Third Party Press

Easy sight hood installation!

Zeppelin5000

Senior Member
Hey guys, I saw a quick Youtube video using this method, so I thought I'd give it a try when my sight hood came in today. It worked perfectly! All that's needed is a clamp/spreader tool and two pieces of 550 (parachute) chord. Thought this might be very helpful to some of you and it avoids using any metal tools that can damage the hood or rifle. Here are the steps, sorry the photos are sideways... they just post like that:

Tie the two pieces of chord into loops and place them in the sight hood.

Then place the loops around the spreader arms.

Start spreading the hood until it's spread to the desired amount.

Flip the spreader upside down and align it on the grooves on the front sight.

Then just press the release trigger and it should snap into place! Cut the two chord loops and pull them out.
 

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Hey that's a great way to put on the hood.

I usually use a pair of snap ring pliers and put little rubber tubes on the pliers . But I've had the hood slip off and go zinging across the room. :laugh:

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try it out.
 
I remember people saying to avoid this method and to get snap ring pliers. Well maybe it's just my area but all the hardware and auto parts stores around me only carry the new cheap Chinese flimsy snap ring pliers. I tried them once (even on a repro hood) and they failed miserably. I can only assume the guys here have access to better hardware stores or just have beefy snap rings from ages past.

The paracord method works well enough if you've got a strong bar clamp spreader but can definitely still mark front sight bases if you're not super careful.
 
Anyone know how the Germans did it at the factories, or in the field...you know if they had to do bunches of them, they had to have a fool proof tool to use that made it easy...

I bet Shooter Ike would know...:laugh:
 
Anyone know how the Germans did it at the factories, or in the field...you know if they had to do bunches of them, they had to have a fool proof tool to use that made it easy...

I bet Shooter Ike would know...:laugh:

:laugh: being the Germans were the superior race, they just used their super strong fingers lol. But yes, I’d like to know how they did it!

Haha, I know if this Shooter Ike guy and know exactly what you mean...
 
I wanted to avoid using a metal tool. I get paranoid that something would slip, so I figured this would be a good method for me. And it was! Only took a minute or two.

andy is right look for the spreader tools with BRASS tips, they will not mar the metal or scratch the bluing or patina finish or if you can't find them or lazy. you can put electrical tape on the metal tips
 

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