How to measure height of front sight?

.455_Hunter · Dec 3, 2012

Greetings,

What is the standard for determining the height of the front sight on a 3rd Gen Smith?

Is it from the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the blade?

I have a couple of guns that shoot low and need to find some shorter blades.

Thanks,

Hunter

SW CQB 45 · Dec 4, 2012

If you look up the parts list for the certain models.....

Example
4516
4566
4506

The all show a different height sight. However sometimes you have to different heights to zero.

Normally its the blade that is measured. Meaning top of the sight base to top of blade.

To confirm...find your model on the sw website parts list. See what height front sight and measure either from bottom to top of sight. I am sure manufactures vary.

I mainly deal with glock and 1911.

handgunner356 · Dec 4, 2012

The S&W sights I've replaced have been a overall measurement. Sometimes tough to get because the dovetail isn't always cut flush all the way through. Some have a pad left under the sight maybe .010" not much. Common sights seem to be .204", .228", .239" give or take. Novaks can come up with about anything .190"-.248" for 3rd generation guns.

Catshooter · Dec 4, 2012

For the first time I find myself disagreeing with you 18.

In my experience sights are measured from the bottom of the dovetail to the hightest point of the blade. I'm sure there are exceptions, but that is the norm.

Now before you buy a sight, are you shooting low/left? Are you a right-handed shooter? If that is the case, then you don't need a different sight. What's happening is that when you squeeze the trigger, all your other fingers are also squeezing, and those fingers are pulling the pistol down to the left.

If you're a lefty, never mind.

Cat

.455_Hunter · Dec 5, 2012

Well, I think I found my problem (at least on one gun)...

On my 1006 (which shoots point-of-aim), the front sight is 0.246" tall, using the bottom of dove tail to top of blade method. Looking the the parts list from the S&W website, 0.245" was a stock sight size on the 1006, so I think the measurement method is correct.

When my 3914 was assembled in Springfield, I think they got a front sight out of the wrong parts bin. The listed standard front sight is 0.204", but mine is roughly 0.238"

No wonder it's shooting low!

Now to investigate the 4566...

Thanks for the help!

Hunter

Catshooter · Dec 7, 2012

Yep, that'll do it.

Cat

How to measure height of front sight?

.455_Hunter

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SW CQB 45

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handgunner356

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Catshooter

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.455_Hunter

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Catshooter

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