Best way to install pinned front sight?

David Sinko · Aug 31, 2010

I need to get a fiber optic pinned front sight for my 627-5. Since new pinned front sights are not drilled, what is the proper way to drill the new hole?

And what is the diameter of the pin used in a 627-5? Brownells does not sell any pins for any variation of 627 and I see a couple of different part numbers for the other N Frames. The original is hollow (a piece of curled sheet metal?) and I suspect there must be something better. Or would the hollow "pin" be less susceptible to falling out?

Dave Sinko

Nightowl · Aug 31, 2010

The 627-5 has interchangeable sights, so all you have to do is buy one with the "interchangeable foot" and install it. The pinned type front sight will not fit.

David Sinko · Aug 31, 2010

My sight is definitely pinned. My -5 is the "budget model" with the ordinary round barrel and it was not cut for moonclips as it came from the factory. Can there be different front sight configurations among the -5 variation? What exactly does the "interchangeable foot" look like? Aside from the hollow pin, this looks like the pinned front sight in my other N Frames.

Dave Sinko

CALREB · Aug 31, 2010

David ,they are pinned with a tiny roll pin, whether its better than a solid pin ,I dont know, but they are easier to find,in the past I have used the solid end of small broken drill bits that exactly fit the given hole,then grind them to the length needed.. when I break a small drill bit I throw it in the box ,if you cant find a rollpin or you want a solid pin see what size bit fits. Drilling the hole is a job for a good drillpress / vise and keep the barrel exactly level or you will drill the hole crooked and beside messing up the sight you will oval out the hole on the back side.,sometime I do mine sometimes I take them to a good gunsmith,depends on the gun. Good luck

tomcatt51 · Aug 31, 2010

#54 drill bit which is .055". S&W part # 077250000 is for the solid (instead of roll) sight pin. I usually cover the barrel with blue painters tape and clamp the barrel and blade in my drill press vise. Clamping it in the vise guarantees the sight blade is held down tight in it's base. Drill half way from each side to lessen the chance of elongating the hole in the sight base.

David Sinko · Sep 2, 2010

I guess my first mistake was thinking that a roll pin is solid. This is the first time I have seen a hollow pin in a S&W revolver.

Also, the pinned front sight on my 625 SAC Mountain Gun is loose and that's the only complaint I have with this revolver. I will have to try the drill bit solution here too.

Thanks for all the advice.

Dave Sinko

Waltswood · May 29, 2015

If it is roll pin why can't it be punched out. I think it would be a real bear to drill since it is hollow it would be constantly breaking the drill bit.

WR Moore · May 29, 2015

I'd advise against trying to drill a roll pin. I've done it, and the success rate has been good, but I also had to have one EDM'd out after breaking a drill off in it.

Brownells sells roll pin punches. They're worth it.

Best way to install pinned front sight?

David Sinko

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Nightowl

David Sinko

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CALREB

tomcatt51

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David Sinko

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Waltswood

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WR Moore

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