sight tool

[WheelieD]

Looking to pick up some used 5906's and 6906's to refurb. Need to remove the sights first. What sight tool is ideal for these old gen pistols?

 

[armorer951]

I use a piece of brass round or brass bar stock. All the "generic" sight pushers I've seen leave marks and scratches on the finish when used.

 

[D Rock]

Along the lines that armorer951 suggests, I use a replaceable tip brass punch from Brownells.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...n-brass-drift-punch-prod512.aspx#.ULE9KIdpcgk

I file the brass tip 1/2 way down to allow more flat to cover the base of the dovetail.


I've never used the tool, but member epj sells the JMT Sight Pusher here on the Forum. You can read peoples comments.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/access...sher-1911-m-p-xd-ruger-beretta-many-more.html

Dave

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

Save your money. The sight can be removed with some simple tools. I would soak the sight with Kroil and let it sit for about 1 hour. Then I would try to move the sight with a nylon punch. If that does not work, use a non maring punch to budge the sight and then go to a nylon punch. The brass marks on the sight can be cleaned up at the end with some copper solvent. It will look as if it never was touched. Do the same in reverse when installing the sight.

 

[WheelieD]

ok I will try this. What I dont like about doing it this way is that its hard to get it perfectly centered. My 1911 was a whore!

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

try marking the sight with the barrel before removing it. I would bore sight it after the reassembly.

Nick

 

[epj]

I've taken off a lot of third generation sights. Most were so tight they sounded like a .22 going off when they broke loose. I'd strongly recommend a sight pusher, whether it be one of mine or someone else's.

 

[WheelieD]

how about applying some heat? heat gun? pencil torch on the under side? thats exactly what I dont want to do is have to beat the snot out of stuff (with brass tools)

 

[D Rock]

how about applying some heat? heat gun? pencil torch on the under side? thats exactly what I dont want to do is have to beat the snot out of stuff (with brass tools)

You might actually have more luck putting the slide in a freezer for a few hours. Shrinks the metal.

Dave

 

[WheelieD]

the idea is to change the dimension of 1 part, freezer will freeze both, you can kinda control where you apply heat........

 

[D Rock]

Freeze both and shrink both. Has worked for me many times.

But try what you think will work best for you.

Dave

 

[epj]

how about applying some heat? heat gun? pencil torch on the under side? thats exactly what I dont want to do is have to beat the snot out of stuff (with brass tools)

Careful with the heat. There are nylon parts under the sight that could be damaged.

 

[epj]

Freeze both and shrink both. Has worked for me many times.

But try what you think will work best for you.

Dave

If the coefficient of expansion (contraction) of the two parts is sufficiently different and biased in the proper direction, this may have merit. Often I have found the carbon steel sight heavily corroded on the bottom, even with a stainless slide. Got to break that rust bond.