Shield sight change Picture heavy

[jradisch]

I recently tried to remove the rear sight on my new shield with no luck. The set screw loosened and was removed easily and I soaked the rear sight in penetrating oil, but I literally pounded the sight with a brass punch and a 2 lb sledge and the thing didn't budge. Looks like the sights on the newer Shields are not removable. Will either have to take it to a smith or buy a sight pusher and hope for the best.

 

[1hatchet]

I recently tried to remove the rear sight on my new shield with no luck. The set screw loosened and was removed easily and I soaked the rear sight in penetrating oil, but I literally pounded the sight with a brass punch and a 2 lb sledge and the thing didn't budge. Looks like the sights on the newer Shields are not removable. Will either have to take it to a smith or buy a sight pusher and hope for the best.

Some people have been successful using a punch to remove the Shield rear sight but few. Buy the sight pusher tool and don't look back. I did and it has earned its pay many times over.

 

[szannino]

I've heard S&W installs these sights with a hydraulic press. That's why they are so tuff to get out. I have replaced factory sights on my M&P9 Shield & Compact with a sight pusher and with a punch and hammer. The shield was the toughest.

 

[southerncomfort]

Great thread. Too bad the pictures no longer work, but I appreciate the OP's effort and the subsequent discussion. In any case, I'm normally game to try DIY, but after reading through this I've decided I'll let a good gunsmith handle this task.

 

[epj]

The pictures are still on Photobucket. I'll try to see why they don't work.

 

[epj]

Ok. The pictures are working now. You might find its not all that hard to do if you have the proper tools.

 

[Motorsporting]

Great thread. Too bad the pictures no longer work, but I appreciate the OP's effort and the subsequent discussion. In any case, I'm normally game to try DIY, but after reading through this I've decided I'll let a good gunsmith handle this task.

If you buy a good sightpusher, and have a vice, you will be just fine. Take it slow; it's a little scary if you've never done 'em before but it's really not that bad.

 

[epj]

You don't have to have a vise, but it does make set up a bit easier.

 

[RONALD HENSLEY]

nice instructional, i use one of those polymer barrel flags that comes in a new gun as a punch and a tack hammer, ive used this on several guns, works great and wont scratch or mess up your finish on the sight or gun!

 

[Bruce Morrison]

MK III sight pusher

Very good information. I will be trying out my new sight pusher this weekend!

 

[osprey_chief]

Is there any alignment for the rear sight? I'm looking at my new sight and it seems to be of similar width. I'm supposing it can be eyeballed pretty well. I'll be getting one of your sight tools soon.

 

[epj]

Is there any alignment for the rear sight? I'm looking at my new sight and it seems to be of similar width. I'm supposing it can be eyeballed pretty well. I'll be getting one of your sight tools soon.

You can do it the same way you check the front sight, but on a Shield the rear sight pretty much fills the dovetail. At least with the factory sight. Some aftermarket sights may be narrower.

 

[cardguy]

I used Kroil and a punch without any difficulty.

 

[kzaske]

Sigh, figures I would try and do it the hard way. I guess I need to add yet another tool to my wish list.

 

[epj]

Sigh, figures I would try and do it the hard way. I guess I need to add yet another tool to my wish list.

If you don't already own a good vise and sturdy work bench, the sight tools are less expensive.

 

[okiegtrider]

Very helpful stuff epj. Thanks for putting this out there.

 

[epj]

I had no idea until today that this thread has been viewed nearly 12,000 times! Had I known, I'd have taken some better pictures lol.

 

[REARSPROCKET]

I just bought another pusher the newer MKIII just to use on my Shield and XDS. What did you use between the slide and pusher to prevent any buggers? I have rainbow packing and old credit cards which worked with my older pusher and my 1911s.

 

[epj]

I send a strip of Delrin with the current pushers. On the Shield rear, you'll need the special pins. If the XD rear sight dovetail is wide enough, you can use the M&P pins on it as well. Credit card material is good, too. My real preference is some thin brass. I haven't yet found a good supply of it with the right dimensions. Some folks swear by leather, but my one experience trying it was less than satisfactory.
For the slide, I send some felt type material, but I don't use it myself. I just put a couple of layers of masking tape on the slide and call it good. The finish on those guns is a lot tougher than the aluminum blocks that come in contact with it.

 

[Raisin]

I have been looking at some sort of improved push pins for the front sights. If I can find a source of material, I'd make some like the ones for the rear with a smaller head. So far, I've not been able to locate what I need. I still looking.

It looks like you have a square push pin on the Mk V model. Will that pin work on the front sight of a Shield? If so, can it be purchased separately? I also damaged my front sight using the round pin and would prefer a square one or one like is used on the rear sight.

 

[palmettostate1]

I give full credit to the guy who makes the sight tool for making a nice looking and useful tool but only half credit for his sales tactics. Fear is a powerful sales tool.

I have applied alot of Cerakote, KG Gunkote, Duracoat and Moly Resin. I always remove the sights before blasting and spraying and I can tell you honestly I have used a 6 ounce brass mallot a 1/4" x 1/4" piece of aluminum rod and a solid vice to remove front and rear sights on Glocks, Sigs, 1911's including the dreaded Kimbers, Colts, M&P's, Rugers, XD's....etc. I have, however, seen a couple sights and slides that were damaged by tools very similar to the one shown above.

I have NEVER damaged a sight or a slide in doing so nor have I ever spent more that 5 minutes on removing or installing
sights.

I wish the maker much success and profit selling his tool but I just wanted to say it is not the only way to remove/reinstall sights.

 

[epj]

The square tip on the Mk V is the counterforce screw. Way too big for a sight. I'm working on making some smaller ones for sights. The rear is pretty easy. The front will probably require a separate jackscrew with a smaller pin. These little blocks are actually pretty difficult to make and drill accurately. The smaller they are, the harder they are to do. If I can get some made, they will be backward compatable with any pusher that uses a 3/8" jackscrew. In the meantime, I do have brass pins available.

 

[epj]

The square tip on the Mk V is the counterforce screw. Way too big for a sight. I'm working on making some smaller ones for sights. The rear is pretty easy. The front will probably require a separate jackscrew with a smaller pin. These little blocks are actually pretty difficult to make and drill accurately. The smaller they are, the harder they are to do. If I can get some made, they will be backward compatable with any pusher that uses a 3/8" jackscrew. In the meantime, I do have brass pins available.

The above mentioned square pieces are available now, and have been for some time. As predicted, the front sight requires a separate jackscrew.