Sight pusher... or not?

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drband

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I'm going to be installing new sights on my son's Bersa BP9cc for Christmas. He is upgrading to XS big dot 24x7 night sights, one of the few choices for this pistol.

My dilemma is: do I invest in an inexpensive sight pusher i.e. The Fisher Solutions sight pusher, or do I use nylon and aluminum punches as recommended by Dawson Precision and Novak's?

I'm leaning toward the punches, but I can be swayed!

https://sightpusher.com/product/standard-handgun-sight-tool/

https://dawsonprecision.com/dawson-precision-sight-installation-tools/
 
If you want to install or adjust sights without damage, scratches, punch marks, etc. the best way is to use a sight pusher. I have NO mechanical ability. I installed night sights on three Glocks & a Sigarms P220 without any marks on the sights or slide. I've read about and seen enough "gunsmith" nightmares to realize that it's better to invest the cost of one or two sight installations on a sight tool.
 
If you have a milling machine, you can use the quill and raise the knee to push a sight out/in.
 
Thanks for the input so far. I just wonder if using a pusher to push in a new sight that might not be fitted well, forcing it in, risks more damage than the punch procedure as illustrated in Dawson's video:



I'm not against using a pusher, but fitting the sight properly looks very doable.
 
XS sights can run tight in sight dovetails sometimes. I have found that it is necessary to fit the sight to the dovetail by removing some metal from the bottom of the sight body. It takes some experience to know how much. The sight should go in freely about 1/3 of the way before tapping (not hammering). If it doesn't go that far then more fitting is required. I purchased the $60 sight pusher from Glockstore.com and it has been great. It is the most rugged tool I have used. I broke a $200 Kimber sight tool and they wouldn't replace it. I am done with expensive fragile tools. The Glockstore tool is heavy duty. You won't break it. I have done about 40 sets of sights with it and it has held up well. Make sure to put a piece of urethane/plastic between the clamp and your slide if you don't want it marred. I use these poly dividers for protecting handgun slides for all sorts of clamping uses. Trim to fit the height of your slide and go to work.

https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Guide...8227920&sr=8-2&keywords=plastic+card+dividers
 
I have the sight pusher and recommend it. I have also installed a few sets of sights using Dawson method and aluminum punches and it usually ends up with the punches mangled to the point of unusability, then I use brass punches, then I use steel punches and mangle the sight or the slide or both. I follow directions and sand the bottom of the sight until it goes in halfway or whatever.
 
I believe the glockstore pusher is the Fisher Solutions tool if I'm not mistaken. Good to know it works so well.
Do you fit the sights to the slide before using the pusher?
 
Typically I do fit the sights before pushing them in. I always check fit before doing any work first. Sometimes it doesn't need fitting. I had to fit my steel factory Glock sight but I didn't have to fit a Truglo TFO for a Glock. It just depends. Make sure if you sand the bottom of the sight to put a drop of oil on it and in the dovetail before putting the sight in place. This helps with rust and makes the pushing go easier.
 
Typically I do fit the sights before pushing them in. I always check fit before doing any work first. Sometimes it doesn't need fitting. I had to fit my steel factory Glock sight but I didn't have to fit a Truglo TFO for a Glock. It just depends. Make sure if you sand the bottom of the sight to put a drop of oil on it and in the dovetail before putting the sight in place. This helps with rust and makes the pushing go easier.
Thanks! Tip noted!
 
To drive sights in or out with a hammer and punch absolutely requires a heavy padded vise bolted to a heavy bench that is bolted to the wall. The slide MUST NOT move any at all when you strike the punch.
 
To drive sights in or out with a hammer and punch absolutely requires a heavy padded vise bolted to a heavy bench that is bolted to the wall. The slide MUST NOT move any at all when you strike the punch.
Yep! Got that covered!
 
Generally not recommended to use punches to install nightsights at all--the risk is not to the slide but the radioactive tritium vials in the nightsights that can fracture under hammering with a punch. A botched installation would not be covered under the sight warranty. Sight pushers are recommended for any night sight installation for that reason. Use the right tools or pay someone with the tools to do it--sometimes gunstore/gun ranges have the tools. BTW, how does XS sight systems recommend their installation?
 
XS Sight Systems recommends installing with a non-marring delrin or a brass punch. They do have a specific video cautioning about the XD/XDM/xds series from Springfield. The caution is about getting the factory sights off because they are so tight. No problem fitting the xs sights if the factory sights are off. They actually recommend a gunsmith for getting XD/XDM/xds sights off.
 
Probably worth a call to see if they cover damage from an installation under warranty. It may be that they feel they have enough material around the tritium vial that it is safe enough to use a punch. Not sure about that particular Bersa but I can vouch that Springfield XD's are very tight as well as an older Sig that I have installed night sights on. It may be possible that only the really expensive adjustable sight pushers fit that particular Bersa slide as well.

If you do use the punch method, a bigger punch head is better as it disperses the force over the whole sight rather than in just one small area. I really haven't had too much luck with Delrin punches apart from using in disassembly of trigger pins and the like that are designed from the start to be removed easily. I have also used hardwood dowels and blocks at times for certain things such as a Mosin interruptor.
Good luck.
 
I'm sure they warranty them for self installation--they even include the punch with the sights package!
 
The trick when driving sights in with a hammer and punch is to size the sight correctly and just tap it into the dovetail - not "hammer" it in. The fact that night sights can be "fragile" is why I never used them.
 
I agree with sizing/fitting correctly. Dawson's video shows the procedure--and I think I will give it a go if the factory sights come out with no problems.
There are good pushers suggested here if I have a problem getting the factory sights out.
 
I found an xs sight systems FAQ that specifically says NOT to use a sight pusher with their sights. They emphasize fitting and tapping in as Drail noted. XS sights are manufactured from bar stock and will not flex the way some sights do with a pusher. (At least that's the company line)
 
Glad to know that. As I get older, the XS big sight is looking better and better for my old eyes. Thanks for sharing.
 
Hammer, punch, vise. Unless you're working on sights with glass inserts, such as tritium, no need for fancy and expensive tools. Especially for single use. And, there is a reason cheap sight pushers are cheap.

Jeff
 
I own a couple sight pushers, and they ARE very handy.

I fit ALL sights before installing - they may need to be removed or adjusted someday, after all. It should never require high screw torque in a pusher or heavy hits on a punch to drift the sights. Ever. If they ever end up loose, a set screw, or a slight peen on one edge will tighten things up.

I often end up using a piece of dowel as a punch, gently tapping the sights into place. Faster for me than digging out and mounting my pushers most of the time.
 
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