M1917 Enfield Rear Sight question

[rustyboy]

I have a 1917 that I have had for some time and I finally took it to the range. The rear battle sight was very high at the 100 yds I was shooting at, which is to be expected given its 400 yd zero. When playing with the ladder, I couldn't get it to any lower than the 400 hash mark. It was as though the metal peep was hitting the ladder frame, if that makes sense.

Anyone have one and can make sure I am doing this right? See photos. You can see where the peep metal is hitting the base on the rear photo. It's bottomed out at the 400 yd mark, as can be seen zooming in on front photo.

Should I be taking a little metal off the back of the peep here?

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

According to this WWII era Field Manual on the operation of the P 17 Enfield rifle, the sliding rear sight should go down to 200 yards.

As you said, the "battle peep sight" is fixed to be zeroed for 400 yards which probably represents a reasonable mid -trajectory path.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Is it possible that when your rear sight frame was cast (the ladder on which the longer distance peep-sight assembly slides) had a bulge or lump in the metal directly in front of the wide diameter peep (the one that is meant for close battle, and cannot be adjusted for elevation?)


If I were to grind, file, or polish anything,
I think it would be in the area just above the battlefield zero sight in the area that I've highlighted with yellow in this pic.

 

[rustyboy]

Got it. It was rather tight and I wasn't going to break anything. Once I realized that it should go down all the way, I sprayed some oil and pushed hard.

Thanks guys.