how to change front sight on 686-2?

[uad7116]

I have a 686-2 and want to change the front sight and do know if its possible, it looks like it's non-removable. Someone told me it was pinned in and I dont see any pin, can someone please help? Thanks

 

[valkyriekl]

The front sight on the 686 was milled as part of the barrel until the -4 engineering change, when it was pinned in. Changing the front sight would be a major gunsmithing job.

I wish I could put a Patridge front sight on my 686-1, but alas it has the integral red-ramp front sight.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Same Here..
My 686-0 4" the front sight is milled in the barrel..
I have a Millet Rear & would love a partridge sight of some type but won't mess with it..
Gary/Hk

 

[RightWinger]

Not sure if there was a lot of ryhme or reason to there decision to make the sight integral or pinned, but I have owned a 686-1 8 inch with a patridge, and I own 3 686-4's and they all have that disgusting red ramp built into the barrel......

 

[valkyriekl]

The red ramp/white outline sights are nice if I'm trying to make a quick shot against a dark-ish background (i.e. going for a center of mass shot on a dark silhouette), but if I'm shooting Bullseye with a 6'o'clock hold, I like the sharp, black Patridge sights better. It'd be nice to be able to change between the two (or I suppose I could use two guns with the different sights).

 

[frankw]

Yes, it requires some gunsmithing. Places like SDM will mill your barrel and put on a base that lets you use changeable front sight blades.

I believe it costs $135 but add in shipping and the cost of the sights and the price gets up there.
Do they make a patridge blade for the pinned front sights, I would love to have one.

 

[dd2000]

Gentlemen I seek your wisdom and experience

I have a 686-5 and I also want to replace the red insert front sight

Additionally I have a 617 with a patridge front sight which I would like to replasce with a sight a fraction higher (rear sight screwed down to the stop and still 2" below point of impact @25yds. I have already removed the front sight blade to carry round to stores tolook for a higher version (unsucessfully)

My questions

1 Can I move my 617 sight over to my 686-5
2 Can anybody tell me where I can go to get a slightly higher partridge for my 617 (or an alternative solution to the POA problem)

Thanks in advance

 

[fman514]

If you raise the front sight it will shoot lower, if you raise the rear sight it will shoot higher. Simple rule to remember move the rear sight in the direction you want the POI to move.

 

[ljcjr]

686 pinned front sight

I have a 686 no dash 2 1/2" with the pinned red ramp front sight. Whats up with this one.

 

[dd2000]

If you raise the front sight it will shoot lower, if you raise the rear sight it will shoot higher. Simple rule to remember move the rear sight in the direction you want the POI to move.

POI is 2" above POA @ 25 yards - so I want it to shoot lower

With the back sight at lowest position my only alternative is to raise the front sight - so how do I do it ?

 

[valkyriekl]

POI is 2" above POA @ 25 yards - so I want it to shoot lower

With the back sight at lowest position my only alternative is to raise the front sight - so how do I do it ?

You'll need to get a taller front sight blade, or a shorter rear sight for your 686. Call S&W and see what they can do for you--replacing the front sight blade with a new one requires drilling the cross-pin hole in the blade, and replacing the rear blade requires breaking the old (peened) nut and rebuilding the rear sight. Or you can order an entire rear sight assembly and swap the whole thing out.

Alternatively, you can use faster ammunition (either more powder charge, or lighter bullet, or both) to lower the POI--faster/lighter bullets will hit lower because they exit the barrel earlier while the gun is moving under recoil.

 

[OKFC05]

POI is 2" above POA @ 25 yards - so I want it to shoot lower

With the back sight at lowest position my only alternative is to raise the front sight - so how do I do it ?

I really like these for replacing the pinned-in front revolver sights, especially when you need one a little taller.
Super Sights

 

[dd2000]

I post this for other newbies who may need the information

Brownells Search : Handgun Parts : Revolver Parts : Front Sights : Smith & Wesson Front Sights - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

There is a range of replacable sight of different sizes - so I am going to put a 350 thou bigger sight on the front and that should fix my problem.

I was directed to Brownells by a friend, and their technical people were excellent and I now know what to do and they sold me the bits to do it.

 

[BruceM]

Back in the day, I had the stainless ramp front sight on a M629-1, which was especially ugly, replaced with a blued one by MagnaPort. They milled or EDM'd the ramp off the base, EDM'd a pocket in the base and installed a standard blued red ramp and a pin. If you don't need interchangable sight capability, this is probably the way to go. All stock Smith & Wesson replacement parts are used.

"I have a 686 no dash 2 1/2" with the pinned red ramp front sight. Whats up with this one."

I don't believe that the "no dash" was made with a 2 1/2" barrel so it's probably a replacement or shortened barrel. I could be wrong and somebody will correct that statement.

Bruce

 

[imashooter2]

Gentlemen I seek your wisdom and experience

I have a 686-5 and I also want to replace the red insert front sight

Additionally I have a 617 with a patridge front sight which I would like to replasce with a sight a fraction higher (rear sight screwed down to the stop and still 2" below point of impact @25yds. I have already removed the front sight blade to carry round to stores tolook for a higher version (unsucessfully)

My questions

1 Can I move my 617 sight over to my 686-5
2 Can anybody tell me where I can go to get a slightly higher partridge for my 617 (or an alternative solution to the POA problem)

Thanks in advance

It is highly unlikely that the pin holes will line up on the different revolvers.

Midway and Brownell's both sell a number of different height sights for S&W revolvers.