Can you remove the front sight and replace it with a new gas block w/o the sight. A buddy is trying to do this and he can't figure out how to remove the stock has block.

Thanks in advance.

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Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22

Sure can. There is a pin that holds the gas tube into the stock A2 front sight, 5/64 I believe. Separate upper assembly, remove bcg and charging handle, place upper in vice. Pin can be removed from either side of gas block. Once punched out, gas tube can be slid rearward into the empty upper and out of the way. The flash hider will need to be removed in order to remove A2/gas block, meaning you will need a new crush washer when you replace the flash hider later. Loosen cross bolt and slide gas block over and off of the muzzle. Reverse these steps with new gas block, making sure to not bend gas tube. They are cheap if you screw up. The gas tube is easy to realign, as the pin hole is clearly horizontal with a larger hole where the gas enters it, just below and rearward of the pin hole. Once pinned into the new gas block, replace flash hider with new crush washer, using 15-20 ft-lbs, best to get a torque wrench for this. This is a quick, abridged version, so look up Brownell's how-to on this topic on youtbe.com. Hope this helps.

The front sight base can be removed, but it should be done by someone who knows what they are doing. Remember that you are not only removing the front sight but also the gas block, and incorrect assembly of the new gas block will cause a lot of heartache. Also, S&W is notorious for using really tight taper pins in their FSBs. When it doubt, consult a knowledgeable gunsmith.

Thanks guys! I'll pass along the information

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Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22

You're welcome. Be careful, and take your time. I've done it before on a Delton, not quite as hard as you'd think. Good luck.

My Sport came stock with the old (non-Magpul) rear sight. I bought the MBUS, stuck it on and it required very little windage adjustment. Elevation is on the money at 50 yards. Have you had your Sport out shooting yet? I expect it is pretty close to being dialed in from the factory.

Dragon88 offers sound advice.

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JT

Question was how to do the swap in-house.

Sorry, you're right. None of the responses after your instructions are needed. I should have read more carefully!

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JT

I want to remove my front sight on my sport 15, being an old farmer,
I'm thinkin about just cutting it down with a die grinder. Cut it down, smooth it up and a dab of paint if needed. Down the road if needed, put a different sight on.

I did that myself..gasp I came to the conclusion that 1. I couldn't decide which gas block to buy and how much to spend as money at the moment is a bit tight and 2. After reading about how tight the stock pins are, getting the new block aligned correctly, and so on and so forth I decided to cut the top part of the sight off with the dreaded Dremel and a small cutting wheel. I took care not to cut into the tube and sprayed the top cuts with high temp charcoal grey paint.
Here's how it turned out.

Hobie

Attached Images

reduced ar.JPG (57.2 KB, 3796 views)

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Laissez les bons temps roulez!

The taper pins are in backwards from the norm. You need to drive them from right to left (when holding in normal shooting Position)
I switched to a Midwest Industries gas block

I called Smith and Wesson technical support about the issue with getting these tapper pins out of the A2 front sight. The customer support representative who went by the name of "Don" told me that they put the pins in like that(impossible to get out with a tap kit), to stop gas leakage. I said ok, well how do you get the gas tube out of the gun to clean it without taking the A2 sight off the gun barrel? He told me that if I did this, I would void the warranty, and they use a hydrolic punch to put the pins in with, and that is what I would need. So, I said, you are telling me that I cannot break my gun down and properly clean it, change the hand guard, or iron sight? He had no reply, and said he would pass it on. Now, will this get passed on? I seriously doubt it. In the mean time, I am stuck with a P.O.S AR15 that I am not happy with. I am so angry with Smith and Wesson right now for over complicating something that should be easy, because of the time/money/effort I have spent trying to get the tapper pins out. If you are reading this, please do not buy a Smith and Wesson M&P15. I am trying to save you the time and heart ache that I have gone through, and I will never buy Smith and Wesson again(I have 3 pistols made by them). I would rather buy a Chinese aluminum piece of junk over a smith and wesson anything. If you want to complain to Smith and Wesson dial 1-800-331-0852 ext. 4

Mine came right out with a punch, no problem. As was said before, they come out right to left.
Nothing worse than having something you're unhappy with. If you don't want the rifle, I'm sure someone will buy it from you. List it in the classifieds on this forum, the local paper or Craig's List.

