As many of you know, PC and Pro Series revolvers generally or always come with spring loaded front sights to enable easy swapping of front sights. The trick is the word "easy" -- in my experience it is a pitiless bitc* of a job to do. It is a bear getting the sight out and hit-or-miss whether the new sight will actually fit.
I have successfully done this with two revolvers -- swapped out gold bead sights (which I happen to hate) for FO sights. However, my Pro Series revolver will not let me insert either the Hi Viz or Dawson Precision sights I have on hand. My question is this. Do I need to file down the "foot" of the new sights? By inspection their "feet" look about the same as the OEM sight, but maybe not. If so, should I slightly file the front of the foot or the back. Comments welcome; my hands have taken a beating trying to do this.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

You need to explain exactly what the difficulty is. I'm at a loss as to why you would file the front or rear of the foot of the blade. I have heard where they may be too wide and you file the sides to narrow it down so that it easily inserts into the slot.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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NRA Benefactor Member

It feels like it's too long. It is not too wide.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

I own many revolver with the Smith & Wesson Interchangeable Front Sight (IFS) going back decades




With the exception of one or two that had dried up oil holding them in, I have never had an issue changing any

For the two difficult ones, I just placed a derlin rod against the front of the sight blade and gave it a tap with the brass hammer to break it free

The replacement went in just fine

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"Acta non verba"

Place the one you removed on top of the one that will not fit.

Are they the same dimensions?



If the new one is wrong, you can exchange it with the vendor or make it fit

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"Acta non verba"

I have had the same issue with PC627 The fibre site i wanted to install was abit to long. Did some measuring and filing but finally drifted out the front pin installed site reinstalled site. Nice tight fit. The funny part is i had this exact sight in my PC327 and it was loose. The brand was SDM

I have never had trouble installing the hiviz brand front interchangeable sights. Usually in a .250" @ a 25 yard range. On one gun, I forget which, I did have to remove the front pin, which did make it easier to install, and all subsequent removal and installs, became even more easier.
I do believe sometimes glass bead media, becomes lodged inside the hole, preventing the coil + assembly to fully compress and let the new sight be installed.

Nope, never had a problem replacing one of those a front sights

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S&W factory revolver armorer

OK fellows, I was right -- the Dawson sight just needed the "foot" filed down ever so slightly. Did that and it fit right in.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

What colt saa said.

This Hi-Viz was a pain to install in the 610-2. A little work on the sides with a stone made installation a cinch. Even the original sight shows wear. A tight fit is optimum, but you shouldn't have to fight it.

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[quote=jughed440;140723510]This Hi-Viz was a pain to install in the 610-2. A little work on the sides with a stone made installation a cinch. Even the original sight shows wear. A tight fit is optimum, but you shouldn't have to fight it.


Hate to say it, but the system that Ruger uses on the front sight of the Ruger GP100 works a lot better and easier. But it's fine; it only took a couple of minutes to file down the Dawson so that it fit OK. It is in there very tight; not going anywhere.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member

I changed the sight on my 686 ssr. The old sight came out without too much trouble but the new one was very difficult to get in. When it did go in, it snapped in like it wasn't ever going to come out again. Since I like the new gold bead patridge sight I guess it doesn't matter but I did do some damage to it during the struggle. Tried to repair it with some paint but it looks a little rough. Gun still shoots well, though.

Getting mine off of the 629-6 was difficult...a real struggle. I bent the low end of the sight ramp a bit getting it off, but not so bad that it bothers my shooting. I had to stone the sides of the HIVIZ sight base a bit and had to file the front end more than I felt I should have had to. Glad I did it.

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NRA Life Member

I have the opposite issue, I have been through two Dawson Precision front sights on my 629-6 and both apparently fell off while the gun was holstered. The sights were completely seated in the slot, no slop movement, no wiggle, no fore and aft movement or up and down at all. I physically checked both for any signs of anything loose, there wasn't.

I very recently put a Trijicon RMR 2 on the gun so a front sight isn't technically needed. But, the bare front end and empty slot on the gun annoy me, I will try a Hi Viz next.

"Hate to say it, but the system that Ruger uses on the front sight of the Ruger GP100 works a lot better and easier. But it's fine; it only took a couple of minutes to file down the Dawson so that it fit OK"
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I don't hate to say that it's not the S&W system, just the quality of your aftermarket sights.

I am going to respectfully disagree. Even the sights that are shipped with the gun by S&W are usually very difficult to remove and re-insert. The Ruger system is easier and better -- all aftermarket as well as Ruger OEM sights go right in, and no problems with falling out, etc. Aftermarket sights are a total crapshoot and you had better have your metal file handy. I think that the S&W system could be better.

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Army veteran, NRA Life Member