Artillery sight weirdness

Dwight Gruber · 04-30-2002, 11:09 AM

I have had the opportunity now to shoot two Artilleries. With both guns, the inertia of being fired made the rear sight adjusting blocks creep foreward on the sight ramp, causing the guns to begin to shoot high. Is this common to other shooters' experience, or am I just...lucky?

--Dwight

Doug · 04-30-2002, 11:33 AM

I had a similar problem. The fix will require the removal of the rear sight. Once removed pull out the detent bar and stretch the spring. It worked for me.

04-30-2002, 11:50 AM

I too had this problem, because someone had dissassembled the sight and put it together improperly.

Hugh · 04-30-2002, 12:17 PM

Dwight,

The sight assumed that the target was running away from you and that you missed the first and second shots. It was compensating for the increased distance!

Seriously, a weak spring or worn notches and/or elevation catch can cause this problem. Most well used Artys seem to have this affliction.

Buddy · 04-30-2002, 05:54 PM

I have had the same problem with my arty. It looked like the notches on both the slider and the sight itself were worn. I even tried straping down the sight to no avail. I finally removed the slider and put a drop of LockTite on the sight retaining pin when I put it back together without the slider. Seems to be holding. I figured I could have glued, epoxied, it down, but that is so permanent. I think the inertia of the slider in recoil was causing it to move forward lifting the sight.

John Sabato · 04-30-2002, 06:16 PM

If your problem is not corrected by the other suggestions, Unfortunately , you may find that your rear site has only the bare nub of the original sight adjustment teeth that are engaged by the sliding assembly. These teeth should be the same length as the top of the right side of the rear site assembly... Since these guns are very old, it is likely that the teeth on your rear sight assembly have been broken off by years of recoil force. (See the attached photo to see what the teeth are SUPPOSED to look like)

There is no quick fix for this malady... You can either replace the rear site with a reproduction, or you can have a craftsman of the highest skills weld over the broken teeth and then recut them...

My "Frankenartillery" Luger suffers from the same symptoms...

regards, and condolences

John Sabato

The answer to the photo question is HERE !
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/LP-08Sightteeth.jpg

Dwight Gruber · 04-30-2002, 09:57 PM

Yeah, those bullseye targets sure are skittish...

--Dwight

Dwight Gruber · 04-30-2002, 10:27 PM

Yep, the lowest elevation teeth are toast. Ah, well, an 85-year-old gun, seen some use...i'm neither surprised nor disappointed. I should be missing only two teeth when -I'm- 85...

Thanks for the pic and the help.

--Dwight

David Jackson · 05-01-2002, 12:00 AM

I have a couple of Eagle artys; and since they have led sheltered lives their teeth are fine.

Will guns whose teeth are still good not have the sight jumping problem? Will moderate shooting tear up the teeth? Who knows, I bet.

What is wrong with the photo?

No one answered; so I will guess the pushbutton is on the wrong side!

David J.

John Sabato · 05-01-2002, 08:30 AM

Someone improperly assembled the sight with the release button on the wrong side....

The photo came from an auction several months ago...

regards,

John Sabato

04-30-2002, 11:09 AM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Artillery sight weirdness I have had the opportunity now to shoot two Artilleries. With both guns, the inertia of being fired made the rear sight adjusting blocks creep foreward on the sight ramp, causing the guns to begin to shoot high. Is this common to other shooters' experience, or am I just...lucky? --Dwight

04-30-2002, 11:33 AM	#2
Doug User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: USA Posts: 168 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Artillery sight weirdness I had a similar problem. The fix will require the removal of the rear sight. Once removed pull out the detent bar and stretch the spring. It worked for me.

04-30-2002, 11:50 AM	#3
John Coleman Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Artillery sight weirdness I too had this problem, because someone had dissassembled the sight and put it together improperly.

04-30-2002, 12:17 PM	#4
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Re: Artillery sight weirdness Dwight, The sight assumed that the target was running away from you and that you missed the first and second shots. It was compensating for the increased distance! Seriously, a weak spring or worn notches and/or elevation catch can cause this problem. Most well used Artys seem to have this affliction.

04-30-2002, 05:54 PM	#5
Buddy User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Artillery sight weirdness I have had the same problem with my arty. It looked like the notches on both the slider and the sight itself were worn. I even tried straping down the sight to no avail. I finally removed the slider and put a drop of LockTite on the sight retaining pin when I put it back together without the slider. Seems to be holding. I figured I could have glued, epoxied, it down, but that is so permanent. I think the inertia of the slider in recoil was causing it to move forward lifting the sight.

04-30-2002, 06:16 PM	#6
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Check for broken teeth! If your problem is not corrected by the other suggestions, Unfortunately , you may find that your rear site has only the bare nub of the original sight adjustment teeth that are engaged by the sliding assembly. These teeth should be the same length as the top of the right side of the rear site assembly... Since these guns are very old, it is likely that the teeth on your rear sight assembly have been broken off by years of recoil force. (See the attached photo to see what the teeth are SUPPOSED to look like) There is no quick fix for this malady... You can either replace the rear site with a reproduction, or you can have a craftsman of the highest skills weld over the broken teeth and then recut them... My "Frankenartillery" Luger suffers from the same symptoms... regards, and condolences John Sabato The answer to the photo question is HERE ! http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/LP-08Sightteeth.jpg

04-30-2002, 09:57 PM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Re: Artillery sight weirdness Yeah, those bullseye targets sure are skittish... --Dwight

04-30-2002, 10:27 PM	#8
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Re: Check for broken teeth! Yep, the lowest elevation teeth are toast. Ah, well, an 85-year-old gun, seen some use...i'm neither surprised nor disappointed. I should be missing only two teeth when -I'm- 85... Thanks for the pic and the help. --Dwight

05-01-2002, 12:00 AM	#9
David Jackson User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Magalia, California Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Check for broken teeth! I have a couple of Eagle artys; and since they have led sheltered lives their teeth are fine. Will guns whose teeth are still good not have the sight jumping problem? Will moderate shooting tear up the teeth? Who knows, I bet. What is wrong with the photo? No one answered; so I will guess the pushbutton is on the wrong side! David J.

05-01-2002, 08:30 AM	#10
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Correct David... Someone improperly assembled the sight with the release button on the wrong side.... The photo came from an auction several months ago... regards, John Sabato