Changing S&W pinned front sights

[ncgreyhound]

Is this a difficult task? My normal approach is - if I have to ask, its above my skill level - so don't worry about hurting my feelings. I"ve got a 625 and 624 with pinned ramped front sights. I'd like to change these to patridge sights. I asked a local gunsmith about it and he made it sound very complicated ie: getting the drill press all squared, level, and etc. I'm really not comfortable with too much mechanical work but I was thinking this might actually be in my range but maybe I'm wrong about that. I sure don't want to bugger up these very nice guns. many thanks, ncghound

 

[judge]

It can be done with a hand drill if you are careful, keep the drill bit level, and do not enlarge the hole on the base. Best to drill about 1/2 way thru, then reverse to the other side and finish drilling. This prevents the base hole from being elongated. Also be advised that some inserts are larger than the slot in the base & they have to be fitted to have a perfect fit. This is done with a hand file (very small one). The insert is filed, not the base slot.

 

[T-bone]

You will need a #54 wire gauge drill bit. Remove the sight pin left to right muzzle pointing away from you. good luck!

 

[Milton]

I recently changed the front sight on my 686 from a Hi-Viz one to a gold dot patridge.It is not hard at all but when you drill the sight blade in- place go slow and has been said from both sides and things will work out fine.I did have a drill press that I was not able to use but I used a variable speed Dremel with the drill press platform they offer;worked out very nice!

 

[Bailey Boat]

I asked a local gunsmith about it and he made it sound very complicated ie: getting the drill press all squared, level, and etc.

If the press and bit isn't square to the work you're asking for trouble. The new sight needs to be clamped in place to avoid a gap at the ramp junction and hope to hell the tiny bit doesn't break!!!!! Other than those considerations it's a slam dunk.......

 

[neiljrosen]

If I were doing it I would mount the front site in place and use a pin to scratch a mark on both sides where I was going to drill the hole. Then I would remove the sight and drill 1/2 way from each side until the holes met. Then mount the sight and drive the pin. I wouldn't drill the sight with it on the gun because you can "egg" the sight mounting hole(s) in the barrel.

 

[mistergizmo]

I successfully replaced a buggered-up cross-pinned ramp sight on my M16-4 last fall. Lucky enough to be able to drive the cross pin out with a center punch followed by a small brass drift punch. Had that not worked, the #54 bit was ready.

Replaced with a Patridge post. Base of the new sight is not a post, but is undercut and can be moved fore and aft in the old slot. Also, the new sight was not drilled for the cross-pin, so a small drop of Loc-Tite to hold it in place, then drill a #54 hole crosswise. No problem "egging" the hole as I was using a Bridgeport machine.

Most importantly, when putting in the new cross pin, I used a pair of parallel-faced pliers to insure proper pressure alignment. Whole deal took no more than 30 minutes.

 

[ncgreyhound]

Thanks all

I think it is a bit more involved than I would have thought at first blush. Methinks this is a job for my local gunsmith. Its one thing to mess up the new sight, but a whole nother thing to mess up the revolver. best, ncghound

 

[jtiemeyer]

short sight on new 617 revolver

Just received my new 617, 22LR revolver. The gun was shipped from the S&W factory with a 0.168 high front sight. At 15 yards, the gun was shooting 2 inches high. I called customer service and they sent me a 0.228 high sight. After installing the new sight, the gun shoots perfectly. My question is "how could this gun be shipped out of the factory with the wrong sight??"

 

[BLUEDOT37]

It might have gotten the front sight for a different barrel length installed on it at the factory.

Or it might have had the correct front sight installed on it but they sent you a taller one to adjust the POI to suit you & your aim.

.

 

[H Richard]

When you get the new blade it won't be drilled. Using a Pin holder to hold the drill bit (after drifting out the pin) by "hand" insert the new blade and insert the drill bit "from each side" and with just hand pressure, mark the location with a drilling motion. Remove the blade, and using a drill press (making sure all is square and level) drill through the base where marked. Insert, align, and insert pin.

 

[jtiemeyer]

I don't see how the barrel length could make a difference; mine is a 6". I had several of my buddies shoot the gun and all with the same 2" high result at 15 yds. The new front sight was the answer.

 

[bd629DX]

You will need a #54 wire gauge drill bit. Remove the sight pin left to right muzzle pointing away from you. good luck!

I have a question- I've read recommendations to use a 1/16" punch to push out the old pin, but the #54 drill bit to be used on the new sight blade is smaller in diameter than 1/16". So if you use a 1/16" diameter punch either it will not go through the hole in the blade, or if it does it seems that it would enlarge the hole in the blade. Should I get a smaller punch? (I haven't found one yet.) Should I get a 1/16" punch and just polish it down to slightly smaller diameter than a #54 drill bit?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

In the past I've used a very small brad to remove the original pin when I didn't have a punch small enough. They're usually not too hard to remove.

You could reduce the size of the 1/16" if you wanted. Or use the cut-off unfluted shaft of a #54 bit if you don't have anything else small enough.

The #54 is almost .010" smaller than a 1/16" drill bit.

I often just go with a 1/16" drill bit & sight pin when I swap sights. Some pin holes are a little larger than they should be anyway. Just depends on the situation.

.

 

[steelslaver]

I thinkk I am goint to just up and make a punch for sights and barrels. Going to order up some music wire just under sized. Then turn and knurl a shaft and drill it for the wire and put in a small allen from the side to hols in place. Replaceable pin punch.

 

[Protocall_Design]

You can get a .050 punch from Brownell's, make your own punch, spin down a 1/16 punch, or make the hole 1/16 and use a 1/16 x 1/4 spirol pin. All are viable alternatives.

Drive the pin out, remove old sight, install new sight, make sure it's seated all the way, spot drill from each side to full drill diameter, remove sight and finish drilling on drill press, install sight and pin.

 

[H Richard]

Keep in mind when the sight pin is still "rounded" and proud of the base, use a cup head punch so as to not slip off and mar the surface of the barrel.

 

[epj]

My 686 has a roll pin holding the sight. I managed to bugger it a little and never have been able to get it out. Very reluctant to try to drill it. Any suggestions?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

You didn't say exactly what got buggered up but my thought would be since it is a rolled/split pin it's a good candidate for drilling out with a smaller drill bit (maybe a #60 = .0400" ?). The hole in the pin would help keep the drill bit centered and hopefully retain the original pin's hole diameter.

.

 

[epj]

I'm afraid of breaking the drill bit. Roll pins are pretty hard steel.