Ruger Single Six Front Sight

Question

Customer has one that the front sight is too low (gun shoots high). Thinking about replacing it with one or something that is higher. My question is that I believe the sight is most likely silver soldered in place and am worried that the heat required to get the sight off will mess up the blued finish. Got to thinking that maybe by applying heat to only the sight it might come loose and not mess up the bluing? Anyone have any experience with this? Or has anyone had any luck adding height to an existing sight excluding the brass wrap around speed sight used in CAS, I already suggested that and he doesn’t like them.

Answer

The front sight could be pressed in. Removing it is generally not recommended. A few options I’d consider if it came in my shop.

  1. Suggest the owner shoot higher-speed loads with lighter bullets.
  2. Suggest the owner to use 6 o’clock hold.
  3. Filing the rear sight lower. This is irreversible.
  4. Building up the front sight with JB Weld steel putty and filing it to shape. This is reversible.
  5. Drilling a small hole in the front sight and solder/expoxy a small section of metal, brass or steel, pin in it. Filing off the pin to adjust the poi. This is semi-reversible.
  6. Remove the front sight. Milling a dovetail in place and install dovetail front sight. This is surely irreversible and expensive. –TL

Answer

Which version of the Single Six is it? Early one with the half round type sight or the later ones with the adjustable rear sight? Early ones pressed in with a bit of solder. Later ones brazed on and you ruin not only the bluing but the temper in the end of the barrel after heating red to get the braze to flow. You can always groove the front sight and solder in a piece of brass on the top of the sight to give him a bead. Ken

Question Follow Up

OK, this one has the half round front sight and dovetailed blade rear sight that could be drifted left or right for windage only. So I’m thinking that this may be the one that is brazed in? Any amount taken off the rear would most likely result in a notch to shallow to use. The notch is already just about down level with the backstrap. Sorry for the late response but I don’t have the gun with me and had to get him to send some pictures. He is a good customer of mine so I feel I should try and do something to help him out.

Answer

That is the old style front sight. Pressed in with some solder. I would ask the customer what he wants. New sight or alter the original. Ken