MarTay6
Member
Sorry if it sounded like I used the Dremel cut-off wheel on the slide.. I used it on the SIGHT!! Sorry 'bout that! I would NOT ever do that!
Wes
Got Apex. Can't get rear sight off.
- Thread starter SpringGunTunes
- Start date
Sorry if it sounded like I used the Dremel cut-off wheel on the slide.. I used it on the SIGHT!! Sorry 'bout that! I would NOT ever do that!
Wes
Atticaz
Member
Wow a hydronic press!?? It HAS a set screw. Are they insane? The Beretta Nano I owned had two set screws. When they were removed, the sight slide right out. Now there were issues with them flying off at the range. But they only used blue loctite I the factory, I believe. I immediately took them off and reinstalled with red. Zero problems. And when I needed to remove them, a heat torch to loosen and the sights just slid right out, without any tools. I have to say I traded it in for a better pistol. But it could always be better than it is. Incorporate easy customization like the Beretta. That would put this pistol over the top.
Atticaz
Member
Too bad you didn't take pics of this procedure. Or did you?
MarTay6
Member
Pic of rear sight cut-off results w/Dremel wheel
Here's the sight after I cut across it with the pictured cut-off wheel carefully in a Dremel tool. I just worked slow, and essentially started off with 2 close notches, so that the wheel would not catch/bind up in the slot.
My 1st attempt at posting pic's here, hope it works.
Wes
Here's the sight after I cut across it with the pictured cut-off wheel carefully in a Dremel tool. I just worked slow, and essentially started off with 2 close notches, so that the wheel would not catch/bind up in the slot.
My 1st attempt at posting pic's here, hope it works.
Wes
Attachments
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
- Messages
- 8,005
- Reaction score
- 7,075
Your complaint is not unusual. The sights on the M&P line are installed at the factory while the slide is in a fixture and the sights are installed into very tight dovetails by a hydraulic press type of machine. They are supposed to be VERY tight and in a proper installation, the little set screw is superfluous as the sights should stay in place even if the set screw is completely missing. Set screws unloosen easily over time, and the last thing anyone wants, except range people, is a sight that won't stay put when the screw goes missing.
Attempted removal is usually quite a chore, and often results in damage to the slide or firearm by people unfamiliar with the situation who beat on the sights with various hammers, punches and other objects, after finding out that they cannot turn the cork screw on the "sight removal/adjustment tool," and thereby often missing like the hapless golfer who swings at the ball and misses. Such results in occasional finger injuries and use of colorful metaphors (cursing), unsightly and damaging marks to the slide, cracked night sight vials, etc., etc.
Since this seems never to be fully disclosed by those selling these after market replacement parts, it is annoying to damage your own pistol after being "sold a bill of goods," about how these new parts are going to make the installer into the next Rob Leatham or Jerry Miculek. Sorry for your experience.
Just so you know, most gunsmiths have the same trouble as almost none have a hydraulic press like they use at S&W. The difference is you don't see them sweating and cursing while beating the daylights out of your pistol and covering up the damage with cold blue, all the while charging you for dinging up your pistol. Good luck with the installation.
Personally, I had enough unhappy after market gunsmith experience 35 years ago, and have chosen, ever since getting a 1911 back from a supposedly knowledgeable gunsmith, a hammer which would fall from half-cock, which is serious safety issue.
When questioned, the gunsmith said it was normal. I had to junk the parts and send it back to Colt, on my dime. An important learning experience. Ever since then, I use "gunsmith" money on ammo. I find that triggers smooth up nicely with use and in the process, I became a better shot.
Attempted removal is usually quite a chore, and often results in damage to the slide or firearm by people unfamiliar with the situation who beat on the sights with various hammers, punches and other objects, after finding out that they cannot turn the cork screw on the "sight removal/adjustment tool," and thereby often missing like the hapless golfer who swings at the ball and misses. Such results in occasional finger injuries and use of colorful metaphors (cursing), unsightly and damaging marks to the slide, cracked night sight vials, etc., etc.
