REMOVING .380 EZ FRONT POST SIGHT?

Porter3861 · Dec 29, 2019

Anyone remove the .380 Shield EZ front sight? It's got an odd (to me) retaining pin and I can't figure out how to take it out.

I'm following my grandfather's advice, here, when he would say "Son, if you don't know how to work a wheel-barrel, I wouldn't touch that." I certainly don't want to dork it up when I don't know the correct way to remove the pin.

I've recently gotten and XS replacement sight and it all looks pretty straight forward (I've replaced several Glock sights) but the retaining pin has me stumped.

Thanks!

Porter

Northener · Dec 29, 2019

Looks to me, like a c clip locks it in place from the underside. Should be able to just slide the c clip rearward with a small screwdriver to release it.

Pepper · Dec 30, 2019

Northener said:
Looks to me, like a c clip locks it in place from the underside. Should be able to just slide the c clip rearward with a small screwdriver to release it.

That is what I did to get mine off. Tweezers helped too.

Porter3861 · Dec 30, 2019

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, it's a c-clamp but it sits in an indent in the slide so I can get very little movement out of the clamp. I did not, however, try the tweezers. Okay, so it's nothing tricky or fancy, just pop that c-clamp out. Good to go.

I'll report my progress back and the installation of the new sights (hopefully)!

Porter

Northener · Dec 31, 2019

I also noticed the indent it lays in too. Just need to lift the leading edge and pop the c-clip off. A dental pick would be helpful.

Porter3861 · Jan 1, 2020

Mission Accomplished!

You guys rock! The dental pick worked great and the XS sights went in easily. I didn't even need the sight pusher (but still glad a bought it). For me, these sights make a big difference.

Thanks again!

gnystrom · Jan 2, 2020

Porter3861 said:
You guys rock! The dental pick worked great and the XS sights went in easily. I didn't even need the sight pusher (but still glad a bought it). For me, these sights make a big difference.

Thanks again!

S&W made it easy for us. This is a great forum.

Northener · Jan 2, 2020

Now you have peaked my interest in the xs sight for my ez 380. So if i am understanding you correctly. You did not need the pusher for the rear sight? What kind of punch did you use to remove the rear sight? I have been watching a lot of videos on M&P trigger upgrades. All of them use either brass or nylon tipped punch to drive rear sight out.

Porter3861 · Jan 2, 2020

No Pushing, Only Pulling and Unscrewing!

Northerner,

The front "C" clamp (the XS instructions call it an "E" clamp) was a bit of a bear to get out. But once I got under it and lifted it up (it's just a thin piece of aluminium) and pulled it out, the front sight dropped free.

The rear sight has a set screw accessible from under the slide. Once I removed that (it had factory blue loctite on it) the rear sight just slid out w/ my fingers. The XS instructions say filing of the rear sight may be needed, but mine didn't. Just slid right in. I used the red loctite XS supplied and the directions stated to use that not just on the screw but also the flat metal to metal surfaces of the sights and the slide.

It was all of 15 minutes work including prep and clean up. The XS instructions say to give it three hours to set up.

I had one hiccup in that XS sent me instructions for the larger caliber M&Ps (which all require a vice, punch, and/or pusher as you mentioned). I couldn't find any interweb videos of a .380 EZ sight swap. I sent XS an e-mail and that same day, Josh from XS sent me the correct instructions for installation on the .380 EZ. So BZ for that customer service!

Hope this helped!

Porter

G23 · Jan 5, 2020

The clip is there, but the sight wobbles .. Where do you get the clips if you lose it and how do you fit the movement

G23 · Jan 5, 2020

How do you fix the movement of the front sight

BillyMagg · Jan 5, 2020

Locktite

G23 said:
How do you fix the movement of the front sight

OP reported that XS instructed to use red locktite provided on the shank sides and bottom flats of the sights.

duffer1954 · Oct 19, 2021

ez .380 sights are ez !

Northener said:
Now you have peaked my interest in the xs sight for my ez 380. So if i am understanding you correctly. You did not need the pusher for the rear sight? What kind of punch did you use to remove the rear sight? I have been watching a lot of videos on M&P trigger upgrades. All of them use either brass or nylon tipped punch to drive rear sight out.

Removed the rear sight in 2 minutes, Front Sight, well, broke the c clip, waiting for replacement. Snap ring pliers will make it a breeze, no punch or pusher required.

duffer1954 · Oct 19, 2021

Try Numrich Gun Parts Corp. $4.86 for two.

HEADKNOCKER · Oct 19, 2021

I thought to myself when I 1st saw the sights on the 380EZ that it would be easy to swap those out without a sight pusher..
Guess I was Right about that.. EZ

REMOVING .380 EZ FRONT POST SIGHT?

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