Anybody Put This Front Sight on a 686?

[bountyhunter]

Clearly the front sight on a 686 has a small pin in it, but I can't find any info on how it comes out or goes in.

I also wanted a high viz front sight and found this one:

http://www.hivizsights.com/SW1002-Handgun-SW-Revolver-Front-Sight--P19C9.aspx

Anybody ever use this?

My problem is it says this:

Sight is not pre-drilled due to some models having varying pin locations.

Well, isn't that special. They just dump the problem on the customer instead of offering specific pin locations or model fittings.

Anybody know how or what size the drilling is and how hard it is to do?

 

[bountyhunter]

Clearly the front sight on a 686 has a small pin in it, but I can't find any info on how it comes out or goes in.

I also wanted a high viz front sight and found this one:

http://www.hivizsights.com/SW1002-Handgun-SW-Revolver-Front-Sight--P19C9.aspx

Anybody ever use this?

My problem is it says this:

Sight is not pre-drilled due to some models having varying pin locations.

Well, isn't that special. They just dump the problem on the customer instead of offering specific pin locations or model fittings.

Anybody know how or what size the drilling is and how hard it is to do?

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Brownell's stocks the drill bits.

891-154-055 12454 #54J WIRE GAUGE DRILL

 

[imashooter2]

I took one of those off my 5 inch "stocking dealer" special. Never could get used to the rounded top. I replaced it with an SDM and couldn't be happier. The drilling is easy enough. I did it freehand. Start on one side, go about halfway through, turn the gun over and finish the drill from the opposite side. Drill size is #54.

It's not the sight dealers fault that pinned sights need to be line drilled. Every part has manufacturing tolerances. S&W revolvers are no different. If Hi Viz offered the sights drilled, they wouldn't fit 90% of the time.

Here's a link to the SDM sight I chose for the square top:
http://www.sdmfabricating.com/Super_Sights.html

ETA, the pin drives out left to right and installs right to left.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

When installing the new blade, place it in the slot, adjust it fore/aft to where you want it to be and then mark it from both sides for the hold location. Unless you're really talented at making perfectly aligned holes I suggest drilling the sight out of the gun and then installing it. You can always buy another sight blade but if you remove metal from the sight ramp it'll be hard to replace.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Joni is right, that is the safe way to do it

.

 

[imashooter2]

Well it certainly is safe, but good luck making a line drilled hole without line drilling.

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by imashooter2:
Well it certainly is safe, but good luck making a line drilled hole without line drilling.

My plan was along the lines of combining both:

I would secure down the sight in the slot with tape or whatever, and then gently drill from each side enough to mark the sight. Then, take it out and drill it starting on each side and going halfway in and hoping it meets in the middle...

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by Joni_Lynn:
When installing the new blade, place it in the slot, adjust it fore/aft to where you want it to be and then mark it from both sides for the hold location. Unless you're really talented at making perfectly aligned holes I suggest drilling the sight out of the gun and then installing it. You can always buy another sight blade but if you remove metal from the sight ramp it'll be hard to replace.

Any special advice on driving the pin out?

Is it driven in and then staked on the ends or just friction fit?

 

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by imashooter2:
I took one of those off my 5 inch "stocking dealer" special. Never could get used to the rounded top. I replaced it with an SDM and couldn't be happier. The drilling is easy enough. I did it freehand. Start on one side, go about halfway through, turn the gun over and finish the drill from the opposite side. Drill size is #54.

It's not the sight dealers fault that pinned sights need to be line drilled. Every part has manufacturing tolerances. S&W revolvers are no different. If Hi Viz offered the sights drilled, they wouldn't fit 90% of the time.

Here's a link to the SDM sight I chose for the square top:
http://www.sdmfabricating.com/Super_Sights.html

ETA, the pin drives out left to right and installs right to left.

Thanks for the link, that's a nice looking sight.

 

[ballisticbudda]

I just put a HIVIZ on my 629-6, same sight. I chucked a drift pin in my drill press and turned it down using two files. I went to 3/100 under the pin diameter and I had no problem removing the pin.

FYI MidwayUSA has the same sight at a somewhat cheaper price. I also ordered the #54 drill and a replacement pin. The pin in my 629 was a roll pin and the replacement was a solid pin. Figured that I would be better safe then sorry.

Hope this helps.

Regards, B.B.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I cut down a small punch to drive it out.
It isn't staked.
If you have a small but strong magnet, place it on the side of the sight base when driving the pin out and it may capture the pin for you so you don't spend all night on your hands and knees.

 

[Randy Lee]

Hi all,

If I might make a suggestion, it is usually easiest and best to fully seat and secure the sight blade in position using red lock-tite This helps fill the voids as the slot in the barrels are of a larger radius than the sights to allow for all the variations in sight ramp dimensions that exist from model to model.

A padded c-clamp can be used to hold everything together if the blade itself is sloppy in the ramp cut. Let the lock-tite set up for about a half hour or so. Then using a sharp #54 drill(available at many hardware stores) drill thru from each side of the sight ramp. The original pin hole on the side of the ramp will act as a pilot. I secure the barrel in a paded vise and use a hand held drill. I drill for roughly 15 seconds alternating sides until the holes meet in the middle. Eventually the drill will pass thru both sides of the ramp. Once the hole is clear of debris, add a dab of lock-tite to the pin and tap into position.

The reason I recommend this procedure rather than removing the sight to drill is that it maintains the snug fit of the sight in it's recess. The alignment of the hole thru the sight is maintained relative to the holes on each side of the ramp as well. The fact that the hole in the sight is not perfectly aligned
axially is beneficial as it helps hold the cross pin in place with a slight bit of tension. Hope this helps...

 

[bountyhunter]

Thanks for all the info.

 

[wfparys]

I have been looking for one of these "Stocking Dealer" special run guns. I'm jealous.

Originally posted by imashooter2:
I took one of those off my 5 inch "stocking dealer" special. Never could get used to the rounded top. I replaced it with an SDM and couldn't be happier. The drilling is easy enough. I did it freehand. Start on one side, go about halfway through, turn the gun over and finish the drill from the opposite side. Drill size is #54.

It's not the sight dealers fault that pinned sights need to be line drilled. Every part has manufacturing tolerances. S&W revolvers are no different. If Hi Viz offered the sights drilled, they wouldn't fit 90% of the time.

Here's a link to the SDM sight I chose for the square top:
http://www.sdmfabricating.com/Super_Sights.html

ETA, the pin drives out left to right and installs right to left.

 

[imashooter2]

Originally posted by wfparys:
I have been looking for one of these "Stocking Dealer" special run guns. I'm jealous.

Well if you're a collector, this will break your heart. I bought it specifically to shoot steel and ICORE. First thing I did was get the cylinder cut for moon clips and put on a game gun action job. The next year I swapped out the sights. Paid extra for the Ahrens grips, Hi Viz / V-notch and 5 inch half lug and all I kept was the barrel.

Anyway, I love the thing. I bought it for shooting, and shoot it I do!

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Bullseye Smith:
Joni is right, that is the safe way to do it

.

Joni is ALWAYS right!!!!