AK front sight cant

[Hank93]

Does anyone have experience fixing the front sight cant on the CAI AK's and other parts kit specials?

 

[sloughfoot]

Plastic faced hammer. Several hard thwacks cures the cant.

 

[Dsgnr_81]

DO NOT SIMPLY WHACK WITH A HAMMER. you'll risk torquing the steel and then your accuracy will go to crap.
First, On your ak, there will be pins that are driven into the steel between the barrel and the front sight post. remove those pins with a punch, then align the sight, then purchase some steel tube stock in an apropriate width (slightly larger than the previous pins), drill out a larger diameter hole using the previous holes as your guide, and then cut your round steel stock to size and hammer into place.

 

[1911ly]

DO NOT SIMPLY WHACK WITH A HAMMER. you'll risk torquing the steel and then your accuracy will go to crap.
First, On your ak, there will be pins that are driven into the steel between the barrel and the front sight post. remove those pins with a punch, then align the sight, then purchase some steel tube stock in an apropriate width (slightly larger than the previous pins), drill out a larger diameter hole using the previous holes as your guide, and then cut your round steel stock to size and hammer into place.

+1 this!!!! Way more safe. Can I ask why are you changing the pins? I just want to learn.

 

[Dsgnr_81]

I've only done it once and am by no means an expert. However, I had a similar issue and spoke with Jim Fuller via Rifle Dynamics. [Incidentally, the only thing I've ever purchased from them have been some AK Mags, despite that Jim was willing to speak to me for 5 minutes, great guy.] This was the method described by him to do it.

The reasoning behind this is to create a more solid union between the front sight post and the barrel. If you adjust it and use the same sized pins (drilling with a similar diameter bit to re-cut the edge of the barrel) you will have a weaker union, and the front sight could get whacked and tilt back to it's original cant/become loose.

At least, that was my understanding and the way that I went about fixing the issue when a friend brought one to me.

 

[philbert001]

http://youtu.be/O9X9VQgaUVg

 

[Hank93]

Thanks Dsgnr_81! What type of round stock did you use?

 

[Dsgnr_81]

I picked up some scrap at Moab to do it, while I was grabbing some mild steel for pistol targets. I think you can also find something at any lowes, true value, menards, etc.

 

[tradertator]

I would make sure you shoot it first prior to touching the sights. There might be a reason the sight is cranked over in one direction, and once you straighten the post, you'll have a hard time finding zero.

I've done the whack it with a hammer method. Works really well. If that doesn't do it, the method outlined above is the way to go.

 

[TheWabbit]

You can get drill blanks cheaply on Amazon for making new pins