It's hard to say but it looks like the top of the barrel dovetail is peened up a bit; you might find that leveling out the top of the barrel will solve the problem.

I would tap them down until both sides of the dovetail were flush with the top of the barrel.

 

When I replaced the sights on my Rossi 62a the dovetails were not standard 3/8" 60 degree dovetails. They were deeper, and consequently wider than standard. The angle may have been somewhat different also.If I remember correctly I filled in with epoxy for the front sight and used some kind of shim for the rear. After drifting the rear for its correct position I flooded the area with RED Loctite hoping it never moves again. So far it hasn't. I was lucky (?) in that the sights I bought were slightly oversize to be fitted by filing. So they weren't as loose as yours.

Luisyamaha

 

Rossi dovetails are oversized. Not the standard 3/8". Found that out when I put a 5D on a Puma and wanted to put a filler in the slot. Good luck finding a solution.

 

Rossi's dovetails are oversize and look like a diamond toothed beaver cut them. JB Weld has always been my friend for this task. On the sight, not the barrel of course. Sometimes the dovetail has to be played with too. The top lips of the slot can be boogered up from the factory.

 

Oversize Rossi dovetail slots are why I specifically ordered the oversize Skinner sight made for Rossi dovetail slots. Last night I used a 1/4" punch and my biggest ball peen hammer to press the lips down flush into the slot. The sight fits better although I can still move it in & out without tools. At least it doesn't wiggle and my gooey green Loctite won't have such large gaps to fill.

 

Yes.... I'm not alone in my issues over the Rossi dovetails.

I picked up a Rio in 410 a couple years back. Never owned a 410 shotgun before, but thought a 410 levergun would be fun to carry as a small game gun. Trying to find a Marlin 410 was difficult and many $$$.

Decided I wanted to put a peep on the Rio, then came to realized as much as the Rio looked like a 336, the Rio is not a true Marlin copy. Found that the Marlin sights do not fit. Ended up purchasing skinner sites specifically for the Rio that had the larger dove tail, and the fun continued. Even after a trip to the local gunsmith, the front site side off to one side. The Factory installed dovetail was slightly offset.

 

Hello MT Lassiter,

I did receive your PM as well. We will take care of you. Please email me at andy@skinnersights.com

And to everyone who is fitting sights to ROSSI rifles, let me discuss Rossi dovetails for a moment here.

Here is what I know about Rossi Dovetails:

Early Rossi's were not a 60 degree dovetail. These factory sights can be identified by a squarish block (slightly tapered) riveted to the leaf of the sight. Again, this is for older Rossi's. (I should take a photo but have replaced all these sights on my rifles so nothing is in house at this moment) That early Dovetail might be anywhere from 65 - 70 degrees.

Somewhere along the line, (Maybe 6 or 7 years ago?) Rossi started using a standard 60degree cutter but sized them closer to 10mm than 3/8". I've heard theories that they actually cut the slots 3/8" then pounded an oversize sight into the slot, opening it up .010" to .015" oversize. Whatever the case, Skinner Sights responded by making our BARREL MOUNT sight with an oversize dovetail specifically for ROSSI. Rossi Firearms We have also addressed this with engineers at Rossi but I'm not sure if any permanent changes have been made.

We have heard of some Rossi dovetails being correctly sized. (About 2 years ago there seemed to be a run of them that were closer. This was close to the time when we spoke with Rossi but I cant say the two events are connected)

When it comes to Dovetail Slot Blanks, we do not have them in the Rossi Size YET... I'm working on it. When we do carry them it will be in both Blue and Stainless.

The solutions listed above do work, JB Weld being one solution. << Not my favorite way to do things but it gets the job done.

Another solution is a shim made from beverage can aluminum and trimmed so its out of sight once installed.

I use oiled paper on occasion to fit the Slot Blanks. I place the oiled paper over the slot, start the blank into the slot with the paper underneath it, tap the blank into place, then trim all excess away with a sharp blade. Its all but invisible when done correctly.

Meanwhile, our ROSSI size DOVETAIL BARREL MOUNT Sights generally fit fine and everything is good to go. The Model 62's are a bit more hit and miss on the old vs new style dovetail slots.

Rossi rifles (the current crop) have been great shooters and the ones we use are very reliable. The Ranch Hands, Rio Grande's, Circuit Judges, etc... are all very cool. (and cooler yet is that we have great sights to fit them all)

Hope that helps!

ANDY

 

Andy,

Thanks for the great explanation & follow up. The rear sight I removed from this gun is of the slightly tapered block with riveted leaf variety. You're welcome to it if you want it. I'll send an e-mail here in a minute too.

 

Maybe I should clarify that I did my sights before I knew of Skinner sights. So those I was talking about were other after market sights. I think my rifle is very old, it has a half-cock safety only. I bought it used in 2010 for $225.00 OTD. I wouldn't mind knowing when mine was made. Serial G 3118XX, Model 62AS, Rossi Brazil. Any info appreciated.

Luisyamaha

 

You got me beat. My s/n is G4711xx Interarms 62SA. Half cock safety only, 23" octagon barrel. It's great for burning up crappy Remington ammo; hold the trigger back & pump.

It was given to my son by his "Uncle Buck" when the woman who owned it passed away several years ago.

 

Best info I could get Rossi made these between 1970 and 1998. Interarms ceased operations sometime in the late 1990's. So 20 to 40 years old seems a good guess.

Luisyamaha

 

I love Puerto Rico - but where can you shoot?
When I looked into retiring there I was told I could not being any of my rifles to the island.
Considering the "government person" who told me this I see that they were mistaken. But where can you shoot?

Michael

 

Blackdog, There's plenty of gun ranges to shoot at. Some indoors, some out. All run on a membership basis ($60-$70/year). However the gun laws are pretty strict still. Not sure if you can just put your guns with your households goods and move them here. I think you'd have to mail them to/through a local FFL. Then, preferably before, you need to get a PR gun permit to own (up to two guns) , with endorsement for target shooting (almost unlimited guns) , and additional endorsement for CCW, if you so choose. For the target shooting endorsement you need to join a gun club/range. There's no real hunting other than bird (?) hunting with shotgun , in season, and wild pig and goats, also with shotguns, in Isla de Mona nature preserve, off the West coast of PR. Shooting in your own private land is legally dubious, but heavily frowned upon. May or may not be allowed. I don't own a farm, so I've never gone into that, but I've heard conflicting reports. There's a group of long range shooters that can use the National Guard 600 yard range about 10 times a year. If you're into that. Most outdoor ranges have 100 yards. There's three-gun and action (?) pistol shooting also going on. Black powder is pretty much no-no. Suppresors are prohibited.

If you have any specific questions not answered above, just ask, and I'll try to answer in more detail.

Luisyamaha