Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Ruger Model 77 Rear Sight Removal

I am trying to remove the rear sight base from a Ruger M77 Barrel. The sight is attached with two socket screws; therein lies the problem. I have tried almost everything I can think of: penetrating oil, heat, tapping the screw heads with a punch. Obviously, I could drill out the heads of the screws, but I would rather not do that just yet.

Any suggestions as to how to proceed from here?

By the way, I had trouble removing the Front Sight Band. After removing the set screw, the band refused to budge even with vigorous urging with a hammer and punch (a soft one, lest I mar the metal). I enlarged the band by lightly planishing with a hammer, and that took about 5 minutes. After that, the band came off very easily.

You might have to be patient here. But their is one possible way.

If the heads are not buggered up.

Get some Kroil penetrating oil. You can get it at Midway USA and others. It makes Liquid Wrench seem like cold molasses. You have to degrease it with ether to get rid of the other penetrating oils. They will slow down the seeping of the Kroil. Apply for a couple of days. It will seep and release the screw. It WORKS!!

The label on the Kroil can says that it will creep to "one millionth of an inch" I believe this is true.

Rim fire competitors use it to remove fouling in their barrels. It creeps under the fouling. After soaking, a simple patch just pushes out the fouling. Works on center fire also.

I would try this if you are out of options.

I will give Kroil a try. I can afford to be patient at this point.

Keep applying daily until it breaks loose. It should, it never failed me. It just takes longer on the bad ones.