Hey guys. I'm thinking about getting an apex trigger kit but would like to do the work myself. I don't want to invest a ton into firearms tools as i don't plan to do a ton of work and only own two guns at the moment. A shield 9mm and a Walther CCP. Can anybody recommend a decent sight pusher that won't set me back hundreds? I have factory night sights i would rather not damage trying other methods. I would like to do the full trigger kit and then eventually find a precision barrel to go along with it (and be done with mods!).

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For the Shield, and most other guns that have flat, parallel sides on the slide, you can use the Mk lll and the round to square adapter set. The CCP would need the Mk V due to the shape of the slide.

Damn! 125$

A brass punch or small piece of hardwood sized to fit, vice, small hammer, and a steady hand have always worked for me.
Just use some common sense to protect the slide in the vice, it's just to hold it steady and a rag or small piece of wood on each side protect the finish, just snug it down.
When the slide is held firmly all that's usually required is lite tap or two.

NC Star VISM sight pusher, $45. You can remove the bottom shelf and use shims to make it work for just about any sight.

Years back (early 70s) when toilets had brass and copper instead of plastic I (apprentice plumber ,AKA pipefitter) got my hands on a lot of brass rods. Different sizes for different companies and I ended up with a lot of different caliber punches I still have them and use them when needed. Cost Zero!

Remember to mark the spot you started, go easy and if it moved you have made a adjustment. A little at the sight could be a lot on the target, so check after each seen move

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Brass punches are probably ok for guns that have properly fitted sights. That immediately eliminates the Shield. Also, consider that the night sights have small glass vials filled with radioactive gas. Somehow, beating on these with a hammer just doesn't seem right.

That's what I've heard. They don't budge

On my Shield I was able to move the sight with a brass punch, but just barely. On my Ruger SR1911, the front sight absolutely would not move with a brass punch. I ended up using a steel punch and a heavier hammer. I made a slight mark on the slide with the steel punch that I feel foolish about, but I don't think anyone else would notice it.

Next time a sight won't move with a brass punch will be when I finally buy the sight pusher that I want to buy anyway. I would definitely buy a sight pusher if I was mounting night sights with Tritium vials.

I used one of these and it worked like a charm. Much faster than trying to use a punch and it won't leave any tool marks on the sight or the slide.

NcStar VTUPRS Heavy Duty Universal Semi-Auto Pistol Rear Sight Pusher Tool

Unless you are a Pro GS or someone who ROUTINELY changes sights, you might just want to get yourself a Brownell's Nylon Faced punch. I bought one years ago along with a half dozen screw-on tips and I custom shape them as needed. They will NEVER mark your sights and they come with a steel insert inside so the Nylon tip does NOT flex. They work quite well! I also made a set of vise jaws that are lined with 1/4" leather so I can mount the gun in my vise without any marks, scratches or dents. hardened Rubber Hockey Puck Bench Blocks can be used to position almost any firearm and this has worked for me many many times.

If you FREQUENTLY and REGULARLY swap out sights, then you should invest in a good quality Sight Pusher Tool and be done with it - however sometimes there are models they don't work well on and will need to do the manual method I've described.

I personally only adjust sights when I first acquire a new to me gun and I usually only do it one per firearm hence the reason I never invested in a proper Sight Pusher. The manual method works well and as long as you are careful - no damage is ever done.

What Jake said,,
When I replaced my front sight on my Shield. I used a leather padded vise ( on the slide only) ,, lubed the sight with Kroil and started with a nylon punch, that didn't move it.. Then I got the aluminum punch out,, then the brass punch.
When those didn't move it I got the squared & polished tool steel punch out... That finally moved it .. If you are careful,, keep the punch square and flat it won't beat the heck out of the sight..

( I prefer a homemade square punch so you have more surface area on the sight than a round punch )

I fit the replacement sight so it's not Quite that tight..

They sure don't want those sights going anyplace..

I did say "use common sense and a lite tap or two" guys.
As with anything else a little heat always helps.
I've helped my gunsmith at the shop use a small hand torch to heat the slide from underneith while using a pro pusher at the same time.
For various reasons sometimes they're just damn tight.
If you can't move it, take it to a pro.

I just got this one in the mail yesterday for my Shield's and other M&P's.
Handgun Sight Pusher Tool Universal for 1911 glock sig springfield and others | eBay

I've not used it yet, but it gets good reviews and the Youtube vid's make it seem like it should work well for my guns.

Brass Punch works, but sometimes leaves a golden hue on the sight's finish. While most is removable, sometimes it is hard to get off. The Nylon Punch with Steel Insert does everything the Brass one will do WITHOUT marking up the sight or gun if you slip. There are all different sets and cheap enough for everyone to own one. The Nylon only set os about $6 bucks - scroll down list.

BROWNELLS NYLON/BRASS DRIFT PUNCH | Brownells

The Shield's sights are unbelieveably tight... I understand they put them with a hydraulic press. I broke a rather stout sight pusher on mine! Got an even stouter one!
Wes

First you have to add something like Kroil in the dovetail before you can hope to remove the sight.

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Ed got it right about the Shield. We have 3 here and all the sights are not centered. I have tried the brass drift punches to no avail, just beat up the brass. One day soon I hope to have one of his sight pushers for my very own.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

The one I listed works great and every part that touches the slide is either ABS plastic or nylon so, no marks. It also holds the slide very securely. The pusher itself is steel but, has broad rounded lips so again, no marks. The best part is, the handy little handle means, no tools needed to operate it like some other models.
It does work best if you bolt it down to a table though.

I made my own brass punch. Went to a hardware store and bought a brass bolt. Cut the head off, chucked it in an electric drill, laid file against the treads until smooth, tapered the end, smoothed off rough edges, done ! Cost 49'cents and 15 minuted of work.

i changed the sights on my Shield with a steel punch, some masking tape, a piece of leather and a decent vice. No damage to the slide or sights. The tape goes on the tip of the punch and you need to keep an eye on it as you work. If the tape tears, stop and replace it. Those who say sights can't be changed successfully with a punch are most likely repeating something somebody else said on the internet, as opposed to speaking from personal experience

After years of shooting with the stock sights on my pistols I finally decided to get aftermarket sights. Bought a sight pusher tool off ebay - seller has sold tons because it just works. Made of aluminum and steel and you adjust via hex tools to remove/install sights without marring your slide. NOTE: will not work for slides with external safeties. Paid for itself after the second gun as you forgo the local gunsmith and get self satisfaction of doing it yourself.

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