Sight removal on an M&P

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MotoGPFan

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I'm not on here very often, so I apologize if this subject has been common and/or run in the ground....

Specifically: I want to replace the sights on my full size M&P 9. I have heard rumors, etc. that the rear site set screw is held with Loctite Red, which is extremely difficult to break loose. One guy said it takes heat. Is this true or false? ....or can you just undo it with an allen wrench? (Obviously, I don't want to strip the set screw or wrench.)

What are facts about removal of the rear sight from an M&P ?

I also understand they come off and go on from one side.

Anything I should know about removal/replacement of the front sight?

I have access to an MGW M&P sight tool.......

Guidance and comments much appreciated....... Thanks....
 
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It appears the screw is held with loctite. I would not try to remove it without a little heat. It is a small socket and easy to strip. To heat it without damage use a soldering iron or gun applied directly to the screw. The loctite will melt and you will be able to remove the screw without damage.

Cliff
 
I was able to loosen the set screw pretty easily with a 1/16" Allen wrench without heat. Getting the site to come off is another. I'm probably going to have to take mine to someone with the proper tools before I damage it too badly.
 
I've installed Apex trigger kits on four M&Ps, which require the removal of the rear sight with no problems. There is a spring loaded plunger under it, so be careful or you'll be chasing it around the room. I did not have to use heat on any of them.
 
I have turned the set screw on half a dozen different guns and never once had a problem turning it without heat. If you need to heat it, be aware that there are plastic parts in close proximity. The little cover piece that S&W uses (at least in recently made guns) to retain the striker block spring is plastic. The liner in the striker channel is plastic. The backplate on the slide is plastic. The spring retainers on the striker are plastic.

You can probably move the rear sight a little without turning the set screw. Don't be fooled by this... there is a groove milled into the dovetail that will catch the set screw before you're able to get the sight off completely.

I have a sight pusher so moving the rear sight is without drama. However drifting sights with punches gives me the willies as I have a history of boogering up slides back in the day while trying to do this. The M&P is particularly problematic because it seems that there is quite a bit of variation in the size of the dovetails. Some sights will move quite easily. I've heard that others won't budge without massive amounts of force. The fronts are much worse in this regard.

Since you have access to the sight pusher, definitely use it. Make sure you get the set screw backed out first. I like to push left to right and install the opposite way (if looking at the back of the gun), but I believe that M&P sights might move either direction. When pushing the front sight, be careful. It's possible that if it's very stiff you might snap off the blade. At that point, you'll have to drive out the base with a punch. Use brass, aluminum, or plastic. I have heard that some people have used wood, but I haven't had luck with that method on difficult sights. If you are forced to use a steel punch for whatever reason, tape up the heck out of your slide to avoid a mistake.

Good luck... with the pusher there is a great chance you'll be fine with very little effort.
 
Also, the agency I retired from (1,000+) issues M&P 45's. After thinking about it I remember the rangemasters adjusting deputies sights without the use of heat.
 
I use a mini butane torch (the little ones that fit in one hand), all I have to do is touch the set screw briefly with the flame, it heats up the screw very quickly, I err on the side of caution. I first try it with no heat, if it doesn't move easily, I'll hit it once with the torch, if that doesn't get it, I'll hit it a second time with the torch. If it's still not enough (this only happened once) I take a junk 1/16" Allen wrench, put it in in the set screw, and then heat up the wrench, it's kind of slow. the sights on an M&P (both front and rear) are tapered and move from left to right when uninstalling and the opposite way when installing. Have fun.;)
 
In a nutshell/// I'll recap the reality of replacing your sights..

Since you have the MGW sight pusher... you're all set, it's a homerun tool. I have both MGW tools for M&P's and Shields, works perfectly every time I have used it. I also used a brass punch the first couple times, if you're careful and have a little mechanical knowledge, a good, at least 4" vise, solidly mounted, it also can be pretty simple without doing any damage on an M&P sight.

The screw has never been a problem for me, I've done many M&P's, no heat needed. Just make sure you have a good allen wrench, one not boogered up on the end. Also, once the sight moves easily, removed the tool and carefully push the sight the rest of the way out by hand being careful not to let the cover and spring take a launch.

