Adding Night Sights to M&P’s.

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kbm6893

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Every video I have seen on YouTube says the Shield sights are a bear to get off. I don’t have a sight pusher and don’t want to spend the money on something that’s almost never going to be used. I don’t see t to whack the sights off with a hammer. My local guy has been to gunsmithing school but I’m not all that confident in him not messing up the gun. Trijicon will do a good job but they say like 7-10 weeks and I don’t want the guns to be out of circulation that long. Also, some of the sights available on Amazon look really good and trijicon only installs heir owner if you buy hem direct from them.

How are you guys adding your night sights?
 
My M&P Pro (full size) came with night sights but the white ring in the front sight fell out during the academy, so I switched to Trijicon HD with the orange ring in the front sight.

I did purchase a sight pusher and it was still a process...

I would not use a hammer. My advice is to "bite the bullet" and send it in if you don't want to do it yourself. Find a gunsmith online and just do it. Novak is pretty good about it if you call and explain. Or try Lauck, 10-8, Reeder, as well as many others that are out there...

Depending on where you live, perhaps you have a "better" smith in the next town and it might be better/easier just to take a drive?!
 
I used a NcStar sight pusher, and damaged the slide since I chose to push after not being able to remove the set screw :(

Without the set screw issue, removing and installing the slights with the sight pusher wasn't too bad. But one problem I had was trying to properly line up the dovetails to the pushing blocks, because the Shield Plus slide is smaller than my other M&Ps.



For my larger M&Ps, I did have to file the bottom and edges of the new sights to push them in more easily. When it got really hard to turn the bolt on the sight pusher, I was afraid too much force was going to damage something. I also added a little oil into the dovetail, not sure if it helped.
 
Here’s the other issue: I didn’t buy any of these guns from my local guy. His prices are simply too high. I’m friendly with him so I know he’d take offense.
 
kbm6893 said:
Here’s the other issue: I didn’t buy any of these guns from my local guy. His prices are simply too high. I’m friendly with him so I know he’d take offense.
Click to expand...

What's his price before tax if you don't mind me asking?

And there's no shame in asking for a discount in my opinion.
 
Trijicon night sights are the class of the industry and they last. You mention "guns". If you have more than one, send in one slide at a time for work. You might also check with Wayne Novak on his turn around time.
 
Check out your friendly local range. I bought new TruGlo sights at my range. I waited less than 10 minutes while they installed them for free, and was able to sight them in immediately.
 
JJEH said:
What's his price before tax if you don't mind me asking?

And there's no shame in asking for a discount in my opinion.
Click to expand...

He’s generally $150 higher on new guns. Only guns I ever bought were him are used guns. Those are more reasonable. I have no idea what he charges for sight install.
 
kbm6893 said:
Here’s the other issue: I didn’t buy any of these guns from my local guy. His prices are simply too high. I’m friendly with him so I know he’d take offense.
Click to expand...

That seems like a silly thing to worry about, but if you are, just mention you got them as a trade, or inherited them.
 
Have a machinist chuck a bit of 1/2 or larger rod stock in the toolholder of a mill, put the slide firmly in the mill vise and use the table travel to slide the sight out and the new one in.
 
Buy a sight pusher. For a little over $50 (for the blue NcStar) how wrong can it get? After two or three times you've typically recovered your investment and have the tool for future use.

It's not rocket science: just make sure you are pushing the sight in the correct direction for removal, re-install. Many guns differ.

Cheers!

P.S. It is not JUST for replacing sights: it is the best way to adjust fixed (OK, dovetailed non-adjustable) sights as well.

P.P.S. The JMT units seem to me to be even better options!
 
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STORMINORMAN said:
Buy a sight pusher. For a little over $50 (for the blue NcStar) how wrong can it get? After two or three times you've typically recovered your investment and have the tool for future use.

It's not rocket science: just make sure you are pushing the sight in the correct direction for removal, re-install. Many guns differ.

Cheers!

P.S. It is not JUST for replacing sights: it is the best way to adjust fixed (OK, dovetailed non-adjustable) sights as well.

P.P.S. The JMT units seem to me to be even better options!
Click to expand...

The JMT Mk lll with the appropriate accessories works real well with the whole m&p line as well as the older Smith autos. Also plays nicely with 1911’s, Glocks, and many more.
 

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My S&W certified local gunsmith installed my TruGlo TFOs. No scratches or damage to the slide. Well worth the fee IMO.
 
I've used a brass punch and the McStar pusher. Both have their ups and downs. The key with the punch and hammer is to have a solid, padded bench vice to hold the slide. Otherwise it will surely result in some curse words. The McStar works ok. You will need to have a wrench of some type to turn the screw. The little rod doesn't provide enough leverage to get the sight started. I also chuck the McStar in a bench vise when I use it. It will take a good amount of force the first time you remove the sight. The other thing with the McStar is that it doesn't work on 1911 front sights. I ended up with a Real Avid pusher, which is 100% better but about 200% higher cost. Buy once, cry once. Don't forget to remove the screw, keep track of the spring and plunger that is going to come out when your remove the sight and left to right out, right to left in. I think you can also defer to your gunsmith school friend. If he really went to a gunsmith school, he should be able to drift out a dovetail sight without damaging anything. Good luck.
 
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Konk said:
Same here, well worth the $20 for both front and rear sights.
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That’s an extremely good price. No way I’d change sights out for $20 for both. And no, I’m not a gunsmith. I am highly experienced at changing out sights, however. Some are easy and straightforward. Others, not so much. The latter can cause lots of stomach acid and ruin an otherwise good day.
 
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