Bead sight question

Posted by Vince Positano on March 26, 2012, 4:09 pm
75.145.129.193

In preparation for rust bluing my barrels, I tried to get the bead sight off my gun and broke it off-I was going to replace it anyway becuase it was a beat up. It turns out it is a press fit brass bead. My question is how do you remove a press fit brass bead ? The "bead" itself is now gone with just the base stuck in the rib. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Vince

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by David Williamson on March 26, 2012, 4:47 pm, in reply to "Bead sight question"
174.49.147.138

Vince, if you have good eyes and can center drill, then use a 3/32" (.093) drill. The bottom of the hole is .110 diameter and at the top is .125. Finding a new one to that size might be tough, so I would order one and see what size it is and go from there.

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by bill on March 26, 2012, 8:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
98.80.61.205

If you get a hole in it try a tap or easyout. Just turn it in and pull it out as you turn. It must start befor you pull. Brownells has sights. bill

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by Vince P. on March 27, 2012, 12:07 am, in reply to "Bead sight question"
71.194.128.72

I was able to drill a small hole right pretty much centered in the brass thats in the rib. So your saying if I get a tap threaded in there I should just be able to pull it out ? I'm guessing I would then drill/tap the hole and screw in a new sight ? I've installed several new bead sights after drilling and tapping. From looking at it, it almost looks like the hole that this sight was press fit into is pretty wide. Are you guys also saying that Brownells should have sights out there with diameteres that will then fit the hole ? Thanks

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by David Williamson on March 27, 2012, 5:13 am, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
174.49.147.138

Vince, the size I gave you was the size of the Hunter Arms brass bead. Over the years, who knows what might have been added. You might be able to get a very small spiral easy-out in the hole to remove the brass, but to tap it, you would need the right size drill and it would have to be a bottom tap as the hole is too shallow to use a starter tap. I'm not sure what size the Brownell's sights are, most I believe are in millimeters.

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by Will Favre on March 27, 2012, 8:24 am, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
208.7.132.226

Question: Do you have to remove the front bead if you are rust bluing or if it's in good shape can you leave the bead in place and clean any discoloration on the bead after bluing? Thanks, Will

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by David Williamson on March 27, 2012, 10:46 am, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
174.49.147.138

I have rusted quite a few barrels of my own, and I never remove the bead/s. When applying the rusting agent, I work around them, and the tiny area they take up has not effected anything.

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by Vince P. on March 27, 2012, 2:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
75.145.129.193

Well maybe I should of left it on there, but it was a little beat up so I figured I'd just replace it. Hopefully after I get all the remaining brass out, the hole wont be too large to get another bead drilled and tapped in there. Thanks Vince

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by David Williamson on March 27, 2012, 3:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
174.49.147.138

Unless I missed something, all the beads on Brownell's site are threaded.

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by Patriot on March 27, 2012, 4:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
24.14.160.134

Aw, just put an easy stick high-viz on.

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by Tom Salzer on March 29, 2012, 4:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Bead sight question"
173.48.190.46

I'm in favor of trying simple methods (if they do no harm). I would try to grab the brass remnant with an easy-out, put some break-free(or equivalent) on the stud, and chill the surrounding metal with an ice cube or some Freon. The brass stud will shrink more than the surrounding steel, and might come out easily.

Re: Bead sight question

Posted by Vince P. on April 6, 2012, 8:55 pm, in reply to "Bead sight question"
71.194.128.72

I forget to check back with my thread. I was able to remove the remaining brass base from the barrel by threading a tap in. I then put the barrels in a vise, grabbed the tap with vise grips and lightly tapped the vise grips with a hammer. The base popped right out. The hole that was there was not tapered. I redrilled it with a #31 drill bit, tapped it and screwed in a .130 diameter bead with 6-48 threads. Worked out fine. Thanks for the input. Vince