Drill and Tap for S&W Revolver Sight Mount

[JWinAZ]

My son and I drilled and tapped his 686 for a sight mount. I had previously done my 586, so I had the fixture. Done on my bench mill. The first two images show the front and end views of the fixture. The third image shows the revolver on the fixture ready to locate the first hole with a gage pin in the chuck. The last image shows the tapping setup. After the first hole is drilled and tapped, the mount is fastened to the top strap with the 6-48 screw. Then the second hole is located with the gage pin and drilled and tapped. We did not do the forward hole which is over the barrel. The stainless was as easy to cut as the carbon steel 586. I used a Reiff & Nestor (R&N) three flute tap, a very nice tap. If I do another one I'll add a clamp for the barrel and do away with the hex key and scale under the butt.

 

[CZ93X62]

The precision machining and modifications shown by many of our members fascinates me. I spent a lot of time in Buckshot's works when he was making sizer dies and hollow-pointing bullet moulds before he retired.

 

[Ben]

You watched and learned from one of the BEST !!!!!!!!
He HP'd many moulds for me.
I was always very pleased with his work.

Ben

 

[Ian]

Cool.

Typical home gunsmithing project: two days and $100 of material to set it up, five minutes to spot, drill, and tap two holes.

 

[fiver]

sounds like one of my fishing trips.

 

[JWinAZ]

Typical home gunsmithing project: two days and $100 of material to set it up, five minutes to spot, drill, and tap two holes.

Some truth to that! To use a cliche, the journey is as important as the result. Planning it out, and then dealing with how things really work is a satisfying challenge. Obsessive-compulsive meets pragmatic reality to get it done. My experience with local gunsmiths has not been satisfactory, so I'm glad to be able to do some things myself.

 

[Bret4207]

I have a couple of fixed sight revolvers I very much want to mount Smith J frame adjustables on. I lack the courage to even begin!!! Good on you JW!!!

 

[Ian]

Sometimes it's more like "I'll take "Sketchy Setups" for $800, Alex."

 

[RicinYakima]

I have a couple of fixed sight revolvers I very much want to mount Smith J frame adjustables on. I lack the courage to even begin!!! Good on you JW!!!

That works well! New Service .455 Webley converted to 44 Special.

 

[fiver]

Ian's pic looks like the high dollar version of the rig i made up to hollow point some bullets.

 

[Bret4207]

That works well! New Service .455 Webley converted to 44 Special.

View attachment 36963

Ha! Yup, the 2 I have in mind are a Colt Army Special 32-20 and a 1917 Smith. The Smith has a "Wondersight" on it now, but it's a stop gap.