I have removed mine with a punch set...right to left. yes you void the warranty and if you try from left to right you are in for a battle because you will have sweged the end the must go through the block and barrel. the pins go through the barrel and the gas block so a cut off wheel is almost impossible to do it with without cutting a groove in the barrel. A cut-tip punch makes it easier. I used a 2x4 block with a couple of holes drilled in it to brace the front sight and they came right out. right to left!!

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Grover Oathkeeper

Not saying that you got the correct answer from tech support but....Who cleans the gas tube? Aren't they kinda self cleaning through heat and pressure?

Whenever my rifle starts to act like it isnt cycling strong I will spray some carb cleaner down the tube and blow it out with air, or run an extra long pipe cleaner down it. but that would be like every 10k rounds or so. and I would have to be shooting some nasty stuff through it. although you can take a small pin punch and push out the gas tube retaining pin and then remove the gas tube pretty easily. Just saying. I dont have a hydraulic press just a set of lyman punches and a small hammer.

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Grover Oathkeeper

+1 on the carb cleaner

I think you are barking at the wrong crowd for a first time poster. What style AR's did you have before ? I have 7 M&P handguns with zero problems and my M&P AR 15 T is working out just fine and I'm planning on adding a Sport and 15-22 not to mention adding some other "upper end" M&P AR15's to my collection. I've never had trouble with S&W's QC or service. I think they (the WHOLE M&P LINE), are second to none. I'm sure many more on here will back me up on that too.

I'm betting BWGray was a hit and run post...doubt he will be back.

I kind of figured that too. A short Troll attack from one of the "kool-aid" drinkers.

Sounds to me like one of those you will never make happy kinda people.

sounded to me like a spoiled kid that wants it all his way.
As far as removing the front sight, I see no real reason to remove it, it will not interfere with a scope, it can be used with other sights to co witness, there is no real reason to put a free float on a carbine length barrel. So why remove it ? I guess someone may want to add a quad rail or something, I guess there are reasons to want to remove it.

I just read this thread not even 10 mins after tapping my pins out. Was fairly easy.

I just laid the front sight on a 2x4 with the right side facing up. I used a flat punch the same width of the pin. I positioned it on the pin and used a light hammer. A couple moderate taps pushed them in. A follow up tap with a smaller punch pushed them out.

The entire job was seriously two minutes of effort. Very simple. Literally 5-6 taps each pin.



Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

I just purchased my first 15 Sport and looking to purchase a scope around $150 each or less. any recommendations would be a great help. Would consider buying Two, one short range and one for long range if recommended.

Silver Fox welcome to the forum, a good 3-9x40 scope would work well for you depending upon what you consider longer range. To me longer range is over 200 yards so I run a 6-20x50 on one and a 6-24x50 on the other. Other than to sight in I dont shoot at under 50yrd and I sight in at 50yards.
Enjoy your Sport I do, it is a wonderful rifle especially at the price point.

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Grover Oathkeeper

I'll check'em out. Thanks for the quick response.

anytime.. I would recommend a good scope mount either a PEPR or a Cantilever mount of some kind to get you the proper eye relief and sight height. The Nikon M223 or P223 seem to have a great following for scope and mount. the Burris PEPR is another great mount. I tend to recommend Bushnell, I find them good scopes in my price range. I will send you a pm on the mount that I use.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Wow, I've been away playing with my shot guns. Noticed plenty of Sports at the range and decided to see what's new in the S&W Forum. After checking out this thread, I'll give 50 cents on the dollar to anyone who needs to rid themselves of their *** MP-15 Sport purchase. I may even go as high as 51 cents.

