Front sight roll pin size

steveak · Jul 11, 2010

Could somebody please tell me what size roll pin S&W uses to pin their front sight on their new model 686's. I measured the hole/pin under a magnifying glass using dial calipers laying them over the hole and came up with .065 yet when I place a 1/16 in. punch over the hole/pin it looks like it's to small to be 1/16. Want to replace sight with a fiber optic, checked all the post on this forum, one post suggested buying extra pins from Midway or Brownells but I could not find them any help with a part number would be appreciated.
thanks, Steve

tomcatt51 · Jul 11, 2010

#54 drill bit. .055" diameter. This should be it (solid pin):
SMITH & WESSON : Sight Pin, Front, SS (940-077-250) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

shotguntom · Feb 1, 2011

I'm in the process of installing a new front sight on my 624. Came up with the same issue. Had a question. Head over to the S+W Forum. Problem solved. Yes, its that good here.
Tom

shotguntom · Feb 1, 2011

Ran out and bought the proper drill bit. 10 Minute job completed. I now have a Red ramp front sight, which works great for my eyes. easy swap back to the original sight if I want to.
Tom

Sully · Feb 3, 2011

tomcatt51 said:
#54 drill bit. .055" diameter. This should be it (solid pin):
SMITH & WESSON : Sight Pin, Front, SS (940-077-250) - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

AHEM!! If its a SOLID pin..??...why is it I can see LIGHT thru it???

tomcatt51 · Feb 3, 2011

Sully said:
AHEM!! If its a SOLID pin..??...why is it I can see LIGHT thru it???

Some came with roll pins, most solid. The part # was for the solid pin.

Sully · Feb 3, 2011

tomcatt51 said:
Some came with roll pins, most solid. The part # was for the solid pin.

Its identical to my new M629 also...?? If its a solid pin...how is it retained? Is it staked? A roll pin by its own design will stay in place....a solid pin has to be retained somehow..???

tomcatt51 · Feb 3, 2011

Sully said:
Its identical to my new M629 also...?? If its a solid pin...how is it retained? Is it staked? A roll pin by its own design will stay in place....a solid pin has to be retained somehow..???

Drill bit size and pin size matching is a tight fit. Zero clearance is a light press fit. If one gets loose you can add a drop of loctite or put a slight bend in it or wack it with a hammer to make more oblong than round to tighten the fit.

Sully · Feb 3, 2011

tomcatt51 said:
Drill bit size and pin size matching is a tight fit. Zero clearance is a light press fit. If one gets loose you can add a drop of loctite or put a slight bend in it or wack it with a hammer to make more oblong than round to tighten the fit.

Yepper! According to "Frank" (???) at S&W the "older" guns used solid pins but ending about 2001 or so they went to roll pins.

tomcatt51 · Feb 3, 2011

Sully said:
Yepper! According to "Frank" (???) at S&W the "older" guns used solid pins but ending about 2001 or so they went to roll pins.

Thx, I wasn't sure when or what got roll pins. Like many of S&W's running changes it seemed potluck with roll or solid pins. Be carefull pushing out the roll pin. They want to swell sometimes instead of push out nicely. If I push out a roll pin a solid goes back in. Just preference.

Sully · Feb 3, 2011

tomcatt51 said:
Thx, I wasn't sure when or what got roll pins. Like many of S&W's running changes it seemed potluck with roll or solid pins. Be carefull pushing out the roll pin. They want to swell sometimes instead of push out nicely. If I push out a roll pin a solid goes back in. Just preference.

I do understand. And if a guy doesnt have one of them "special" punches for installing those teenie tiny roll pins...ya can mash one quicker than you can blink. Been there and down that for sure.

RM686 · Feb 28, 2011

I have the same problem with a 342 J frame 38. I tried to put in a HI VIZ sight but that didn't work out. The hole in the barrel is now to big for the roll pin. I cant find anyone who sells roll pins except S&W and their pin is .064 to .066. their pins vary in size even with the same part #.
I have a XS Big Dot sight ordered but don't know how to get it in because I need a slightly bigger pin. How do gun smiths correct this problem? JB Weld ? These small J frames 10 oz have such high recoil that everything has to be really tight. Thats what happen to the HI VIZ sight after a couple of shots it rocked back and forth and you could see daylight between the sight and the barrel.
This has to be a common problem. I cant beleive some one does not make large pins.

tomcatt51 · Mar 1, 2011

RM686 said:
I have the same problem with a 342 J frame 38. I tried to put in a HI VIZ sight but that didn't work out. The hole in the barrel is now to big for the roll pin. I cant find anyone who sells roll pins except S&W and their pin is .064 to .066. their pins vary in size even with the same part #.

That's no fun. Your new sight will need to be drilled. How about drilling with the smallest numbered bit that will clean up the hole and make a solid pin out of the bit shank. You can loctite it if it doesn't press tight enough. Clamp the sight in tight when you cross drill.

RM686 · Mar 1, 2011

Sounds like a pretty good idea. Should work.
Thanks

Front sight roll pin size

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