How many of you change your own sights?
- Thread starter American_Fusilier
- Start date
- Status
Mohican1
Member
I have a MGW sight tool for Glocks with different adapters and a universal one for other autos. Plus a variety of brass punches and brass hammers for dovetailed rifle sights. I'd like to get a Brownells pusher for ramps. Just have to be patient and careful.
Mohican1
Member
I wished I had those skills Bill. I worked with outstanding machinists in the shipyard but my background was a "tin bender". Post pics later.
In my case, that leaves out everything but shaving and dressing myself!
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!
marvin02
Member
The key if you use the punch method is to secure your slide firmly. A heat gun will soften any loctite used when the sight was installed. I have also read about folks putting the slide in a freezer overnight, though I've never tried this. Covering the area near the dove tail with tape to prevent scratches from slips is also a good idea.
I always try an aluminum punch first but if that won't move the sight I use brass rod that I grind/file a flat onto so that the contact area with the base of the sight is greater and there is less chance of the rod slipping when struck.
I always try an aluminum punch first but if that won't move the sight I use brass rod that I grind/file a flat onto so that the contact area with the base of the sight is greater and there is less chance of the rod slipping when struck.
Bennj
Member
Did front sights myself, but I did them on a GP100 which is incredibly easy even for someone like me. The other was a Dawson F/O on my CZ75, except for some sanding for fit that too was pretty straight forward.
Mauser lover
Member
Yes, but I am basically a gunsmith. Apprenticed for a couple of years, but I'm too slow to make any money at it. Or... enough money to not starve. I do stuff for myself now.
I've got a sight pusher, and while I could use the milling machine as a press, it's worth the $35 to get a sight pusher.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-...4b7c81b82fdb3045d87c|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
It's not that difficult to install sights. It's not even all that hard to fit dovetails, but if you don't want to learn, don't bother thinking about it. It's all about your attitude, do you want to learn to do something new? I do my best to have a mindset open to learning how to do new things, but there are things I just don't have time (or interest) to learn. How many sights do you see yourself installing? Is it worth the time it will take you to learn? Sometimes it just isn't worth it to learn a new thing.
I've got a sight pusher, and while I could use the milling machine as a press, it's worth the $35 to get a sight pusher.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-...4b7c81b82fdb3045d87c|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
It's not that difficult to install sights. It's not even all that hard to fit dovetails, but if you don't want to learn, don't bother thinking about it. It's all about your attitude, do you want to learn to do something new? I do my best to have a mindset open to learning how to do new things, but there are things I just don't have time (or interest) to learn. How many sights do you see yourself installing? Is it worth the time it will take you to learn? Sometimes it just isn't worth it to learn a new thing.
doubleh
Member
I have changed quite a few sights, both front and back, over the years using a hammer and punch. I really never saw the need for a pusher but would have bought one if I had. I have ground some punches to fit different width dovetails and keep then in a little box in a certain drawer. That way I can usually remember where they are.
PS: I have managed to never booger up a sight to this day. Skill and luck I suppose, heavy on the luck probably.
PS: I have managed to never booger up a sight to this day. Skill and luck I suppose, heavy on the luck probably.
browningguy
Member
The only pistol I have changed sights myself is a S&W Shield 380EZ. They have a neat system where the rear sight has a screw accesses from inside the slide that holds the sight in place and a screwed down front sight.
Mohican1
Member
I have changed quite a few sights, both front and back, over the years using a hammer and punch. I really never saw the need for a pusher but would have bought one if I had. I have ground some punches to fit different width dovetails and keep then in a little box in a certain drawer. That way I can usually remember where they are.
PS: I have managed to never booger up a sight to this day. Skill and luck I suppose, heavy on the luck probably.
Mohican1
Member
For moving tritium sights a pusher will keep the vials from breaking.
doubleh
Member
Since I own no tritium sights and don't plan to that isn't a consideration for me.
For Glock front sight you'll need the miniature socket tool, which is pretty cheap. A sight pusher is best for any of the drift sights. Springfield Armory are about the hardest to drift. Of course any that might be staked are problematic.
Just think, there are probably a few machinists out that wish they had tin bender skills.
BWS
Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2017
- Messages
- 763
Yup,and make some too.
Agree with Bill Raby on the tin. I think it's an excellent craft. To the point,that was the Christmas present to myself this year. "Bought" a leather shot bag.... "Made" a sweet baseball bat,mallet. We have an English wheel and am snagging a pnuematic planishing hammer in a cpl weeks.
Like handloading,sheet metal crafts are very relaxing. Our cabinet/furniture shop has some very nice custom dust collection.
So back to making sights..... have made 1/2 dz. Some nicer than others. Is it cost beneficial? Meh,maybe not at first but keep at it and who knows. I do know it isn't "that" hard. Last one was a fixed elevation,drift for windage sight for..... can't remember now,but it's on one of the tool cabinets. I think it's for a Ruger BH. Which has one of my front sights on.
Agree with Bill Raby on the tin. I think it's an excellent craft. To the point,that was the Christmas present to myself this year. "Bought" a leather shot bag.... "Made" a sweet baseball bat,mallet. We have an English wheel and am snagging a pnuematic planishing hammer in a cpl weeks.
Like handloading,sheet metal crafts are very relaxing. Our cabinet/furniture shop has some very nice custom dust collection.
So back to making sights..... have made 1/2 dz. Some nicer than others. Is it cost beneficial? Meh,maybe not at first but keep at it and who knows. I do know it isn't "that" hard. Last one was a fixed elevation,drift for windage sight for..... can't remember now,but it's on one of the tool cabinets. I think it's for a Ruger BH. Which has one of my front sights on.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,299
I changed the sights on a 1911...once. Turned out okay but I wasn't all that thrilled with the results. Something I would leave to a skilled gunsmith to do.
GBExpat
Member
I have never taken a sight-change to a 'smith. I have always done them myself. I have a few simple front-sight pushers for milsurp rifles (91-30, K98, Lee-Enfield, IIRC) but usually use punch & hammer very carefully & intelligently & re-strain-ed-ly applied.
Hahaha, I hear that. Did that once myself ... once.
Mohican1
Member
Mohican1
Member
Maybe so! But they did teach us to TIG/MIG weld which is forever useful.
WheelGunMan
Member
Hammer and brass punch on dovetail sights. Steel pin punch on roll pins.
FL-NC
Member
Sure, on Glocks. Requires the Glock screwdriver and some lock-tight for the front, and a small ball peen hammer and a brass punch for the rear.
grammontS
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2020
- Messages
- 172
I have the same ........has worked well for me so far , and the cost wasn't bad at all.
Mohican 1, I am not a machinist either but I've been doing Sheet Metal work since '89. While some of the contractors I've worked for do other type stuff the majority of what I do is ductwork. Of course I have found myself working on architectural & industrial type stuff here & there but the contractor I work for now is a full service mechanical contractor (HVAC).
The only pistol I ever changed sights on was a Springfield Armory XD. I did not have a sight pusher (I used a hammer & brass punch). The rear sight was extremely tight. I cut down into the sight with a hacksaw to relieve the pressure off of it so I could get it out. Yes I was very cautious not to cut too deep & yes my nerves were a little on edge. The new rear sight I put in went in easily. Putting tape on the pistol to avoid marring the finish is a good suggestion.
Not long before I did that I had a gunsmith swap the sights on an old Ruger P-series. He was reasonable & did a good job. I guess it just depends on what you are comfortable with doing.
- Status
