Pinned N frame front sight install

jake1945

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2011
Messages
697
Reaction score
753
Location
S.E. Iowa
The pin size holding the front sight is smaller than 1/16 inch. I think it is .055. I am having trouble finding that size drill bit to drill the hole in the new steel fiber optic sight. I thought maybe I could just drill out the S&W factory sight hole with 1/16 inch bit, but found the stainless steel is very hard to drill. Then I thought I could epoxy the front sight in place? What would you recommend? Thank you
 
Register to hide this ad
I thought maybe I could just drill out the S&W factory sight hole with 1/16 inch bit, but found the stainless steel is very hard to drill.

Either your bit is dull or you're not pushing hard enough. It's not partially hard steel & you're only removing ~.008" for metal. Take it slow & steady.

.
 
Either your bit is dull or you're not pushing hard enough. It's not partially hard steel & you're only removing ~.008" for metal. Take it slow & steady.

.

Or the light cut makes it very easy to feed too fast, thus overloading the bit resulting in fracture!

Seems to me that a reamer would be better in this situation, once a pilot hole is made in the new blade. That way it's less likely to wallow out the entry hole in the barrel.

If the sight blade isn't wanting to cut, try upping the speed and use something better than a hardware store "high speed" alloy drill bit. Cobalt alloy should do it. Would be surprised if anything fancier is needed. I would also probably remove the blade from the barrel after marking the hole center.
 
Yeah, I just ordered a set of 6 #54 drill bits suitable for metal work.
Thank you for your advice.
 
Back
Top