S&W Revolver Rear Sight Replace Questions

[sbrmike]

OK, I am hoping that this falls into there are "No Dumb Questions"
category.

When replacing the rear sight blade, what actually is Breaking when it says to turn it counter-clockwise until it breaks?

Does the screw break? Does the center-punched dimple break? Does nothing actually break and it justs breaks loose?

Why not just drill out the dimple?

ETA: I looked in gunsmithing and only see two pages. When I posted there are a few answers. I was going to hit search earlier, but when there were only two pages of gunsmithing I just looked myself.

Now my new question is Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise? Plus the other questions. They are still not 100% clear.

 

[armorer951]

The windage screw is turned clockwise until the shaft of the screw breaks. After the screw breaks, the blade and the remaining threaded shaft can be pushed over to the left and the shaft and staked on nut unscrewed from the blade. The head of the screw, which contains a spring loaded plunger, can then be pushed out of the sight to the right. Use caution with the plunger and spring in the head of the screw.....many put the assembly in a clear plastic bag to remove the screw head, so the plunger is not lost. They are known for going awol.

The staking on the center of the screw shaft in the center of the nut can be drilled out if desired.

 

[Alk8944]

OK, I am hoping that this falls into there are "No Dumb Questions"
category.

When replacing the rear sight blade, what actually is Breaking when it says to turn it counter-clockwise until it breaks?

Does the screw break? Does the center-punched dimple break? Does nothing actually break and it justs breaks loose?

Why not just drill out the dimple?

ETA: I looked in gunsmithing and only see two pages. When I posted there are a few answers. I was going to hit search earlier, but when there were only two pages of gunsmithing I just looked myself.

Now my new question is Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise? Plus the other questions. They are still not 100% clear.

The information you cite is from the you tube video published by Midway and is incorrect. The screw is turned clockwise! To do otherwise will result in the screw and sight slide being thoroughly jammed in the sight base and nearly impossible to remove. Larry Potterfield does not know what he is talking about!!!


The screw breaks. This is how S&W designed it to be done. If you drill out the staking of the screw you will have nothing left to re-stake after the slide is replaced. When in doubt, gollow the directions giver with the sight slide kit!

 

[sbrmike]

Wow! And thank you both. Now that is what I call help! That is big time spoon feeding help!

I have a follow-up question:
Is the Millett and S&W "Elevation Nut" the exact same part?

Is the mounting screw the exact same part?

I have a new S&W "Elevation Nut" and Mounting Screw inbound from Numrich. I just got brave and removed the Millett Rear Sight to see if my eBay S&W Rear Sight Leaf is the correct length and hole pattern. It is.

Also that Millett rear sight is a joy to shoot. Or else the gun is just phenomenal. We will soon know. I shot a 3-shot 3/4" group @ 50 ft deep in the Black @ 1 O'Clock with Federal American Eagle 158 grain SJSP ammunition. My reloads were 2 inchers but all in the black.

ETA: S&W Model 66-1 Four Inch.

 

[armorer951]

The screw for the sight leaf should be the same unless someone changed it along the way. Not sure about the design of the elevation nut on the Millett. Check the attached drawing/schematic of the S&W parts.

 

[BC38]

FWIW I had to replace a broken sight blade on my M28 when I first got it.
Since I didn't know any better I turned the screw counter-clockwise and instead of the screw head snapping off, when the blade contacted the back side of the nut, the nut screwed off the end - even though it had been staked by the factory.
I was able to re-use the screw, and nut. Just got lucky I guess. Or maybe it was because it was the blade was broken off on the side with the nut...

 

[sbrmike]

The nut itself looks identical. Not sure of the diameter or thread pitch. The sight is zeroed and I am not about to unscrew it and try it as a new one will be here eventually. At least I know I have the correct rear sight leaf and proper height as well.

The screw for the sight leaf should be the same unless someone changed it along the way. Not sure about the design of the elevation nut on the Millett. Check the attached drawing/schematic of the S&W parts.

 

[H Richard]

Every once in awhile you get lucky and the screw doesn't break as the staking was very minimal. The screw can be used. It has only happened to me once.

 

[mmande]

This is what I have done several times because I don't like to "break" things or throw away something that could still be useful.
With the proper size drill I carefully remove the staking at the end of the windage screw a little at a time until I can use a two pronged screwdriver I made, removing the windage screw nut. It may still take some force to do this but nothing breaks. I then file the back side of the windage nut to make it thinner allowing it to screw farther onto the windage screw when reassembled. I am able to restake the end of the windage screw to the nut. A little dab of cold blue and everything looks pretty good. It's not factory looking anymore but it works.
Mike

 

[Protocall_Design]

I seldom need to break the screw to get the sight apart. I use a screwdriver bit made from a 1/4" hex bit with the middle cut out by a Dremel cutoff wheel, so the bit exactly fits the nut.

If the screw isn't staked too much, the nut can be unscrewed while holding the head with a regular blade screwdriver. Then the blade and screw can be pulled out from the right side and the original nut and screw can be reused. The nut and screw threads are #3-80. Same threads for the elevation screw.

 

[Elroy]

The screw is turned clockwise! To do otherwise will result in the screw and sight slide being thoroughly jammed in the sight base and nearly impossible to remove. !

Cited information above posted by Alk8944 is FULLY CORRECT. The windage screw MUST be turned all the way clockwise. This will place the sight blade all the way to the right. Keep turning the windage screw clockwise to shear the shank of the screw. DO NOT pull the slotted head of the windage adjustment out of the sight. Follow the instructions of 951:

The windage screw is turned clockwise until the shaft of the screw breaks. After the screw breaks, the blade and the remaining threaded shaft can be pushed over to the left and the shaft and staked on nut unscrewed from the blade. The head of the screw, which contains a spring loaded plunger, can then be pushed out of the sight to the right. Use caution with the plunger and spring in the head of the screw.....many put the assembly in a clear plastic bag to remove the screw head, so the plunger is not lost. They are known for going awol.

And that plunger is small. If it goes flying, you'll never find it. The zip lock bag trick is good advise

 

[Elroy]

Good as new with genuine S&W parts

 

[Elroy]

Good as new with genuine S&W parts

What he said

 

[Bullseye Smith]

drill it out and reuse the screw, put some blue lock-tight on the cap and screw on.

 

[chief38]

I have never tried to save the screw. They are readily available and cheap enough that I would not even bother. Yes, as some have stated it is possible to do so but I hardly see the effort being worth while. I always keep a few in stock so I never have to wait.

I suppose if you don't have a new screw in stock and want to try and save it for an immediate repair then it would be ok to try.