NM rear sight

[Ltdave]

i know the Smith Enterprises NM rear sight is highly regarded for M14/M1A rear sights...

are there any other good ones out there? are they available? id certainly hope to not spend a big chunk of change on one but i actually need two of them...

im FINALLY getting around to building my fulton armory rear-lug and i think im going to try and replicate an AFPG while im at it...

[Gus Fisher]

Unless you run into an older NM shooter who MIGHT have an original set squirreled away, original NM sights are going for about the same price or more than the SEI ones. Quite frequently the price is higher IF you can find a set. I would suggest you type a WTB thread on it in the "For Sale/Wanted" section of this forum.

[Maury Krupp]

There are some who will say a "classic AFPG" will have the ball-and-detent rear sight conversion rather than the NM.

Personally, I've read AFPG data sheets listing both types and saw the same on the AFPGs CMP was selling at the Western Games last year.

So I think it depended on what was in the parts bin at Lackland at the time the rifle was built.

For a rifle that will actually be used I don't think there really is a cheaper or simpler option than the Smith sights.

It's going to cost time and hassle to chase around to find USGI in the same condition and you'll end up paying about the same anyway.

Likewise, it will cost to do all the screwing around to convert to ball-and-detent and will probably cost about the same to do right.

All in all, for relative ease of assembly and use, just cut to the chase and spring for the Smiths. That's what I did. They're new not worn out, are about as close to drop-in as any NM part will be, and actually track pretty well.

Maury

[Gus Fisher]

Did the Air Force come up with the Ball-and-detent NM rear sights or did the Navy? I don't know the answer and that's why I'm asking. I know the Marine Corps used some on NM M1's, but I know we did not invent them.

[Bob S]

FWIW, I never saw a ball and detent sight on a Navy rifle. The first ball and detent set-up I ever saw was on the M1A that I purchased in 1982.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[collectorm1ca]

I have a Navy Trophy rifle that is listed in SRS as being a Navy rifle sent for national match testing in the 60's. It at one time had the ball and detent. I don't have access to all the information, as I'm still making my trip back to California from Camp Perry via the CMP North store.

[madsenshooter]

FWIW, I never saw a ball and detent sight on a Navy rifle. The first ball and detent set-up I ever saw was on the M1A that I purchased in 1982.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

Only one I've seen was on a Devine M1A, that I had. Sold that rifle back when I was going to college. Wasn't even aware of its collector value. Serial # was 1000 something.

[bd1]

If you purchase a brand new sight set you ought to be able to assume the 64 tpi base and windage won't be cross-threaded. Authentic 2A's pop up on e-pay but they run high $ and may not be fit for service.

[Ltdave]

thank for everyones comments! this is why i come here.... great information easily shared

[PhillipM]

My M1 has the ball and detent. It was built by an ex Army armorer in the early 80's, not that that says where the system came from.