I could shoot more accurately. I did get five in about an inch and a third from 50yrd yesterday, but I'm averaging closer to 2.5in. Of course I haven't used aperature sights since target shooting in boy scouts. Are they faster or slower as far as target aquisition, and would they be better or worse if I ever wanted to try hunting like in semi-low light? I hope there's no problem with me stearing the thread in a new direction now that the main topic's resolved.

09-08-2007, 03:48 PM	#11
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 377	This article might interest you at some point if you want to modify your front sight. Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle - Mosin-Nagant Front Sight Modification

09-08-2007, 04:15 PM	#12
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,351 Images: 3	Awhile ago on EBAY there was a Russian armorers tool for moving the front site....bid on it...got wayyyy too pricy in the end....very rare...wish I had kept a pic of it. __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

09-08-2007, 09:44 PM	#13
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 14,109 Images: 1	Mojo works great! Really love mine. Billy, being a man with a hammer must of put this fine tuning right up your alley! HA!