M14 Forum

Bill Ricca · April 19th, 2007, 08:47 PM

Many have rifles that shoot too high. You try to lower the rear sight, but it is not enough. The answer is a higher front sight.

To illustrate the problem, I have two images. The images show the M14 front sight (on the left) compared to two different versions of the M79 Grenade Launcher (G/L) front sights. All three use the same front sight screw and have the same female dovetail.

Notice the higher sight posts on the M79 sights. Don't try to run out and purchase these because you probably will waste a lot of time. They are not readily available, especially the middle one. This sight was the early design used on the first run of M79's, which were produced by Springfield Armory (the real one in Massachusetts). The sight in the right side of the image was provided by the rest of the M79 contractors. It is more readily available, but it too wide to fit properly on the M14 Flash Suppressor.

The good news is the middle sight is also the one SA Inc., reproduced for their short barreled rifles. If your rifle shoots higher than your rear sight adjusts, pick up the phone and order one of these front sights from SA Inc. It has solved the problem for many who have.

Pelago · April 20th, 2007, 04:04 AM

13 minutes of elevation for 200 yards

21 minutes of elevation for 300 yards

35 minutes of elevation for 600 yards

all these were from a 6 oclock hold

now i have trimmed the front sight blade

4 at 200

9 at 300

20 at 600

peter axhandle · April 25th, 2007, 05:08 AM

A lot of the variety in the middle photo shot were also used up by match shooters.I have several that are still taller than the standard one on the left,but have been filed down slightly for a particular match rifle to get "zero".

M1A's r BEST · April 26th, 2007, 03:16 AM

You might look at a PolyTech front sight if you can find one. They appear to be higher than the SA sights as well. Really had to crank up the rear sight to get ours sighted in.

whiteflame · June 17th, 2007, 01:54 PM

has anyone contacted SA about this issue? I bought a NM in march brand new and finally discovered this weekend at the Appleseed shoot after the instructor and I eliminated every other issue that my sight is in fact to short also.

I have sent an email to SA to try and get them to replace it with one that is correct under warranty.

will post any news I can.

Reply from Bill Ricca The original poster deleted this, but as it relates directly to this thread, I have restored it. His problem is not unique. It happens a lot.

Phil McGrath · September 24th, 2007, 10:52 AM

I have some info too add that may or may no help with Bill's post and its for the number crunchers. I measured the front sight on my rifle #1 in Bill pic and its NM marked .062 width, from the base to the top of the blade it measured .567in so its in spec, after digging around in the parts drawer I found a front sight that I removed from a Bush lenth rifle #2 in Bill's pic and measured it from the base to the top of the blade .727 is the measurement, its NM marked and .072 in width. for a differance of .160in in hight or 20min taller

This would be a comparision of the frist and the second sight I don't have a the third sight pictured for the same reason Bill stated.

ExNuke · July 14th, 2011, 06:44 PM

Newbie on the board, been trying to read everything for the last few months but I'm suffering from too much information.

I guess I jumped in without looking in the right place first because I just got bit by the same bug. I wanted a standard flash suppressor on my Polytech M14 and ordered suppressor (new), front sight (used GI) and screws. Once installed the rifle shoots almost 16" to 18" high at 100 yards with the rear sight bottomed out.

The blade height appears to be .012" shorter but I'm not sure I'm measuring in the right place, that shouldn't be enough to account for the difference in zero. Next step is to take the Poly sight off the fake flash suppressor and the new one off the rifle and measure from the base to the top of the sight blade and see what I get. Anybody got a better idea?

I'm going to have to go back to the fake flash suppressor and original sight for the time being but I still want the new one if I can find a front sight tall enough to correct the problem.

levisdad · July 14th, 2011, 08:08 PM

You can grind the rear aperture so your bottomed out is lower, but it probly won't be enough to fix the 16" - 18" high @ 100 problem.

tnw50cal · July 18th, 2011, 04:11 PM

this should be a sticky.

Steve-Indy · July 18th, 2011, 04:35 PM

I had a similar problem with my Fulton Armory Receiver and all USGI H&R parts rifle.
Rear sight was bottomed out and rifle was hitting 4" high of center at 50 yrds. Ordered the NM taller front sight from Springfield Armory which is standard for their SOG rifle.
Once installed with taller front sight I was in the center black without a problem!

BigBill · July 24th, 2011, 04:56 PM

I ran into this on the swede military mausers there sighted in for 200yds and others are sighted in at 300yds. Then the rear ladder sight takes the accuracy out even farther. These were designed to hit a human body at any distance. I wanted to sight in one of my swede mausers at 100yds and i needed a higher front sight blade. I got the highest one they offer and installed it and had a file at therange and shot it and filed it until it was dead on at 100yds. Some guys put some of that metal filler putty Jb weld on the front sights and when it hardens they file it too till its sighted in. I would personally make a new higher front sight if none are available. I would think that something had to interchange with it. Bill

dprice3844444 · September 30th, 2011, 08:59 AM

you can silver solder a flat piece of metal onto the short blade and refile to desired height.then bead blast and refinish.or,do above,and when you get to the desired height,measure it and look for the correct sight height.then get a couple in case you break.lose the original.

Gus Fisher · October 1st, 2011, 11:44 PM

Occasionally we silver soldered a thin piece of steel to the top of NM front sights when our shooters needed it, then dressed it down to where it was the correct height so they would have at least 2 to 4 clicks of elevation at the 200 yard line.

What I have found with some commercial M14's is the area milled into the receiver is not forward enough that even a standard RS aperture hits the receiver before it goes down all the way. When I run into that, I just take about 1/8" off the front of the rack on the RS aperture.