Since this seems never to be fully disclosed by those selling these after market replacement parts, it is annoying to damage your own pistol after being "sold a bill of goods," about how these new parts are going to make the installer into the next Rob Leatham or Jerry Miculek. Sorry for your experience.
Just so you know, most gunsmiths have the same trouble as almost none have a hydraulic press like they use at S&W. The difference is you don't see them sweating and cursing while beating the daylights out of your pistol and covering up the damage with cold blue, all the while charging you for dinging up your pistol. Good luck with the installation.
Personally, I had enough unhappy after market gunsmith experience 35 years ago, and have chosen, ever since getting a 1911 back from a supposedly knowledgeable gunsmith, a hammer which would fall from half-cock, which is serious safety issue.
When questioned, the gunsmith said it was normal. I had to junk the parts and send it back to Colt, on my dime. An important learning experience. Ever since then, I use "gunsmith" money on ammo. I find that triggers smooth up nicely with use and in the process, I became a better shot.
Last edited:
MP9cBilly
Member
They put the sight on with a press, then add a set screw... but then the white dots fly off. hahahaha
MarTay6
Member
HA!!! Great point!!!
Funny that S&W are the only ones who see fit to install sights this tight on this series of guns...Wes
bulldogman
Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2013
- Messages
- 196
- Reaction score
- 51
As Shawn Mccarver accurately described, I went through the same process with my brand new shield. The front sight was so far off I had no idea where I was aiming. Took it to a gunsmith, he put in a sight pusher which slipped off doing a little mangle job to the sight, a little cold blue to cover things up and he says " I don't want to damage the slide, sorry". Called S&W (by now I'm pissed) they tell me send it in we'll fix it. I get it back 3 weeks later and now the sight has some additional scratches on it, minor scratches but what the hell it's only a new handgun who's going to notice. This whole sight ordeal is assinine, they supply sights that they know are garbage and will need to be replaced so let's squash them in so tight they can't be replaced. This has annoyed the hell out of me, the sheer stupidity on S&W part has me thinking about selling this off and finding a gun that has had a little thought put into the design. Rant over.
About 1-2 years ago, S&W had a real issue with sights coming off the gun. My guess, in an effort to fix this, they went the other way (made them tight).
Personally, I am ok with tight sights on a gun. Then again, I have a sight pusher (as should anyone doing sight installs).
C4
Personally, I am ok with tight sights on a gun. Then again, I have a sight pusher (as should anyone doing sight installs).
C4
MarTay6
Member
Quote: "the sight comes off left to right as viewed from the rear. And goes on reverse of that."
I take that to understand that it would go back in the same way- from the same side it came out... it would be installed from right to left. Correct? Well, after just watching the Apex Shield video- before completing the job on my Shield, I noticed that they took the sight out left to right- and re-installed it from left to right! This is incorrect, is it not? The dovetails are tapered, slightly tighter on the left side, correct?
Funny to watch how easy Apex made it look to remove the rear sight... HA!
Have the new Tritium front sight installed, ready to do the rear.
Wes
I take that to understand that it would go back in the same way- from the same side it came out... it would be installed from right to left. Correct? Well, after just watching the Apex Shield video- before completing the job on my Shield, I noticed that they took the sight out left to right- and re-installed it from left to right! This is incorrect, is it not? The dovetails are tapered, slightly tighter on the left side, correct?
Funny to watch how easy Apex made it look to remove the rear sight... HA!
Have the new Tritium front sight installed, ready to do the rear.
Wes
Jyezahn
US Veteran
No offense, but there are always two sides to every story.
FWIW, none of my S&W's have had any sight alignment issues from the factory, and the ones I've removed and reinstalled, were tight, but a punch and some patience proved to be quite effective. My M&P sights are dead on, so unless I just have some money burning a hole in my pocket, I see no need to swap them with aftermarket sights. Overall, I think if the sights are the only thing you can complain about with the M&P, then S&W did a damn fine job bringing it to production. And since the M&P line is so popular among many agencies as well as the general public... Well, let's just say, that many people can't all be wrong.
