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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 10-17-2011, 08:45 PM
canvsbk canvsbk is offline
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Default 686ssr front sight

I guess I'm not smart enough to change front sights on my 686ssr. Do I have to remove the pin?
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Old 10-18-2011, 03:27 AM
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Palmetto Sharpshooter Palmetto Sharpshooter is offline
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Nooooooooooooooooo! Don't do that!

Push the sight rearward and up at the same time. It is spring loaded. Once you get it out, you'll see a plunger in there that holds the sight in. The rear dovetail goes back under that. Then push backwards and down and it goes back in. The pin is there for front dovetail to rest against.
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Old 10-19-2011, 11:20 AM
canvsbk canvsbk is offline
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OK, so I had to drive the sight to the rear with a mallet and then pry it out with a screw driver.
Then after inspection I removed the roll pin which made it much easier to install the new sight.
All is good now.
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Old 10-19-2011, 05:55 PM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
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You really shouldn't have had to do that, these sights are intended to be removeable by hand. However, that spring is a bit stiff and there is a bit of a trick to removing it. First, you push it as far to the rear as it will move, then you tip it out front first. Once the front dovetail is clear of that roll pin you can relax the spring tension and simply slide it out in a forward and up direction.

Installation is the reverse, tuck the rear dovetail into the nest, compress the spring completely, then push the front down and release to lock it in place.

BTW, if you blunt the front dovetail by just 0.005 to 0.010 inch you can provide just a bit more clearance and make it much easier to change the sight out.
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Old 10-19-2011, 10:47 PM
canvsbk canvsbk is offline
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I can see how it's supposed to be but my sight just flat would not move. I don't think it was the plunger at all but the very tight fit in the slot of the sight itself. I was gentle with her, I promise
All is well now....(I REALLY like this gun.)
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Old 10-20-2011, 06:26 AM
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I just line the sight, on the empty revolver, up against the bottom edge of my workbench or desk top - and push and tilt the grip end up to pull the sight out, reversing the procedure to install the different sight. The fit should be tight or it will wobble. Some new sights will require 'fitting', ie, drawing over a fine stone, to properly fit the slot. If you go too far, the sight dovetail can be coated with blue Loctite, installed, excess wiped away, and left for 16+ hours to cure. You can break the blue Loctite's bond with heat - apply the tip of a 25W soldering pencil to the sight at the base for 10+ seconds, then push it against the workbench to remove. Excess sealant can be removed with acetone.

Stainz
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Old 10-21-2011, 12:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canvsbk View Post
Then after inspection I removed the roll pin which made it much easier to install the new sight.
All is good now.
Did you reinstall the pin?

If not, you'll likely be on your hands and knees looking for a sight on your next range session. Good thing the Classic DX sights are somewhat large. ;-)
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