M38 with canted rear sight

TexasD · 11-02-2009, 09:13 PM

I bought an M38 a while back and I took it to the range for the first time today. I noticed the rear sight is canted with the right side about maybe 1/32nd to 1/16th higher than the left. It seems to set on the pad underneath it just fine and is all tight. The front sight seems to be dead square to the receiver. I just can't figure out what it needs to level it back out. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I had intended to use this carbine for deer hunting this year but can't with the sights the way they are. Thanks in advance, David

texnmidwest · 11-02-2009, 09:27 PM

First thing I would do is what I bet you already have done....flip up the rear sight and clean the crud out from under the sight. I bought a mosin once that had pieces of patch material under the sight. Also, I would check to make sure the elevation thingy that slides (technical term) is square to the slide. If it is a skew it can cause the sight not to be square.

May be a great time to scout scope the rifle!

jmeck · 11-02-2009, 10:16 PM

Is the rear sight base square on th rifle? If it is then the sight leaf would have to be twisted.You may need to take the action out of the stock to verify this. The bottom of the receivers magwell opening is flat,support it on a level surface,flip up the rear sight and place a small level across the
rear sight base and see what you have.

Cyrano · 11-02-2009, 10:37 PM

jmeck, this is the kind of simple but not obvious trick that needs to have a thread of its own - especially with photographs. That's a hint, son.

jmeck · 11-02-2009, 10:47 PM

^ Hey Cyrano, I have a Mosin that I hope to mount a scope on this weekend, if I do I'll take some pics.

toolman · 11-02-2009, 11:01 PM

There is a very real possibility that the sight mount wasn't machined properly. I've got a 91\30 that looks like the rear sight mount on the barrel was machined with a cutting torch and a chainsaw. as a result, the sight was pretty cockeyed when I got , but it still shot OK due to the bent front sight pin...

TexasD · 11-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. I will try what ya'll have mentioned. I thought I was seeing things to start with and had to look at it a couple of times to make sure. I will try to get some pics and let ya'll see what I see. Thanks again, David

11-02-2009, 09:13 PM	#1
TexasD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 130	M38 with canted rear sight I bought an M38 a while back and I took it to the range for the first time today. I noticed the rear sight is canted with the right side about maybe 1/32nd to 1/16th higher than the left. It seems to set on the pad underneath it just fine and is all tight. The front sight seems to be dead square to the receiver. I just can't figure out what it needs to level it back out. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I had intended to use this carbine for deer hunting this year but can't with the sights the way they are. Thanks in advance, David

11-02-2009, 09:27 PM	#2
texnmidwest They wonder why I drink.. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 7,678	First thing I would do is what I bet you already have done....flip up the rear sight and clean the crud out from under the sight. I bought a mosin once that had pieces of patch material under the sight. Also, I would check to make sure the elevation thingy that slides (technical term) is square to the slide. If it is a skew it can cause the sight not to be square. May be a great time to scout scope the rifle! __________________ The first rule of tinkering is to save all the parts.

11-02-2009, 10:16 PM	#3
jmeck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 816	Is the rear sight base square on th rifle? If it is then the sight leaf would have to be twisted.You may need to take the action out of the stock to verify this. The bottom of the receivers magwell opening is flat,support it on a level surface,flip up the rear sight and place a small level across the rear sight base and see what you have. __________________ Just because I can't explain why its done this way,does't necessarily mean you can do it differently
	1 members found this post helpful.

11-02-2009, 10:47 PM	#5
jmeck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 816	^ Hey Cyrano, I have a Mosin that I hope to mount a scope on this weekend, if I do I'll take some pics. __________________ Just because I can't explain why its done this way,does't necessarily mean you can do it differently

11-02-2009, 11:01 PM	#6
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,305 Blog Entries: 25	There is a very real possibility that the sight mount wasn't machined properly. I've got a 91\30 that looks like the rear sight mount on the barrel was machined with a cutting torch and a chainsaw. as a result, the sight was pretty cockeyed when I got , but it still shot OK due to the bent front sight pin... __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

11-02-2009, 10:37 PM	#4
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,813	jmeck, this is the kind of simple but not obvious trick that needs to have a thread of its own - especially with photographs. That's a hint, son.

11-03-2009, 08:19 AM	#7
TexasD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 130	Thanks for the input everyone. I will try what ya'll have mentioned. I thought I was seeing things to start with and had to look at it a couple of times to make sure. I will try to get some pics and let ya'll see what I see. Thanks again, David