Rear sight on M&P 2.0 will not budge

K

kcg

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I am new to the forum so I apologize if this has been asked and answered, but I don't see a thread about it.
I recently purchased an M&P 9 2.0. The rear sight is off-center, to the right. I have attempted to center the sight with a hammer and punch, but it wouldn't budge. (Yes, I removed the screw first.) I then bought a sight pusher tool. And that didn't move the sight either! I even tried placing the slide in the freezer for several hours. Nope, didn't work!
Due to a nightmare situation with a different handgun (different manufacturer) in which I still have not received a repaired or replaced gun after more than 18 months, I am hesitant to send this one to S&W.
I have read many complaints online about M&Ps with bad (mis-aligned and difficult to adjust) rear sights. Anyone else in the forum having this problem? What was your solution?
I love my S&W revolvers, but this experience has me wondering if S&W auto-loaders aren't as good. (I know this is just one gun.)
 
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If you think the rear sight is in tight, wait until you try to adjust the front one.
All the rear ones I've moved or replaced were snug, but moved with a couple of whacks. The front ones felt like they were welded in.

When I went to remove the sights on my PC .40, the front one did not want to come out.
I bent the shaft on my sight pusher, then used progressively bigger hammers and brass punch.
I ended up having to drill the old front sight out.
 
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I'm new here also but had a similar problem with the rear sight on a Shield. I finally got it out by holding a soldering iron on the sight base while applying pressure with a sight pusher.
Good luck.
 
Before you go nuts, have you shot it enough to see if it needs adjusted? Sometimes slightly off center is where it should be to hit point of aim.
 
Use a bench vice and a big steel punch with painters tape on the end. And don't be shy about hitting it. I gave up on brass punches years ago for moving sights. I've never found a sight I could not move this way.

Make sure to put a baggie on the M&P slide over the rear sight in case it goes to far and things go flying out of the rear sight.
 
I am continuously bemused by the folks that believe a drift punch is the answer to all sight moving issues. And you need a plastic bag over your work to keep the sight in front if you hit it too hard. And what the op is trying to do is move the sight a fraction of an inch. I realize a lot of folks think sight pushers aren’t old school enough, but sometimes they are the best bet.
 
I have both a sight pusher and brass drift punches in two sizes, one for the small front sights, and one for the larger rear sights.
I prefer to use the pusher, but if the sight won't budge I can usually get it to move with the brass punch.

A steel punch can mar the sight, I would not trust painters tape on the end of a steel punch to protect things.
Brass will leave a brass mark but it comes off with some gun oil on a rag.
Brass ( or Aluminum) is softer than your sight and will not damage it.

I have done a lot of small windage adjustments at the range with a punch. Easier to put in a range bag pouch than a sight pusher.
(I always have a hammer in the truck to put steel targets in the ground).

epj, not everyone that reads this forum shoots enough to go out and buy a $140 sight pusher. An old school $5 brass drift punch still works, and works fine.
 
Thanks for the replies

To answer a few questions/comments:

Previous to posting my question, I've shot the gun, both off-hand and from a rest, enough to know an adjustment is needed.

I have also previously purchased a sight pusher tool (not the same one as EPJ - I didn't know about your tool). It is a NcStar Vism F&R, cost about $75. The sight still wouldn't budge. In fact, I cranked on it so much i am surprised I didn't damage the slide. I definitely damaged the tool.

I have also previously whacked on it with a hammer and punch. No luck.

I guess I am down to three options:
1. Sink more money into another pusher (EPJ's?) and try it.
2. Take it to a local gunsmith. But I don't have a guy I trust.
3. Send it to S&W. Since it came incorrect from the factory, this seems reasonable. But I hate sending my guns away. See previous post. Also, I live close to Portland, Oregon. Enough said.

Well, thanks for the input, guys.

-kc

-- “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.” -- Thomas Jefferson
 
Well, my sight tool has always been labeled “Xtreme Duty” for a reason. There is a long history of moving very tight sights. However, your most cost effect move would probably be to send it in to S&W. Call customer service and see if they will offer you a shipping label. Ask about turn around. Then make your decision. Good luck and if I can help further, just shoot me an email.
 
a Delrin 1/4" or 3/8" rod makes a good punch that will not mar your sight. i ordered some on line, don't remember the cost.
 
M&P sights are in tight, but the hardest I've ever changed are Bodyguard .380 front sights. Many blows with a 4 lb hammer and Brownells sight punch did the trick.
 
Have yet to see an M&P front or rear sight that couldn't be removed with a quality pusher. The Shield 9 was the toughest, but it too was removed/replaced with an MGW sight pusher. Not all pushers are the same. From my experience, would not own a pusher unless the adjustment had fine threads, which makes a difference.
 
I made the mistake of buying a B & J Machine and Tool pusher from Brownells. It was $140. If the sights are the least bit tight, the pusher's shaft will start bending up and the Delrin insert at the end will be slipping off the slide. Pretty worthless unless the sights are fairly easy to move.

Sounds like the MGW pusher is a superior unit.
 
epj said:
I am continuously bemused by the folks that believe a drift punch is the answer to all sight moving issues. And you need a plastic bag over your work to keep the sight in front if you hit it too hard. And what the op is trying to do is move the sight a fraction of an inch. I realize a lot of folks think sight pushers aren’t old school enough, but sometimes they are the best bet.
Click to expand...

The baggie is for the ufo and spring, good luck finding those if they go flying.
 
Besides careful heat, apply some Kroil or other penetrating oil. Let it soak for awhile and then try. Also, you might try moving it right just to break it loose before trying to adjust it.

When I mentioned "careful", remember that there's a plastic sleeve in the striker tunnel as well as plastic parts in the striker assembly.

I did a Rear Sight Removal post on 3/24/2020 in the gun smithing section. This computer is compromised in function, cannot link. Kroil makes an amazing difference.

Changed computers:)

M&P rear sight removal
 
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