Which Loctite do I need?

[AmericaStandsStrong]

I've got a front sight that is somewhat loose. It hasn't fallen out on me, but I am going to be taking the rifle it's on hunting, and I don't wanna bump it on a tree and risk losing it. So which Loctite should I use? I heard blue is good, because it's strong but can be removed easier then red. Which I don't know if I'll be using this sight forever. So which do I use?

 

[tictac]

I use blue on on my glocks as its less permanent than the red one. No issues.

I still think that the tiny screw will break off if I ever try to uninstall the front sight... You should be OK with blue.

 

[AmericaStandsStrong]

Mine is just dovetailed in. It was a plastic sight, and was way to big to fit so I shaved it down a bit and may have taken just a tad to much off.

 

[Jasper]

Could use #209 green...its a wicking loctite ...ive always had good luck with it on my ar's

 

[AmericaStandsStrong]

Hmm well the chance of it being taken off is slim, but I might need to move it ever so slightly. Which should I choose? Really don't wanna make a mistake

 

[economist]

Blue is fine, but if wicking will benefit, then use it. I would only go with red on something you expect to be pretty permanent or that you expect to take a lot of heat and/or abuse.

 

[AmericaStandsStrong]

When you say wicking, what does that mean?

 

[economist]

When you say wicking, what does that mean?

This. It penetrates (wicks), and is nice for an application like yours where you want the loctite to work its way into the dovetail.

 

[AmericaStandsStrong]

Hmm, well I've heard some say that the green is too strong if you are gonna wanna be moving something, strength wise how does it compare to blue?

 

[highlander]

When you say wicking, what does that mean?

It "creeps" down into the threads. Best way to describe wicking is if you have a flood in your basement and it has sheet rock the sheet rock will absorb the water the it will migate upwards. same idea only in reverse. If loctite is not available clear nail polish will work just as well.

 

[AmericaStandsStrong]

I have used nail polish before. Will try it again. I haven't taken the rifle to the range yet with this sight, and it is only a .22lr so with the nail polish it should be fine, but I might step it up to loctite if it even gets a little loose.

 

[economist]

Hmm, well I've heard some say that the green is too strong if you are gonna wanna be moving something, strength wise how does it compare to blue?

I think it's "medium-high" vs. "medium" for blue. The benefit of green is that you can apply it after you zero the sight and it will work its way into the dovetail. Blue would mostly just sit there, so you would need to remove the sight, apply the loctite, and then reinstall, losing zero in the process.

 

[AmericaStandsStrong]

My dad actually has this kind http://www.all-spec.com/products/08931.html Not in the big bottle, but same product. Will this work?

 

[EC1]

If it isn't going to be hit with any force to speak of, rubber cement or a little silicone applied with a tooth pick will work .

 

[RKG]

I wouldn't use any flavor of LocTite in this application, for a couple of reasons. One is that LocTite is a intended to be a "thread locker," and it is unlikely to work effectively on a dovetail. Another is that I have no idea what the chemical compatibility might be of LocTite and your plastic sight insert.

The usual solution for tightening a metal dovetail insert is to peen one side of the slope just a hair. That isn't going to work with a plastic insert. Someone has suggested nail polish, and that might work (after the sight has been zero'd for windage), but what I have used in like situations is some of my wife's hair spray, gooped up on the end of a cotten swab. You don't need much.