Posted: 4/18/2009 11:05:46 AM EDT
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So, I have this PM9. Uber-reliable. No malfunctions of any kind since I've owned it. Great BUG/deep carry gun. I'm exceedingly happy with it. It only lacks for one thing: night sights. And as we all know, no gun can be taken "seriously" as a carry option without night sights. Right? So, I decide that I need to rectify the situation. Post-haste. By happenstance I also have both a G19 that lacks night sights and a friend with a sight pusher (for the purposes of this tale, we will just call him Bryan). I figure it can't be that hard and I can kill two birds with one stone all the while saving a little money in the process by doing it myself. What's not to love?
Now, Bryan has done a PM9 night sight install before. He warns me: it will require diligence, patience, and a steady hand. Since Bryan is not known for extreme levels of patience, especially when angry and/or frustrated, and as an aside when he loses such patience things and people tend to get broke, I figure I can handle this. Not to mention I have all three in spades.  Thus, I reply, "No problem."
Bryan sends the sight pusher. I order a set of Heinie SlantPro QUIK Straight-8's for the G19 and a set of Meps from Kahr for the PM9. The last of these three items arrived yesterday. I set to work immediately after finishing dinner that very evening. I start with the G19. It was a little bit more difficult than anticipated, but besides some slight marring on the rear sight, all ends well. By the way, the Heinie's are just plain out-freakin'-standing sights. 
Next up, the PM9...here's my tools. 
Fast forward 2 plus hours of adjustments, pounding with a ball-peen hammer, and large heapings of @#$%@#$%@# and here's the result: 
As you can see, the sight did not move. And to top it all off...it took out the sight pusher. For those not familiar with sight pushers, from the below picture you can see how the "pusher" arm has been bent upwards. I set the allen wrench across the sight pusher as a frame of reference. It clearly shows how the "pusher" arm is out of true. What you cannot see from the pic's is the metal shavings that are now coming off the pusher arm threads when you turn it as well as the fact that one can no longer turn it by hand. You need a ball-peen hammer.
So, here's the final tally: Kahr 1 Sight Pusher 0 The Kahr is off to either Kahr or a 'smith for sight install and the pusher is going back to whoever the hell made it for warranty repair and/or replacement. Anyone know a good gunsmith in the Houston area who has worked on Kahr's before? 
Fred |
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So, I have this PM9. Uber-reliable. No malfunctions of any kind since I've owned it. Great BUG/deep carry gun. I'm exceedingly happy with it. It only lacks for one thing: night sights. And as we all know, no gun can be taken "seriously" as a carry option without night sights. Right? So, I decide that I need to rectify the situation. Post-haste. By happenstance I also have both a G19 that lacks night sights and a friend with a sight pusher (for the purposes of this tale, we will just call him Bryan). I figure it can't be that hard and I can kill two birds with one stone all the while saving a little money in the process by doing it myself. What's not to love? Now, Bryan has done a PM9 night sight install before. He warns me: it will require diligence, patience, and a steady hand. Since Bryan is not known for extreme levels of patience, especially when angry and/or frustrated, and as an aside when he loses such patience things and people tend to get broke, I figure I can handle this. Not to mention I have all three in spades. Thus, I reply, "No problem."
Bryan sends the sight pusher. I order a set of Heinie SlantPro QUIK Straight-8's for the G19 and a set of Meps from Kahr for the PM9. The last of these three items arrived yesterday. I set to work immediately after finishing dinner that very evening. I start with the G19. It was a little bit more difficult than anticipated, but besides some slight marring on the rear sight, all ends well. By the way, these are just plain out-freakin'-standing sights. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/ShepherdPIctures/HeinieSlantPro2.jpg OH do i feel your pain. I hve the exact site pusher and it is great for reinstalled kahr sites. I cold notmove my factory sites period, so I let cylinder and slide do it whent hey did a custom job formy PM(. I can honeslty say I hvenever seen tighter sites on an y gun than the kahrs and I don't know why. I now always recommend kahr to install sites on their own guns. I love that site pusher and can't believe what that site did to the threaded site rod. wow. Now in retrospecrt I was able with ease to move my rear site out of my K9 kahr with ease and install the mmc site. Ihave a P380 also and I don't think I will attempt to install my own nite sites when they become availab.e. But oh do I feel your pain.. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/ShepherdPIctures/HeinieSlantPro3.jpg Next up, the PM9...here's my tools. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/ShepherdPIctures/WorkStation.jpg Fast forward 2 plus hours of adjustments, pounding with a ball-peen hammer, and large heapings of @#$%@#$%@# and here's the result: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/ShepherdPIctures/Jack-edUp.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/ShepherdPIctures/Jack-edUp2.jpg As you can see, the sight did not move. And to top it all off...it took out the sight pusher. For those not familiar with sight pushers, from the picture you can see how the "pusher" arm has been bent upwards. I set the allen wrench across the sight pusher as a frame of reference. It clearly shows how the "pusher" arm is out of true. What you cannot see from the pic's is the metal shavings that are now coming off the pusher arm threads when you turn it as well as the fact that one can no longer turn it by hand. You need a ball-peen hammer.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/ShepherdPIctures/KahrKicksPushersAss.jpg So, here's the final tally: Kahr 1 Sight Pusher 0 The Kahr is off to either Kahr or a 'smith for sight install and the pusher is going back to whoever the hell made it for warranty repair and/or replacement. Anyone know a good gunsmith in the Houston area who has worked on Kahr's before?
