Greetings, I just picked up my M14 (M1a) from the gunsmiths and was told i needed a SOCOM front sight as it was shooting a 1/4" low. I had the barrel cut down to 18.5" why would i need a different front sight? The rear sight is all of the way down. The gunsmith was not there to ask him what that meant so now i am asking you all for advice. Thank you 1911Ron
Rear sight, when set up, should be bottomed and then brought up approximately 12 clicks. Somewhere between 12 and 18 clicks gives battle sight zero for each rifle.
If your rifle is shooting 1/4" low...and your smith tells you to change the front sight... and your rear sight is completely bottomed...
You need a new gunsmith.
Call Phil Arrington. He's in north Phoenix, and he is well respected at the CMP games at Avery as well as Camp Perry.
He'll get you square.
AZGromit will probably also recommend Ron Smith at Smith Enterprises. I've never used him but he has a solid reputation as well.
Ditch your current smith.
If the rifle is shooting 1/4 inch low just raise the rear sight.
At what range is it shooting 1/4 inch low at?
Douglas, good question, unknown range. AZRedhawk, i went to Accuracy Speaks owned by Dereck Martin who supposedly knows his way around an M-14, as i suspected no real concern other than the smith.
AZRedhawk should i bring it to Payson? 1911Ron
Every rifle is different.
I have one M1 that has the rear sight bottomed out to be zeroed for POA/POI at 25 meters.
I have one that is 4 clicks up from bottom for the same zero.
I have two that are 6 clicks up from bottom for the same zero.
I have a couple that are 8 clicks up.
I don't have any (M1 or M1A) that need more than 8 clicks up from bottomed out on the rear sight, but I guess some folks do.
If you're bottomed out and still low, raise the rear sight - the amount will depend on the range you are zeroing at and your rifle. Why buy a new front sight, unless you just have the extra money to spend?
And besides, we've found the SOCOM sghts to be impossibly fat. Like trying to sight using your thumb. :)
Quote from: Old Dog on April 13, 2009, 09:18:42 PM
Every rifle is different.
I have one M1 that has the rear sight bottomed out to be zeroed for POA/POI at 25 meters.
I have one that is 4 clicks up from bottom for the same zero.
I have two that are 6 clicks up from bottom for the same zero.
I have a couple that are 8 clicks up.
I don't have any (M1 or M1A) that need more than 8 clicks up from bottomed out on the rear sight, but I guess some folks do.
If you're bottomed out and still low, raise the rear sight - the amount will depend on the range you are zeroing at and your rifle. Why buy a new front sight, unless you just have the extra money to spend?
Yeah, you're right. I mis-remembered. It was approximately six clicks, +/- a few.