The front sight blade.... no problem there either, using the MGW tool. Looking from the rear of the gun to the front. Push out both sights, left to right, install the opposite way.. and there you have it.. simple job with the right tools..

Good luck, let us know how it goes..
 
I was looking at reviews of the MGW after reading this warning from MGW:

Tool is not designed to remove extremely tight factory rear sights. Sight tool is intended to install and adjust Tritium Night Sights.

Reading through the reviews, I didn't see anyone had an issue with the rear sight, but there were a few that had to start the front sight with a brass punch before being able to use the MGW.

Does anyone have firsthand experience using this with a very tight factory rear sight?
 
jasoncw said:
I was looking at reviews of the MGW after reading this warning from MGW:

Tool is not designed to remove extremely tight factory rear sights. Sight tool is intended to install and adjust Tritium Night Sights.

Reading through the reviews, I didn't see anyone had an issue with the rear sight, but there were a few that had to start the front sight with a brass punch before being able to use the MGW.

Does anyone have firsthand experience using this with a very tight factory rear sight?
Click to expand...


YES, and it has worked perfectly every time.... on any kind of sight, front or rear....
 
jasoncw said:
I was looking at reviews of the MGW after reading this warning from MGW:

Tool is not designed to remove extremely tight factory rear sights. Sight tool is intended to install and adjust Tritium Night Sights.

Reading through the reviews, I didn't see anyone had an issue with the rear sight, but there were a few that had to start the front sight with a brass punch before being able to use the MGW.

Does anyone have firsthand experience using this with a very tight factory rear sight?
Click to expand...


One more question... can you give me a link to where you found this info... thanks
 
jasoncw said:
Thanks for the info.

MidwayUSA
Click to expand...

Kinda like I thought... reading the whole overview, gives a better understanding.. the "not designed to remove extremely tight rear sights" is your typical cover your butt statement. Kinda like every pill advertised on tv comes with a long list of side effects ... that always includes... you may die if you use this.. :):eek:

Night sights with tritium lamps are too fragile for installation methods like hammers and punches. Maryland Gun Works designed their sight tools specifically for but not limited to night sights. Beware of imitators, some designs are made to attempt to work on many different models but these individual tools are much better suited for their specific task.
 
turbo38gn said:
Kinda like I thought... reading the whole overview, gives a better understanding.. the "not designed to remove extremely tight rear sights" is your typical cover your butt statement. Kinda like every pill advertised on tv comes with a long list of side effects ... that always includes... you may die if you use this.. :):eek:



Night sights with tritium lamps are too fragile for installation methods like hammers and punches. Maryland Gun Works designed their sight tools specifically for but not limited to night sights. Beware of imitators, some designs are made to attempt to work on many different models but these individual tools are much better suited for their specific task.
Click to expand...



That's pretty much what I figured. Thanks.
 
I'm not going to bash the MGW tools. They are model specific in most cases, and are expensive. My LGS has a box full of broken ones. Many owners, however, swear by them. There ARE universal tools that perform well on a variety of models. I designed and manufacture some of them, and there are others as well. If all I ever worked on was Glocks, I'd probably buy a MGW.
 
epj said:
I'm not going to bash the MGW tools. They are model specific in most cases, and are expensive. My LGS has a box full of broken ones. Many owners, however, swear by them. There ARE universal tools that perform well on a variety of models. I designed and manufacture some of them, and there are others as well. If all I ever worked on was Glocks, I'd probably buy a MGW.
Click to expand...

what's broken... can't imagine anything broken on the MGW tool, they are built amazingly well. But of course, like any tool, use it wrongly, I'm sure you could break something. As for the cost for the specific gun MGW tool... what's the finish on your gun worth and what's the value of undamaged sights worth..
 
One thing to be aware of, the LGS says they have cracked slides under the rails if they crank really tight on them with the sight pusher. I haven't seen this myself but they say it's happened.
 
The one I looked at the cast aluminum frame broke. No idea which model it was or what it was doing when it broke. MGW used to supply pushers for the third generation S&W pistols. It is my understanding that they stopped making them due to breakage.
Again, if I were working primarily with one model of gun, I probably would spring for the MGW. As it is, I prefer tools that have a wide range of application and will continue using those.
There is probably no bulletproof sight pusher, including that $600 rig that Meprolite sells.
 
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