Fred |
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Kahr sights are a BITCH, best to send slide to Kahr. AMEN TO THAT Yeah...I'm going to call on Monday and ask about price and how long they will need the gun/slide. Not sure I trust the job to a gunsmith at this point; well intentioned or not. Fred |
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Kahr sights are a BITCH, best to send slide to Kahr. AMEN TO THAT Yeah...I'm going to call on Monday and ask about price and how long they will need the gun/slide. Not sure I trust the job to a gunsmith at this point; well intentioned or not. Fred u can just send them the slide and u can do that regular mail also. It will be alot cheaper in price and kahrs turn around is great to. I think you are doing the right smart thing. evidently kahr has the machinery to take out sites and reinstall them even without harm. Worth the extra bucks and maybe alittle down time to get it done right. I really don't see the need for them to go in as tight as they do but here is my impression on what they are doing. If you have sites installed by a good smitty, they normally file/sand the site base down some to isntall the sites so that #1 they go in properly, #2 that the owner can indeed even move them if necessary for adjustment. I think kahrs takes the sites that are made by other company and does zero fitting but just pushs them in with great force and there fore,most are unable to even move left or right even, let alone to take them out. Just my 2cents worth. |
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Kahr sights are a BITCH, best to send slide to Kahr. AMEN TO THAT Yeah...I'm going to call on Monday and ask about price and how long they will need the gun/slide. Not sure I trust the job to a gunsmith at this point; well intentioned or not. Fred u can just send them the slide and u can do that regular mail also. It will be alot cheaper in price and kahrs turn around is great to. I think you are doing the right smart thing. evidently kahr has the machinery to take out sites and reinstall them even without harm. Worth the extra bucks and maybe alittle down time to get it done right. I really don't see the need for them to go in as tight as they do but here is my impression on what they are doing. If you have sites installed by a good smitty, they normally file/sand the site base down some to isntall the sites so that #1 they go in properly, #2 that the owner can indeed even move them if necessary for adjustment. I think kahrs takes the sites that are made by other company and does zero fitting but just pushs them in with great force and there fore,most are unable to even move left or right even, let alone to take them out. Just my 2cents worth. If I'd have done that, I'd have either purchased the gun with night sights to begin with or sent the slide off to Kahr before my little DIY project! 
We are in complete agreement on just sending the slide if possible. I got into a disagreement with Kimber a few years ago on this very issue. The front sight on my warrior came loose and I needed to send it back for repair. The CS person told me to send the whole gun in. When they declined to pay for shipping, I told them I was just sending the slide b/c of the costs involved with shipping a pistol. The response from Kimber was "we will fix it, but will not guarantee point of impact and or aim." When I called to check on the status of the work a few weeks later, I got the same response..."you needed to have sent in the entire pistol." Anyway, when I got the slide back, it was fixed and the point of aim/impact had not changed. I'll update the thread once I talk to Kahr. Fred |
Sounds like that Bryan guy should have done the install for you. The only mistake was that Bryan guy loaning you his sight pusher, dang I hope that's covered under warranty 
The Heinie qwik low profile sights look great. I wish I had a set, but alas I couldn't install anyways a friend of mine jacked up my sight pusher. When I did my Kahr sight install I may have loosened up the front sight a bit after hitting on it with a brass punch and 1 lb hammer. Once I saw this wasn't budging the sight at all I broke down and bought the P500, which worked like a champ. The rear sight on my Kahr had to be filed/fitted and it is still super tight. Speaking of broke down, did you guys see my sight pusher in the pics above, that Kahr bent the dang push rod….man that is in tight. Are you sure you had the push rod level to the top of the slide????????? The P500 works great despite it getting messed up on this install. It works with any gun/slide. Well almost any gun/slide.  I'll post something once I find out if they stand behind it in their warranty.
Looks like you were pushing the sights to the right, you’re supposed to push the front sight to the left.
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I wish I had a set, but alas I couldn't install anyways a friend of mine jacked up my sight pusher.
That made me laugh. Fred, seriously...it doesn't look that bad.
Did I not recommend to BOTH of you that you get the thing with sights pre-installed? These pics are a lot funnier full size than they were on my phone. |
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Last week I used that exact pusher to install night sights on my PM9. It took all of 15 minutes. Two months before that, I used it to install night sights on my P9. No hammer was used. Careful adjustment and patience are key.
Edit to add: Did you use the square extension that goes on the pusher pin in your picture? That's what worked for me. Based on the damage to the sight, it looks like you weren't squared up on it and were pushing too high. |
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Did I not recommend to BOTH of you that you get the thing with sights pre-installed? Yes, my ever so humble friend, you in fact did. Next time I think I will listen to you UNLESS I want something other than a Big Dot or Meps. Then you have to go with standard and aftermarket sights. Now that we've cleared that up, can you please give us all instruction on how to properly estimate distance while glassing Elk in the field? And how 350 yards can magically turn into 650?
