Help Installing Front Sight

[Spartikus]

I purchased a Hi Viz front sight for my M&P9c and decided to try and install it myself today. Using my vise, I clamped the slide in place and used a brass drift punch to knock out the original sight and install the new sight. This did not go how I had planned, however, and I ended up slipping and breaking the new sight. :-(

Since I have never done this and didn't do so well on my own I wondered if someone could give me some advice or tips on how to do it correctly, what tools to use, and how to avoid marring up the sight or slide.

It was VERY difficult to drift in the new sight and honestly I didn't even get it half way. Also, I put painters tape on the end of the brass drift punch to try and avoid any scratching or marring but it wore off and I put a few scratches on the slide. It was a sad day.

 

[Danno_man]

Use a sight pusher, would be the best advise.
Also go left - right to remove and right to left to install
Did you compare the base of the sights to make sure the new sight wasn't oversized and require some filing?

If you go on YouTube, Dawson has videos on installing sights.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

 

[Sabby]

you "might" have to file ever so lightly on the new sight..... lightly as in you can't put back what you filed off keep in mind the angel that your filing down...

small taps from the hammer you don't want to drive it in with just a few wacks...

if the tape comes off STOP!!!
pull it off and put new tape on

drift the old sight off from left to right looking from the shooters point of view -------->

install from right to left<--------

 

[bsaz]

HiViz sight

Bought the same sight for my FS 357/40 cal/9mm. I was able to get the original front sight out (going the correct direction thanks to this forum),but way too tough to get the HiViz in. I didn't want to bash on it any harder than I had to to get the old sight out. I was using a brass punch with a piece of leather lining a standard vice. BTW HiViz is one of the few that have a .160 front sight which is the same height that comes with the M&P FS. Anyway...called the local range and the gunsmith was in, and they said bring it in. He does not use a press he uses a brass punch. He said the trick was to file the bottom and it was still a tight fit, no need for anything other than friction to hold it in. No marks on the slide or the new sight, "old" sight looks good also. This was last evening 'round 7:30 so I haven't had the experience yet. P.S. the 'smith only charged me $5!! Well worth the pain and suffering I would have gone through trying myself!

 

[zamboni_driver]

I have done two hi-biz front sites and both required sanding the base to fit.

 

[WashMP9]

try to put some loctite in the front dovetail after you have sighted it in. The front sites have a tendency to move shift after a few rounds if the site is not snug in the dovetail.