M&P rear sight removal walkthrough

[zgoettsc]

Hey everyone,

I bought an apex trigger kit and Trijicon HD night sights for my new M&P45c, meaning I needed to take the rear sight off. Here is how I did it...

First, you must take out the set screw in the rear sight. This proved to be a harder task than I thought it would be. It takes a 1/16 inch hex wrench. I tried turning it out of there and did nothing but strip the screw. I went into panic mode after that thinking I was going to have to drill the screw out while avoiding going too far into the slide. I put my thinking cap on and brought out the soldering gun. I heated the screw up until the sight felt hot to the touch. I then took a torx bit that was approximatley the same size as the 1/16 inch hex wrench and hammered it into the screw with a few hard taps with a hammer. It then was "custom fitted" to the screw and allowed me to remove it without issue.

Next, I set up a makeshift vise to hold the slide while I tapped the rear sight out of the dovetail. This vise consisted of a 6" ratchet clamp and two pieces of scrap wood to prevent scratching of the slide during removal of the rear sight.

I bought two packs of nylon spacers to use as a punch that wouldn't scratch the slide.

After a few taps with a hammer, it loosened up and started to move. Before long, it was almost all the way out. When it gets close, you have to pay attention not to let the spring under the rear sight fly across the room. I removed all components under the rear sight.

The front sight proved to be stubborn, so tomorrow I will give it a go with a brass punch.

Here are some pictures of a "redneck" sight pusher that didn't work...

Hope this helps someone out there!

 

[epj]

That's kind of reminiscent of my original Mk l sight pusher. It was almost as crude as yours, but it worked. The front should come off pretty easily. Try to push or strike on the base rather than the blade if you can. I need to put some FO's on my FIL's Shield.
BTW, soak that front sight in some penetrating oil overnight. That should help.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Have a look at the sight installation video at this web site:

S&W M&P Rear Sight - 10-8 Performance Store

 

[epj]

Those FS sights come off a whole lot easier than shield sights. Also, if you're installing night sights, beating on them with a punch and hammer is a pretty risky proposition.

 

[Rastoff]

Moving or changing the sights on any M&P:
Step 1- Buy sight mover.
Step 2-....

If you only ever do this once, the sight mover is kind of expensive. Even so, they are worth every penny.

 

[epj]

I beat on the rear sight of a 4006 until there was nothing left of the brass punch. In a rare moment of brilliance, the JMT sight pusher was born. I had the sight off five minuets later. Sounded like a rifle shot when it broke loose. I was sure I had broken something. I did. I broke all the rust under the sight loose .

 

[bartelt]

Havent adjusted it yet, but my new compact looks to have a speck of red by the set screw. If this is really red loctite the factory used, you need to heat it to release it. Blue loctite is for maintenance. Ive only used red on brake discs for the dirtbikes! Luckily you got it out, but maybe this will help others.

 

[epj]

My Shield definitely had red loctite on the set screw. Heated it with a very small torch for a few seconds and it came loose easily. Wouldn't budge before i heated it.

 

[rbuzz]

Another easy way to remove the set screw in the rear sight is to use a heat gun if you have one. Applying heat from a heat gun for only a few seconds will heat up the Locktite enough for the screw to come out easily, and it will not harm the finish. I probably don't need to say this, but DO NOT apply heat to the polymer frame!
I recently used a heat gun to heat up the Locktite applied to a factory installed Benelli M4 magazine tube in order to install an aftermarket 7 shot magazine tube. Believe me, the heat gun works!

 

[scattershot]

Be careful, too, that you don't mess up the spring guide for the plunger, which is under the rear sight. It's plastic.

 

[epj]

A heat gun will do the job for sure. The little pencil torch I use has a flame about an eighth of an inch in diameter and I can direct the heat right on the screw.

 

[CB3]

Sight Pusher

Excellent efforts and advice by the original and subsequent posters.

My experience with trying to remove a Shield rear sight was similar. I was able to remove the set screw OK, but (not) moving the sight ruined a brass punch and marred the sight.

I broke down and ordered a universal sight pusher. That sight and now a number of others on other guns have come off and gone back on with ease and without damage.

+1 for sight pushers.

Also, use a #1 Phillips full size screwdriver as a heat sink to soften the red locktite on the rear sight set screw. Place the screwdriver head onto the set screw, heat the shaft with your torch or heat gun, then use your cold (not heated and softened) Allen bit driver to remove the set screw. An Allen bit in a screw driver handle is much stronger than the cheap bent wrench.

 

[78Staff]

Here's my Shield sight removal method...

1. Go to LGS
2. Hand them pistol and new sights and $20.
3. Look around for 20 minutes, drool over suppressors and new DD's
4. Receive pistol back with new sights installed.
5. Profit.
6. Start saving for suppressor.

 

[wdk535]

My LGS says 1 mo. Before they can look at it.

 

[wdk535]

We're you able to replace set screw you boogered?

 

[epj]

My LGS says 1 mo. Before they can look at it.

**SALE**. New Mk lll Xtreme Duty Model M&P and XD rated

About a week, if you'd be interested in DYI.

 

[78Staff]

My LGS says 1 mo. Before they can look at it.

To install sights? You, my friend, need to find a new LGS .

Or just order epj's tool, I probably am ordering one of those for myself, actually. Nice to have it when you need it, I just have to get over paying extra for pins for one pistol. Kinda like having to buy specific pins for a bow press I guess...

 

[Rastoff]

My LGS says 1 mo. Before they can look at it.

Ship your slide to me with the new sights and I'll install them for free.

 

[epj]

Ship your slide to me with the new sights and I'll install them for free.[/QUOTE

Now that's a real deal.