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Last week I used that exact pusher to install night sights on my PM9. It took all of 15 minutes. Two months before that, I used it to install night sights on my P9. No hammer was used. Careful adjustment and patience are key. Edit to add: Did you use the square extension that goes on the pusher pin in your picture? That's what worked for me. Based on the damage to the sight, it looks like you weren't squared up on it and were pushing too high. I used the large square extension. Further, I assure you I spent an extensive amount of time checking, double checking, and realigning the pusher arm and slide so that it was as squared off as my human eye could judge BEFORE I started cranking away. I think you are overlooking the fact that (1) the pusher arm was torquing out of the dovetail and rounding off the sight, and (2) my repetitive efforts to align and push again..which, of course, resulted in more wear. Fred |
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I still think the best part of this thread was Bryan admitting
I wish I had a set
Now that we've cleared that up, can you please give us all instruction on how to properly estimate distance while glassing Elk in the field? And how 350 yards can magically turn into 650?
I was doing wishful range finding. I knew I couldn't figure for a 40+ inch drop. Hell, it LOOKED 350. |
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I still think the best part of this thread was Bryan admitting I wish I had a set .True sig line material. Quoted:
Now that we've cleared that up, can you please give us all instruction on how to properly estimate distance while glassing Elk in the field? And how 350 yards can magically turn into 650?
I was doing wishful range finding. I knew I couldn't figure for a 40+ inch drop. Hell, it LOOKED 350. No. It really didn't. It looked more like 700 from your pos. But that's ok...at least you didn't have any good friends who were all set up, in stable firing position, and MUCH closer. Oh wait...... I wish someone at Kahr would pick up the freakin' phone...... |
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Fred why does Ronnie aka Thumper always focus on my set/pair , kind of strange. I guess the prison name Thumper and 15 year sig pic doesn't say enough about which way he leans.
Ronnie when you bought that shirt 15 years ago how much did it costs at the kids Gap? |
But that got it out.|
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I took mine to my local smith who did some great work. He said it was a motherfucker though. PM9 with XS Big Dot sights installed! Love this thing. XS BIG DOTS on my PM9, yup love. not good ot far but really fast acquistion up close and to me that is what the PM9 was designed for 10 yards and under. Nice sites, great gun, Just shoot it like u stole it. |
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I took mine to my local smith who did some great work. He said it was a motherfucker though. PM9 with XS Big Dot sights installed! Love this thing. XS BIG DOTS on my PM9, yup love. not good ot far but really fast acquistion up close and to me that is what the PM9 was designed for 10 yards and under. Nice sites, great gun, Just shoot it like u stole it. Exactly... 4,250 rounds and counting! (since Dec) |
| My PM 9 was bought used from a guy who tried the saem thing, it was missing the frt sight when I bought it. I ordered a Triji and set about sliding it in. no way Jose, its the tightest dovetail I have ever seen . A few minutes on the bench stone trimmed the base of the sight to a nice tight fit, tapped into place with a Delrin drift and 8.oz hammer. I havent done the rear yet, maybe I should send it in for that. |
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My PM 9 was bought used from a guy who tried the saem thing, it was missing the frt sight when I bought it. I ordered a Triji and set about sliding it in. no way Jose, its the tightest dovetail I have ever seen . A few minutes on the bench stone trimmed the base of the sight to a nice tight fit, tapped into place with a Delrin drift and 8.oz hammer. I havent done the rear yet, maybe I should send it in for that. NO U ACTUALLY DID ur front site right. most never slide right in perfect. Most all need honed on the bottom of the site base some to allow proper setting. You did excatly right. Now if you can get that rear site off, you are good enough now to know how to install the rear site with ease. Soak some penetrating oil around the site for an hour or so and then with a usher it willcome off. Nice job!! |
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My PM 9 was bought used from a guy who tried the saem thing, it was missing the frt sight when I bought it. I ordered a Triji and set about sliding it in. no way Jose, its the tightest dovetail I have ever seen . A few minutes on the bench stone trimmed the base of the sight to a nice tight fit, tapped into place with a Delrin drift and 8.oz hammer. I havent done the rear yet, maybe I should send it in for that. I agree. My buddy who did his said the rear was not near as difficult as the front to get off. The rear did require some fitting though. As you have already successfully fit your front sight, I'd say you can successfully do the rear. I just couldn't get the damn front sight out at all. |
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'smiths at Kahr must love it when these slides come back to them all them time with sides of the sites all beat to holy hell... Best of luck man! Those sites are a bitch... Im not even messing with the one I just bought. Going straight to them. A VERY WISE IDEA!!!! |
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'smiths at Kahr must love it when these slides come back to them all them time with sides of the sites all beat to holy hell... Best of luck man! Those sites are a bitch... Im not even messing with the one I just bought. Going straight to them. Kahr now has my slide. I even sent them a letter with a link to this thread so they could get a kick out of my exploits. I'd love to see someone from Kahr post something......
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