removing open sights and filing the holes?

[excisac]

I was given a link to this site by the individual from whom I bought my 10 ML II and have been reading almost non stop. This is an amazing site. As others have said, I hope all the information on the former site is maintained as it would be a tremendous loss of information if it were to disappear.

My question:
I am planning to remove the open sights from my 10MLBTSS-II for a cleaner profile. I would like to replace the current sight mounting screws with a flush mount screw to fill the holes. Are these screws available? f I am unable to find something that is meant to replace these screws, what is the thread size so that I might try to find some other screws to fit? I would prefer a stainless/shiny finish over a blued or black replacement but I am mostly concerned with filling the holes so anything will do if fits properly.

Thank you.

[mike3132]

Most gun shops that do any scope mounting will have plenty of these lying around. Usually just ask and they will give them to you or charge a small amount. I cant remember the thread size but I think they are 6-14. I'm sure someone on here will have the exact size for sure. Mike

[jims]

Some people just put a similar color candle wax or parafin in the holes. It hides them fairly well, keeps water and dirt out and is easily removable.

[sagittarius]

Brownells sells them; that's where I got mine.

www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=792&title=PLUG%20SCREW%20KIT

Size is 6-48

[mshm99]

The tooth from a black comb, cut off flat

mshm

[craigf]

excisac,
I wanted to do this too for a cleaner look, but after a scope failure I am putting my iron sights back on and sighting them in. If my scopes dies in the field I want a back up.

[onecardchuck]

mike3132 is right on what you should do first. I went to my local gun shop and he had a box of them he let me pick through until I found what I wanted. He gave them to me free of charge.

If anyone has a blued barrel I have read on a different post and actually found them myself in the hardware store are these little hex head insert screws that you just install up side down. Meaning screw the hex head down into the barrel and leave the rounded bottom flush with the top of your barrel. You could cut in a line across it so you can get it in and out with a screw driver.

[mike.dawson]

I sent my to Black Ice for coating, Lee removed the sights, put fill screws in the holes and coated it. You could never tell there were holes there. The gun looks really good, like it came from the factory with no iron sights ever on it.

Mike

[Richard]

excisac........I just did what you are talking about on my SS barrel. After a couple of "switch-a-roos" and putting it on a different action, after head spacing, my "thimble" hole was facing off to the southwest and not the south . I have no intention of re-using the hole (but if I did, I could easily drill it out and run a tap in to clean it up) what I did was to take one and a half lead #4duck shot and using a flat punch, pound it in the hole. The first one filled the hole 2/3 and the second one allowed the lead to flow outside the hole. I just kept tapping on it with a brass hammer until the excess more or less cut it self free from the hole. a slight careful trimming with a razor and then burnished it with steel wool and it looks pretty darn good. Better than a little screw head.
Richard