Iron sights on my stainless X-Bolt - 02/24/18
I live in Romania so my options are limited as far as Rifle model selection is concerned. I wanted a stainless Browning X-Bolt in 30-06 but also wanted iron sights. No such model available over here. And 'importing" ? Forget about it, I've been there and done that. Too much cost, especially the import tax and too much paperwork. Sooo, I bought the only stainless model 30-06 X-Bolt available to me. It has a fluted 20.86" barrel with threaded muzzle. I have tools and some parts and I have installed Ruger stainless front sight bases on my 2 Winchester stainless M70's, so figured I'd try it on try browning. I turned down the ugly knurled thread protector on a tap chucked in a drill press, to barrel muzzle diameter. Then I fairly radically sculpted a Ruger stainless front sight base to lighten and make it look a bit less Rugeresque. Then, using a Dremel and a brake cylinder hone, I opened up the inside diameter of the sight base for a snug tap on fit to the barrel muzzle. After final sanding and bead blasting the parts, I bonded the sight base to the barrel with German UHU Plus high strength epoxy. I used a home made tool to make sure the sight base was clocked exactly in the 12 O'clock position. I use Warn Weaver type scope bases on most of my rifles for the option of switching sights especially on my driven game rifles. In some situations irons or red dots work the best, In other situations, low powered scopes seem to work better. I use the rear base to attach an X/S Low Weaver back-up sight when I want to use irons. I replace the X/S attachment screw with a fixed stud and a thumb wheel for fast swapping between scope and irons. My sights hold zero very well and can be swapped in less than a minute. I was using the X/S flat top white line post front sights at first, but have since switched to the white bead Ruger replacement front sights sold by NECG. I have found that the white bead is a little more visible and slightly faster to get on running game than the white line flat top post, although you do sacrifice a bit of precision when shooting past 50 or 60 meters. RJ