Rifle Sight Dovetail Question

[ElevatedThreat]

I want to replace the factory sights on a Marlin 336 rifle.

Are traditional rifle sight dovetails square, so that the sights can be removed by driving them out to either side?

Or are the dovetails tapered (wedge-shaped, narrower on one side), such that the sights always need to be driven out selectively to one side or the other?

That is, is there a rule to working with rifle dovetails, like "drive the old sights out towards the left, drive the new sights in towards the right?" (Or the reverse?)

Or does it just not matter?

-ET

[DJ Niner]

Most are parallel, some are slightly tapered. Your best bet is to closely examine the old sight (if it still in place) for marks indicating which way it was installed. There should be "drag marks" on the side that passed through the dovetail slot during installation; reverse direction to remove, and put the new one in from the same side. A drop of penetrating oil left on the old sight's base overnight, before the changeout, also may assist in a smooth transition to your new sight.

Hope this was helpful.

[ElevatedThreat]

Thanks, it was helpful.

I followed the "visual evidence" and drove the old one out from right-to-left, then drove in the new one from left-to-right.

I'm still not sure if the dovetail is really tapered, or if doing it the other way around would have worked just as well, but the new front sight is in, and that's what counts.

-ET