New front sight leaf install, drilling required and have a question.

[peppercorn]

I have a new SDM fiber optic sight blade that I want to install in my 629. It is the 'pinned' variety so I will have to drill the new blade before I install it.

Not wanting to assume that this is a slam dunk job I thought I better inquire as to whether or not there are any 'tricks' I should be aware of before starting?

I do have a #54 drill and a .050 punch as I was lead to believe these are the correct tools, size wise, for the job.

Any and all input would be appreciated.

 

[BruceM]

The issue is not enlarging the holes thru the sight base while drilling thru the new blade. This work needs to be done on a drill press. Further, it's good practice to drill approx. half way thru the new blade, then flip the work over and complete the work from the opposite side. This helps eliminate any possibility of drilling the hole thru the blade crookedly.

Bruce

 

[haggis]

You do not drill the hole before you install the blade. It's much too difficult to do unless you have measurement capabilities far beyond most home shops.

There is a fairly easy way. Make sure the revolver is immobilized in a padded vise. Use your punch to remove the pin. Narrow the sight tang (the part that goes in the slot) so that it fits tightly into the slot. Press the sight tang into the slot after coating it with RED LocTite. Make sure to wipe off any excess. Let the LocTite set up overnight. Using the holes in the sight base as a guide, drill half way though the tang. Move to the other side and drill through the other half. This dual drilling helps insure that the drilled hole will be straight. Coat the pin with red LocTite and carefully tap it into the hole. Remove excess LocTite. After the LocTite sets up, you have a secure assembly with the hole in the right place on the tang.

I would use a cup-point punch so you don't flatten the rounded pin end. Use some heavy masking tape to protect the surface near the hole so that a slip doesn't mar the surface. The red Loctite doesn't hinder the removal of the sight in the future because it is between straight parallel surfaces. Once the pin is driven out, a few taps with a wood hammer on the front of the sight will loosen it.

Have fun.

Buck

 

[haggis]

Use a drill press only if you have a way to securely fixture the revolver normal to the drill. I have installed over 30 of these with a battery operated drill with no problems. While you do need to keep the drill normal to the sight as best you can, the dual drilling technique compensates for small errors. The cutting is done by the leading edge of the flutes. Once the drill has begun to penetrate the tang, the cutting edge is not in contact with the sight base, and it takes a severe angular misalignment of the drill to cut into the sight base hole. If you have even a modicum of shop experience, you won't have any problems.

Buck

 

[peppercorn]

Good information, I am glad I asked as I was going to drill the blade before installing it.
It sounds like there is a consensus that I should drill it while it is in the sight base, something I had not considered.
I do like the locTite idea so as to hold the blade secure while drilling but maybe it will fit snug anyway.