I already removed my front sight on my M&P Shield (PITA)! And I was able to break the red locktite bond on the rear sight screw. If any of you have changed out your sights on your M&P's, which was harder to remove? The front sight or the rear sight?

It depends on the gun. I am not sure if S&W lets loctite run under the sight during installation. If so, a little heat would help remove it. Be careful, there is a spring and a disc under the rear sight.

Striker block spring???

My Shield rear sight took a good deal of effort to remove using a generic sight pusher. The set screw removed fairly easily and after removal of the sight it didn't appear that there was any loctite under it but I had to put the sight pusher in a vise in order to get enough force on the screw. It finally let loose with a quite loud 'snap' and then moved easily the rest of the way. The front sight was no problem and came off very easily.

Here's the link covering the installation of night sights on my Shield.

Never had to remove the front sight of my Shield 40, but have had the rear sight off several times. No LocTite on the rear sight, just the set screw. Since the sights are factory pressed on, they are hard to remove. I clamped the slide in a vice and wrapped the slide to protect it. It is best to use a brass punch (also wrap the end of the brass punch in tape). I used a steel punch and taped the end up. Keep turning the punch after every blow, to prevent metal to metal contact, and re-tape if necessary. Knock the sight out from the left side to right side, looking from the rear to front. Do not try to punch on the bottom, thin lip, of the sight. Put the punch on the thicker area, just above the lowest step/lip. It takes quite a bit of force and it will start to move.

Do not knock it fully off. As you get close to the end, pull it off by hand. There is a spring on the blocker, which is under a small amount of pressure. There is a small cap on the top of that spring. Be careful not to lose the cap and or spring.

Bob

To me, the front sight was actually easier because the front sight post is a 90degree angle. A lot of real estate to push on. The rear was a tiny bit more difficult to move simply because of the angles on the rear sight. I was aware of the disc and spring and it helped to have the little sight channel thingy that Apex Tactical sent with their USB. Pretty easy though, really. 30 minutes total.....

Some rear sights are apparently easier than others. I used a wooden block as a "punch" to prevent damage to the rear sight. The suggestion to tape the end of a steel punch makes sense.

Later I bought the MGW sight pusher, which I think works like magic. When I stop tinkering with M&P's, I expect to sell it for 75% of what I paid for it...

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S&W Rover

Both were pretty easy on my 45c, I used a brass punch and hammer.

I've replaced sight sets on two M&P's and pulled two more M&P rears to assist in trigger jobs. In my experience, the front sight is far worse. I ended up buying a sight pusher . I planned on selling the pusher after I used it but continuously find new projects for it. $ well spent in the end.

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Dave

I was able to get the rear sight off and the new one on. It was pretty hard, actually worse to get remove than the front.