Hey folks,
UPDATE: so it appears it was totally bottomed out from the factory. At least I know which way it moves now. This makes sense because I was striking about 2 inches low at 15 yards, and I need to LOOSEN the screw (ccw) to bring the site assembly higher, and thus impacts higher. My only question now, having removed that site assembly, does it need some sort of locktite or should I just tighten that front screw to "good n tight" torque specs and it wont back out? Never taken one of these off before, not really an "at-home smith"


Havent posted here since getting my R8 (still humming along strong) about 8 years ago. Love that thing!

Just finally acquired a 617 and so far its great, except I CAN NOT get that rear site to move. I took it off to look at it, and the screw moves seemingly fine, but not sure what else I should be looking for. Here are a few pics. Any tips??

I've never had a front screw back out if tightened by feel.
If you can't get the rear elevation screw to back out, soak the sight assembly in a good penetrant like Kroil. That should help.

__________________
Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Is there a detent stop, or something such as that ?
Kinda like an AR15 front sight that needs depressed to turn?

If this is a newish gun, and you can not get it to move, surely S&W would let you send back just the sight, so they can get the screw to move,,,
You do not want to scratch that sight using a vise, and a Kobalt screwdriver,,,

I have two 617's that I shoot,,
one has a Millet rear sight (I REALLY like that thing!)
the other, a newer 10 shot came with a Leopold 2X EER scope, and no rear sight.

The guy sold me the scoped one at a retally good price, because he was embarrassed that he had lost the rear sight.
That is OK, I will never have a rear sight on that gun anyways, it is so perfect with the Leopold.

Maybe you need to pop a $39 Amazon red dot on the gun, while you are figuring out that screw?
You may never go back to a S&W sight,,,

I have owned the Millet equipped one so long, I paid "full asking price" at the LGS, it was $250,,
That gun has had MANY bricks of ammo through it,,,

I have had the front sight screw back out on a Model 29 if my memory serves me right. I think I just cleaned the oil out of the screw hole and the screw tightened it up and it has not moved again in over 20 years. I don't suppose blue loctite would hurt but may not be necessary IMO

Ill tell you what, I definitely thought of putting an RMR on the thing. Or a vortex, something real nice. At the very least, these all black sights are killing me. THe R8 at least has some white outlines Ive grown used to. Will certainly need to do something with them...

If this is a "used gun",, and someone put Red Locktite on the screw,,
you are gonna need to add heat to get the screw to turn.

Red Locktite will hold so well, the little screw will break before you get it to turn, without heat,,,

The Millet that came on my older 617 is a white outline,,
THAT is why I can live with it,,,

The lower one in this pic has the Millet rear sight,,



I had purchased a red dot to put on an AR15, it was $39 when I got it, a little more now,,

Well, I got a Volquartsen barrel when it was on clearance, it came with no sights,,

Since I had that red dot sight, I popped it on the Ruger, with the VQ barrel,,

I hit clay targets sitting on a log, better than 50% of the shots, at 150 yards.

Tacticon Armament Predator V1 Red Dot Sight

I have at least 6 of these red dots, some cost around $200,,
I like this one the best,,
it might break tomorrow, who knows, but, it is cheap fun!!

The MKIII Hunter in the pic has some other red dot on it,, it is OK,,,

Attached Images

Hunter and VQ.jpg (206.2 KB, 24 views)

No this is a new gun. So it ended up basically being bottomed out and really jammed in there, but I was able to get it to spin free. Also didnt help that the operator was attempting to tighten it when he shouldn't have tightened...

Can anyone recommend their preferred rail attachment to replace the rear site, and mount a red dot? I've seen a few plates out there, didn't know if some would be better than others. I have an ultradot pan AV that I may try, its just too dang big for my liking.

Also, if it comes to it (although I think my issue is resolved now) assuming they make shorter rear site blades if I were to run out of travel on the elevation?

Also, I have my all time favorite grips coming tomorrow that Im stoked about, the hogue big butts! Love love love
S&W K or L Rd. Butt No Finger Grooves Rubber Conversion style Monogrip W/Wood Big Butt - Full Size Conversion Grips - Round to Square - K/L-Frame Round Butt - K/L-Frame Revolvers - Grips for Smith & Wesson - Handgun Grips - Hogue Products

There are replacement rear sight blades available in .106, .126, .146 and .160 heights, if I remember correctly.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life