Hi, did anyone actually use that adhesive to glue a front sight ramp on a barrel? Is it dependable? Thanks.

I think if you are going to "glue" a banded front sight to a barrel, you want to pick a product that gives you some working time before it sets. In my opinion, Black Max 380 is too fast setting for such an application where perfect alignment is as critical as sights.

I've tested both Loc-Tite 609 and 272 for banded stuff and find either "barely" acceptable, time wise, in allowing the critical alignment that is a must for sights.

Whatever you do, you have to practice the routine you will use so you don't screw yourself up for time. There is nothing uglier than having to spend the last two seconds beating on the sight with a hammer to get it straight.

Thank for your reply Westpac, but, ultimately, in your opinion, are those adhesives strong enough to keep the ramp in place for several years, under the normal use of a hunting rifle?

quote:

Originally posted by wildboar:
Thank for your reply Westpac, but, ultimately, in your opinion, are those adhesives strong enough to keep the ramp in place for several years, under the normal use of a hunting rifle?

Time will tell.

I don't know about long term, but I can tell you this, in some applications it's a hell of a lot cleaner and less stressful on pristine bores, and when held to minimum tolerances, the 272 withstands caustic bluing and requires heat and a hammer to remove. But then so does solder.

The ones I want to test are the 620 and 638.

Loctite 620 retaining compound works great and fills up a gap easily. I have use it to seat loose bearings in end bells on motors that have the bearing pockets oversize by several thousanths. Plenty of working time also. Be sure to clean the parts with a non residual cleaner first.

As Bob notes, the sleeve retaining compound is a better choice.

Furthermore, on the last banded front ramp I installed, once it was taper-bored and lapped on a mandrel that matched the muzzle contour of my rifle (whitworth 458) I was able to have a very consistent gap to work with.
On that rifle, the banded ramp was a replacement for the orig equipment screw-on ramp.
The banded ramp is a NECG, and under the replaceable sight blade is a threaded hole for a set screw. I arranged the fit of my banded ramp to allow a screw to get in there and register in one of the pre-existing ramp mount screw holes.
This double-whammy of an approach has not failed in the slightest degree. The rifle has spend weeks in steep, rocky, rough and tight timber. It's endured numerous seriously hard smacks, whacks, and bumps along the way and hasn't moved a thou' since.


--Tinker

I keep all my super glues in the freezer to keep the stuff from getting hard once it has been opened. It last forever this way. I'll put my BM 380 in the freezer & use it in its "cold" state & see it this allows a few minutes before it sets up. Will post the results here.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
I keep all my super glues in the freezer to keep the stuff from getting hard once it has been opened. It last forever this way.

If I add super glue and loctite to the already crowded freezer containing the bread, coffee and film, there won't be any room for the ice.

I took a small piece of 2X4 and routed some recesses in it, then keep it in the door shelf. The bottles fit right in, you can get to them easily, and they don't fall over and slide out like they did before I made that little holder. And it keeps them from disappearing behind all the bags of flour my wife keeps in there.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
.... I'll put my BM 380 in the freezer & use it in its "cold" state & see it this allows a few minutes before it sets up. Will post the results here.

Interesting! Even if...

Optimal Storage: 2 °C to 8 °C. Storage below 2 °C or
greater than 8 °C can adversely affect product properties.

(from Loctite technical data sheet)

quote:

and film

You still use film...?

I have 3 freezers so I run into a roll of the stuff every now and then. Those were the days!

I've got an idea about installing the lock tite barrel banded front sight.
allingment is critical and there is no time for fussing around with it.
If there are scope bases on the receiver or square bridges. Ensure the bases or bridges of the receiver are paralell to the bottom of the receiver side to side.
Lay the barreled receiver upside down on a long flat surface such as a mill table, locating the squareness of the bases to that long flat suface.
Apply the lock tite. place the front sight upside down on the long flat surface just ahead of the muzzle then push the two together. Let it sit until its stuck. This approach should work slick, you've physically made the front ramp and the front base paralell side to side.
NO frantics with levels or eyeballing,
just done.
I've never actually tried this, but it makes sense to me that it would work.
Stuart

I use pre-measured "taped" witness marks on the ramp and the barrel for the initial setting and two parallels for the final alignment. The 272 and 609 allow enough time to make a couple of quick corrections before things get dicey. Once it's in place, I wipe off the excess and use a propane torch to set it.

To install banded front sights, try an adhesive called "Goop". You can find it in any hardware store. It's a clear gel that cleans up easily with mineral spirits and is easy to work with. Once it cures it is rock soild. I have used it extensively, latest was my 458 Lott I took to Zim. Nice thing about it is that if you mess up or want to take it off, a little gentle heat from a propane torch breaks the bond and you can start over. I have not tried it for a ramp only sight but suspect it would work just fine.