Sight dovetails for pistols: Novak, Heinie, others?

[nyrifleman]

So I have a Makarov pistol on which I want to replace the factory rights (they're rudimentary). I thought that dovetails for pistol sights would have some kind of industry standard, but as I'm now discovering, that's just not the case.

So: what kind of dovetails should I have cut? Novak seems popular, and from what I understand, companies other than Novak make Novak-compatible sights? So there is a wide selection.

I've heard a few people recommending Heinie. I've also considered getting the dovetails cut to match popular handguns, e.g. M&P size dovetails. I don't know what the pros and cons of that would be.

Can anybody steer me in the right direction?

 

[wally]

The Novak rear cut needs a lot of "meat" on the slide for its "stepped" cut, so it can have that low profile and big blade.

I've also considered getting the dovetails cut to match popular handguns, e.g. M&P size dovetails. I don't know what the pros and cons of that would be.

Unless some one is making replacement sights for the Makarov, this is about your only choice. But you've got to insure there is room on the slide for the cuts.


I'd give Dawson Precision and/or Novak's a call. They both have good websites.

 

[MikeJackmin]

You also want to make sure your new rear sight is a good match for your front sight. The height has to be just right.

 

[wally]

You also want to make sure your new rear sight is a good match for your front sight. The height has to be just right.

He said he wanted to replace the sights, so seems reasonable to assume he meant both. The front may be more difficult due to lack of material for a dovetail cut.

 

[ugaarguy]

This is truly a gunsmithing question, so I've moved it here.

 

[Zach S]

Novak front is the industry standard. If they make sights, they make them for Novak dovetails. Various heights, plain, white dot, brass bead, gold bead, trituim (with or without the white outline), someone makes it. If not, Novak will. I dont recall the price of a custom rear sight, but it seemed reasonable.

If it were mine, and there was enough meat in the slide, I would have it cut for a Novak front and a 1911 milspec rear. But the options available for the 1911 milspec are good enough for me, options galore for a Novak front. I would probably use a "blank" front sight and file it down as needed to get POI/POA, then shape it to my liking.

Having it cut to match the dovetails on other pistols is a good idea, but you'll probably have to eat the cost of the specific cutter that will be needed once, plus labor for setup and cutting since it isn't a usual request. 1911 dovetail cuts are normally a flat fee.

 

[nyrifleman]

Novak front is the industry standard. If they make sights, they make them for Novak dovetails. Various heights, plain, white dot, brass bead, gold bead, trituim (with or without the white outline), someone makes it. If not, Novak will. I dont recall the price of a custom rear sight, but it seemed reasonable.

If it were mine, and there was enough meat in the slide, I would have it cut for a Novak front and a 1911 milspec rear. But the options available for the 1911 milspec are good enough for me, options galore for a Novak front. I would probably use a "blank" front sight and file it down as needed to get POI/POA, then shape it to my liking.

Having it cut to match the dovetails on other pistols is a good idea, but you'll probably have to eat the cost of the specific cutter that will be needed once, plus labor for setup and cutting since it isn't a usual request. 1911 dovetail cuts are normally a flat fee.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read that the Novak front dovetail is actually the same dimensions as the 1911 milspec rear dovetail (.330" x 65 deg)? So theoretically, the gunsmith shouldn't even have to change bits to do something like that?

I like your idea, as this isn't a target gun, and all I want / need are some simple fixed sights that are better than stock.

 

[nyrifleman]

Looking on Midway or Brownells, though, there is a massive selection of Novak-style sights. So maybe it'd be worth it going that route.

Ah, decisions, decisions

 

[Jim Watson]

Herewith pictures of Makarovs with Novak sights.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs...ghts+for+makarov&hspart=att&hsimp=yhs-att_001

Locating somebody to put them on is left as an exercise for the student.
Bring money, it will likely cost more than the price of the gun.

 

[BBBBill]

The problem for the tinkerer is that there are too many industry standards for dovetails. The Makarov.com website is defunct, so that is no longer a source of parts or info. Be aware that there is more than one Novak dovetail spec depending on which gun you are installing sights on. The .495x65* is that standard for 1911s and is the most well known, but that would not be appropriate for a Makarov. The spec doesn't list the depth either and that's pretty important. Most likely you would want one of the sights made for a Colt Mustang, an S&W auto, or one of the other guns. The dovetail depths are more workable for the Makarov slide and the overall size of the sight will be more cosmetically acceptable. The 1911 sized sight dovetail would be too deep, interfering with internal components and the sight itself would look like a tumor growing out of the slide.

 

[wally]

So theoretically, the gunsmith shouldn't even have to change bits to do something like that?

Actually you always want to change bits to do something like this -- a rectangular section first followed by the undercutting of the dovetail.

 

[Zach S]

And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read that the Novak front dovetail is actually the same dimensions as the 1911 milspec rear dovetail (.330" x 65 deg)? So theoretically, the gunsmith shouldn't even have to change bits to do something like that?

I like your idea, as this isn't a target gun, and all I want / need are some simple fixed sights that are better than stock.

I think they do use the same 65 degree cutter, but the GI rear dovetail is about .015" wider (.345"), and about .115" deep.

I won't swear to either of those numbers, they came to me out of the blue while walking through the machine shop today...

 

[BBBBill]

I think they do use the same 65 degree cutter, but the GI rear dovetail is about .015" wider (.345"), and about .115" deep.

I won't swear to either of those numbers, they came to me out of the blue while walking through the machine shop today...

Darned close! The print calls for .344" wide x 65 degrees and .898" up from the bottom of the slide (no depth specified from the top of the slide).

 

[Jim Watson]

My FLG prefers the .300" Heinie, says it looks more in proportion with a front sight.

 

[nyrifleman]

I've decided I'm going with Zach's original suggestion of a Novak front cut, 1911 milspec rear cut. Deciding factors were:

1. Less material removed in back - I dunno how much the Makarov has to spare, and don't want to mess anything up... though people have obviously mounted Novak sights on Makarovs as we can see from the images.

2. This: (it's like they were thinking of just this scenario!)
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/20...-steel-matte-tritium-dot?cm_vc=ProductFinding

This process is OF COURSE going to cost more than the original gun. But I will also have the coolest Makarov in the county!

 

[Jim Watson]

That is pretty much what I ended up with on my Colt Gov't .380.

FLG cut a cross dovetail in front and put in a Dawson fibre optic sight.
The rear factory dovetail is the same as 1911, so I just had him put in the taller sight taken off a 1991a1 and shave it down to adjust elevation.