APEX SHIELD Duty/Carry Kit: ANYONE INSTALL???

[preluda97]

Just got the APEX D/C Kit for my Shield .40

Got an email from one of the representatives stating they recommend that I may want to send my slide to them so they can install the USB, because many people have been having trouble with it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[ItsGotMyBack]

Knocking the rear sight out from all my reading is an absolute nightmare with the Shields. I had no issues with my 40c however.

You can try. I suggest putting the slide in a soft jaw vice and using a soft material in am attempt to drift it off. A piece of hard wood would be a good choice. If you use brass tape it up real good. Don't be afraid to get give it a whack either...

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[preluda97]

Nylon Drift Punches : NYLON FRONT-SIGHT DRIFT PUNCH | Brownells

I ordered these to punch out the rear sight.


What about custom filing to reduce trigger pull weight?

Worth it. Or just do the apex kit

 

[BennyS]

The problem isn't the sight, it's the red lockite they use on the Allen. You need to heat it before trying to break it loose. A video I saw on you tube, the guy used a soldiering iron. Layer the tip on the Allen, when the sight got warm he broke the Allan loose. Once done the sight drifts off easily

 

[preluda97]

I do have a heat gun... That should be suffice?

 

[8th SPS USAF]

Rear sight removal

This has worked for me in the past. Put the item-slide- in the freezer over night. This contracts the loc tite and you can remove item. Good luck

 

[Steve89052]

preluda97, I think you might want to look at other posts about removing the rear sight on a Shield, it can be a real bitch. I got mine off but it wasn't easy. I was able to remove it without ruining the stock sight.

 

[BennyS]

I love the freezer Idea, never thought of that! If it frees the lockite it will shrink the sight also which will help with removal. I have a sight pusher tool so removal is never a problem for me, no hammer and punches,

Go to Apex website, they have installion videos for all their products.

 

[OpsMgr]

I could not get my rear sight to budge even with a sight pusher. The Loctite was not a problem - Got to use heat to break the hold of the red Loctite. A soldering iron works well.

I installed all the parts of the Apex kit myself except for the USB. Wanted night sights so my slide was sent HERE to get new sights (Install is FREE) and have the USB installed. Great work, fast turn around and at a fair price. All my old parts including the OEM USB were returned to me in about 6 days.

 

[SmurfHunter]

I also installed all the parts except the USB myself. I couldn't get the rear sight to move at all. The loc tite is not the issue. It's the frame to sight fit.

 

[Steve89052]

I don't claim to have the sure answer to the shield rear sight removal without a sight pusher, but this worked for me. There are two suggestions on that page, hope it helps somebody.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/337645-shield-rear-sight-removal.html

 

[Coastie762]

I never had an issue loosening the set screw on any of my M&Ps including my Shield. The rear sights on each of my compacts and full size pistols were easily removed for installation of the USB.

The Shield was another story. While the set screw loosed easily, the sight refused to budge. In an uncommon (for me) fit of common sense, I had my local gun smith install the USB while fitting and installing a set of Ameriglo night sights. He told me that he had a difficult time removing the factory rear as well.

 

[Dream to Dream]

I couldn't budge the rear sight with a brass punch, and a steel punch would have damaged the sight. So, I lined my vice with two small pieces of 2x4, and ground down the edge of a worn-out 3/8" cold chisel. When laid laterally across the sight, the dulled chisel provided the necessary force to drift out the sight without causing any damage.