An appreciative man would listen to these fine men here who have taken of their time to give good council to your friend how the procedure worked best for them.

Your complaints were unnecessary, they only provided that Smith & Wesson did not engineer your rifle to your own personal specifications. Perhaps the company would do the work for you, if you haven’t comprised your rifle already.

I have used considerable restraint in this reply and can assure you that if you need help here there are many men (and women) who will step up to the plate to try to provide you with the information you need and it only costs you a simple gesture of appreciation or word of thanks.

terry

How much do you want for the sport...I might be interested?

Hi , I have a spare 223 scope and mount if you want to try one and see how you likle it. ....I ilked it just fine but I think I will get something with more magnification because I need all the visual help I can get LOL. Your welcome to try mine out if you want...I am going to NZ for 6 monthjs so you can get to really wring it out. I am in Tamworth NH.
John

Why cut the front sight off? If the pin distorts a scope, etc, just remove the front sight blade/pin. Depress the small locking pin and totally unscrew the sight blade/pin, The small locking pin also comes out and you should have a clear sight picture. Best thing is that you can easily install if you want it again. Count the number of turns when you remove it and it should go back exactly as when it was removed. If this doesn't do what you want, then you can change the gas block or cut it off. But, this can be done first with no harm, cost or damage - and fully reversible.

I know I'm likely posting to the internet bit bucket....but in any event......

If you want to define gas tube removal as "proper" cleaning so be it. But that doesn't mean it is mainstream or even commonly done. Therefore, if it was that important to you that whatever you purchased had an easily removed gas tube - why didn't you do more research prior to purchasing?

OR

Even 3 years later, some of us read these posts.

S&W builds outstanding products. That being said, the M&P15 is built to withstand punishment, hence their really high tolerance standards, making it difficult to modify their rifles.

I just did upgrades to my M&P15 OR which required removing the picatinney gas block and gas system to free float a rail system. I can believe they used a hydraulic press, because the pin did not come out and I damaged the gas block. (Yes I tried R-L). I needed to have a gunsmith cut the block off (see attached picture), and I wound up installing a new low-profile Syrac adjustable gas block.

Following that process, the barrel nut did not budge, so out came my Dremel and off came the Delta Ring assembly. Thank whatever higher power you believe in, the rail system attached very nicely to the barrel nut.

Regardless of the above difficulties, I still would have purchased the rifle. Had I known about the difficulties, I would have had a gunsmith remove the gas block and barrel nut. Then, I would have installed my upgrades without the frustration and aching arms.

Attached Images

	Gas Block 2.JPG (171.6 KB, 277 views)
	Gas Block 1.JPG (161.6 KB, 255 views)

I removed the FSB from my Sport and installed a low pro gas block. The pins in mine were in VERY tight. But I put a 2X4 on a concrete floor and used about a 3lb hammer and good punch. A couple of good whacks with the hammer and the pins came right out. You just need a hard surface to punch out the pins if they are put in very tight.

The gas block I installed was a screw on type. I made a very small dimple in the two spots needed and screwed it on and it's never come loose after three years and several thousand rounds fired! I put on a Midwest 10" quad rail and like it very much.

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gunfighter48
NRA Life Member

After getting the pins out,how hard was it to get the gas block off the barrel? I've seen several videos where the gas block was not very easy to remove

It slides right off without any difficulty. It's the pins that make it a bear to take off.

Remember if your are driving these pins out, they are tapered, drive them out from the small end of the pins. The pin ends are larger on one side and smaller on the other.

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NRA member since 1974

I put a Leupold Rifleman 3 x 9 40mm on mine long eye relief means the wife can shorten the stock and still focus.
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shoo...eman-3-9x40mm/

I used the Nikon P223 two piece scope mount. Front sight is not a problem, test position well before tightening down.

There are scope mounting kits, but I just used a couple of cheap bubble levels from WalMart and a little care.

Geoff
Who has Leupold scopes on his center fire rifles.

It can be done