Is a set screw even needed in tight dove tail?

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  • throttletony

    Master
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    Jul 11, 2011
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    This is on reference to my Dan Wesson 1911, which has a very tight dovetail.
    Ive got the rear sight moved to where i want it. I stripped the previous set screw, and they sent me 2 more in mail.
    There's some old thread lock in the sight, and I'm starting to strip the new set screw on its way in (I'm using the best tool i can - it seems to be a 1.5mm allen, though a star T6 bit fits well also -- ive verified that it's not 5/64)

    Anyways, am i sweating it over an unnecessary item? Does it even need a set screw since it's a very tight dovetail fitting on the sight??
     

    praff

    Sharpshooter
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    Sep 26, 2009
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    Depends how tight “very tight” is. Also depends on how you treat and what you do with your pistol. If it took many whacks with a hammer/punch to get it set and it’s a pistol that doesn’t get shot 300 rounds per week you are probably ok.

    It would also be fairly simple/cheap to drift it back out, chase the threads with a tap and put a fresh set screw in it. If you do this, a couple drops of green loctite in the dovetail helps keep everything in place too. Ace hardware sells a very good assortment of taps. Fastenal is another good local source.
     

    patience0830

    .22 magician
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    Nov 3, 2008
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    Not far from the tree
    Depends how tight “very tight” is. Also depends on how you treat and what you do with your pistol. If it took many whacks with a hammer/punch to get it set and it’s a pistol that doesn’t get shot 300 rounds per week you are probably ok.

    It would also be fairly simple/cheap to drift it back out, chase the threads with a tap and put a fresh set screw in it. If you do this, a couple drops of green loctite in the dovetail helps keep everything in place too. Ace hardware sells a very good assortment of taps. Fastenal is another good local source.

    I've been known to put a bit of blue loctite under a sight.
     

    Drail

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    Oct 13, 2008
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    While it may seem tight enough at room temperature materials expand and contract with temp. fluctuations. A set screw holds better than Loc-tite. Apparently even with CAD/CAM manufacturing they cannot even machine a dovetail that will hold a sight tightly. "Yeah, it's a lousy fit but we'll put some glue in there....." :rolleyes:
     
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