I recently bought a 4506 with a fixed rear sight, I.e. adjustable for windage only. It shoots about 2 feet low at 25 metres so I have ordered an LPA fully adjustable sight. The question is, to remove the existing rear sight, should it go from right to left or does it matter?
Thx.

With the muzzle pointed downrange away from you, looking through the rearsight, move it from the left to the right to remove it from the slide.

INSTALLATION is reversed. Right to left to put the new one on. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Also remember to loosen the tiny lock screw in the middle of the sight using a tiny hex-wrench.

Also, if you haven't dealt with 3rd Gen rear sight before there's a couple of thing you need to know.

The rear sight serves to hold the magazine disconnect and firing pin safety plungers in place, so you need to be careful not to lose them as the sight moves and uncovers them... they are under an oblong plate that the sight keeps in place.

Some of the rear sights are a real bear to remove, my Novak Lo-mount rear sight was like that, and I had to employ a sight pusher.

Man, when the sight finally broke loose it sounded like a pistol shot.... and yes, I remembered to loosen the set screw on the rear sight first.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

In addition, the tiny springs that compress the plungers are not captured, once the sight starts moving, you need to keep an eye on it as it moves, using a toothpick to capture the hollow of the spring and keep it under control otherwise you'll be on Numrich's website shopping for new springs. Some 3rd gens had a thin metal plate over the plungers and springs, some don't.

Even though I own a kitchen table, I never pretend I am a gunsmith. So all my minor repairs/disassembly are done inside one of those giant Zip-lock bags.

To capture those surprise small springs/parts that seem to pop off the pistol and to prevent their travel to the mysterious beyond. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Would it make sense to remove the slide and clamp it in a vice (with suitable inserts to prevent damage)?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Yes GaryS, you could do that. But, having done exactly that - one time - I would follow my friend Gunhackers advice and get a sight pusher.

Much easier and far less aggravating. Easier precise placement too vice whacking the sight with a wooden dowel and rubber mallet too! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Thanks. Does anyone have recommendations for sight pushers that won't break the bank?

BTW, I spelled vise wrong!

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Can open, worms everywhere.

If you’re only planning on one use, I’d try to borrow one. Maybe ask at the local range or anywhere else that “shooters” congregate.

Thanks for all the advice, I’ll proceed carefully.

Forum member EPJ, makes and sells his JMT sight pushers here: Jennings Machine and Tool

I have his Mk-III and Mk-IV pushers, the MK-IV is definitely an improvement over the older Mk-III.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

If you have a third generation with the slide mounted safety levers, the Mk lV is definitely easier to use. I have these in stock and can ship Monday morning.

Just as a point of reference, while all of the S&W 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen pistols have springs under the rear sight, it is only the 9mm pistols in which the the springs are directly under and retained by the rear sight.

To go to larger calibers (40, 45, 10mm) S&W enlarged the barrels which necessitated enlarging the slides.

That moved the sights a little farther from the springs, reducing the springs tension and therefore, their efficacy.

S&W solved the problem by milling an oval recess over the springs bores an equal amount to the slide's increase in size.

They then fitted an oval plug for that recess which they named "FIR PIN SAF LEV SPG RET", and that part goes under the sight.

In summary, 9mm pistols have the springs directly under the rear sights.

40, 45, and 10mm pistols all have the oval firing pin safety lever spring retainer or "FIR PIN SAF LEV SPG RET" over the springs beneath the rear sight.

John

Third Gen gun shoot dead on a 25 yards. Im confident the shooter is at fault not the rear sight.

Also.....now is the time to ponder “ Do I want to take the opportunity to defeat the magazine safety whilst access to the underside if the rear sight is presented?”
I keep mine due to a decade of police firearms training as an instructor durning the Smith heyday.
Those raised during the Glock heyday might want to have s Smith match their Glocks.

I have since found this useful video which clearly shows the springs under the rear sight.

I had the same problem with my 4566TSW . I ended up sending the slide and sight to BMCM . The man is an artist , looks like it came from the factory .

I'm an aerospace mechanic and heavy structures mechanic , but I know my limits . Some things are better left to those that know what they are doing .

Exactly how are you aligning your sights? The S&W 3 dot sights are regulated so the front sight dot covers the POA> If you are placing the top of the front sight (POA) at the bottom of the bull, your POI will be lower.

How much experience do you have shooting the full power 45 ACP? It is not uncommon for shooters that are averse to recoil to shoot low as they are pushing against the recoil!

Smiles,

OP, just a forewarning, don't let the LPA instruction sheet confuse you.

The LPA instructions show to install the sight from L -> R (a generic statement?)

As already stated, S&W sights need to be installed R -> L given the sight base's bevel & the dovetail dimensions.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

I removed the rear sight (left to right) with a punch and hammer, without losing the springs. The LPA replacement arrived yesterday and was returned today.
FYI:
Although LPA advertises it for the third generation, .45 calibre Smiths, there is no way it will fit, either right to left or any other way. It is not cut deep enough to clear the raised part of the slide.
I have found a Pachmayr adjustable sight PAS SW 45-2, which is said to fit an SW 645 or 745. Can anyone say definitely whether the 4506 is cut the same as the 745? I'll appreciate your advice.
For those who question the shooter's ability, I have been shooting 38/357 and 9mm for several years, 45 Auto for only six months. Nevertheless, with a Taurus PT1911 in .45 Auto, I manage to keep shots in the black and do not find the recoil worse than the 9mm.

If you have an early 4506 with a pre-Novak blade rear sight, the Pachmayr sight should work. You will probably find that it is an LPA sight which was marketed by Pachmayr and also Mec-Gar back in the day.

Bummer. I had one that took a lot of work fitting it but you didn't get that far.

Which model# did you order?

Any chance someone put the wrong sight in the package or someone swapped it?

I hate packages that aren't sealed so you can tell if someone has already messed with it.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

Unless there is gross dimensional differences it is usually pretty difficult to tell if a sight will fit or not. Some sights are intentionally made "proud" and must be worked on for final fitting. Did you measure the relief in the slide and the sight? Many sights needs to be worked on from the bottom to get them to fit in the receiver/slide. Been down this road many times and it is never fun, but rewarding if done right.

Rick H.

Jjfitch, thanks for the comment on new 45 shooters pushing against recoil. I’m no newcomer to 45, but I am shooting a new plastic 45 low and the recoil is an issue compared to steel guns. Might be my problem!