Shotgun Part

I have purchased a 12 Ga. CVA single barrel shotgun circa 1999. Great shape. I doubt ever fired. Barrel scopes out like a mirror finish.
The thing is, the front bead sight is missing...appears to have come off in shipping and is gone. There is a small hole with threads where it should be. I could fill it and add a clamp on but I would like to keep it more traditional. The hole is too small for me to measure size with tools at my disposal. I have reached out to CVA's new owners but have not yet heard anything...

Google shotgun bead sight. But I would first take the barrel to the best hardware store in your vicinity and try various machine screws til you find the correct diameter and thread.

SOLANCO said:

Google shotgun bead sight. But I would first take the barrel to the best hardware store in your vicinity and try various machine screws til you find the correct diameter and thread.

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I've done the first. I can try the latter but when I just looked at their options there did not look to be anything that small. We are talking less than toothpick diameter size. I was thinking a watch repair place but none close to here. If there was a gunsmith closer than a 3 hour drive I'd just get it re-tapped and a bead installed

IIRC, most American smoothbore beads carry a 3-56 thread, European/metric a 2.6mm - I think jeweler's screws may be even smaller.

Pietro said:

IIRC, most American smoothbore beads carry a 3-56 thread, European/metric a 2.6mm - I think jeweler's screws may be even smaller.

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Thank you for this. I heard from CVA new owners and the following was their response.

"Thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Unfortunately that model was made before BPI outdoors took over CVA in 1999 and we do not have any parts, information, or manuals available.
We hope you have a great day."

So .... so far SOL but I will check out your suggestion. Thanks again!

try deer creek.

Try here <

Numrich Gun Parts​

www.gunpartscorp.com

Most real gunsmiths will have few different sizes of front beads and the tap to install it. Back when I did jobs I charged $6 dollars to tap a hole and a bead was a few bucks. It shouldn’t cost much to have a smith put a bead on. The metric size could be 2.6 X 45 mm and Americans use 3 X 56 or 6X40 thread.

2 shots said:

try deer creek.

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Thank you -- will do

Phil Coffins said:

Most real gunsmiths will have few different sizes of front beads and the tap to install it. Back when I did jobs I charged $6 dollars to tap a hole and a bead was a few bucks. It shouldn’t cost much to have a smith put a bead on. The metric size could be 2.6 X 45 mm and Americans use 3 X 56 or 6X40 thread.

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No doubt but no one around here is a gunsmith anymore. No actual gun shop other than a box store for many miles around and they do not support traditional BPML's -- only inlines

To the best of my failing knowledge, not all old shotgun beads are threaded some are swaged in.

andy52 said:

To the best of my failing knowledge, not all old shotgun beads are threaded some are swaged in.

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Copy that -- this one definitely threaded

Suggestion, depending on the cost of bead sights,why not buy say 4 of different thread sizes and perhaps one will fit.

Quick look around 8x40 threads perhaps.

VTI Gun Parts carries Pedersoli front sight beads. I purchased a couple for a Navy Arms 12 back in April. They were $3.85 plus shipping. I’m sure they were metric but may work on your CVA. I ordered two so when I dropped one or buggered it up trying to install it I would have a spare.

Go to a hardware store as already stated look in the set screws and you should find one .A lot of Ace hardware stores will have a drawer with gun screws

R Ellis said:

Go to a hardware store as already stated look in the set screws and you should find one .A lot of Ace hardware stores will have a drawer with gun screws

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Thx -- I'll give that a try --

Kansas Jake said:

VTI Gun Parts carries Pedersoli front sight beads. I purchased a couple for a Navy Arms 12 back in April. They were $3.85 plus shipping. I’m sure they were metric but may work on your CVA. I ordered two so when I dropped one or buggered it up trying to install it I would have a spare.

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Used to call that buying what you need "plus one for the mistake".

appalichian hunter said:

Quick look around 8x40 threads perhaps.

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Found the Bradley Gunsight Company and Brownells carries most. They run $4.99 - $27.49 so 1 of each not an option. I'll give the set screw drawer a check to find the one I need. First I have to clear out a 3 ft snowbank at the end of my driveway -- a present from the city plow! Big snowfall last 2 days. Some schools said yesterday they will be closed through Monday! I have never seen closures that far out from a storm! I know an inch of snow can paralyze towns/cities in southern areas for lack of proper equipment but this area has the equipment to move big snows. Go figure---