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Posted: 5/3/2009 11:54:57 AM EDT
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Any one have a good way to remove a front sight base? I've tried tapping the pins out and they won't budge. I've got a front sight block and know that I'm trying to do it the correct direction. Would a local smith have any way to do it besides what I'm already trying? I figure he's just going to beat on it like I am.
Would heating it with a propane torch damage the finish??? Any body have any suggestions???? |
| One trick that works for me is to soak the pins from all sides with Kroil (penetrating oil)for an hour or so before I try to persuade them to release. I use a brass rod, about 3/8" thick that I tapered the end to 3/16". You can wail away at the brass rod to start them loose, then tap them the rest of the way out with a steel punch. Once you get them to move the slightest, they tap out easily from there. The brassing marks come off with some WD40 and some fine steel wool, or scotchguard. |
| Yeah I can give some advise. First measure the pins, if they are bigger on one side than the other, beat on the smaller side. Doing the reverse will only make life tough. If there is no taper to them, straight pins, beat on whatever side you wish. Also for the tapered pins, use a large diameter punch to start with. That will prevent it slipping off when those first brutal blows come into play. After they have been loosened then you can use a correctly sized punch that will go through the holes. Once the pins have been punched out use a soft faced hammer to tap the FSB off the barrel. For assembly just do this in reverse. |
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Quoted:
Yeah I can give some advise. First measure the pins, if they are bigger on one side than the other, beat on the smaller side. Doing the reverse will only make life tough. If there is no taper to them, straight pins, beat on whatever side you wish. Also for the tapered pins, use a large diameter punch to start with. That will prevent it slipping off when those first brutal blows come into play. After they have been loosened then you can use a correctly sized punch that will go through the holes. Once the pins have been punched out use a soft faced hammer to tap the FSB off the barrel. For assembly just do this in reverse. Bingo... And, some require a massive amount of heavy hits to get them to budge. You have the FSB block, so you wont hurt anything. Keep working at it, you'll get it. |
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I've used a bench vise and a 4mm socket. Open the vise just enough and place the 4mm socket on the big side of the pin on the FSB. Using just the corner of the vise jaws to compress the small end of the pin until you feel it move. Then use a punch to remove it the rest of the way.
GVS |
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