Posted: 7/6/2007 7:56:21 AM EDT
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I bought a fiber-optic front sight for my pistol, and I want to make sure I understand how to insert and fit it before I start. I don't have the pistol in front of me but I think I noticed a transverse roll pin running through the sight base. Is that what holds the sight in place? If so, how. If not, how do I replace the sight? Thanks in advance, Mike |
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MIke, You are correct. THe 75B family has a transverse roll pin that retains the front sight in its dovetail. The sight is in a dovetail that runs parallel to the bore. The roll pin catches a notch cut into the bottom of the sight. Most replacement sights will not come with a notch-it must be cut by the user. To remove the factory front, drift the roll pin out (I usually go left to right to get it out, looking at the breech face side of the front sight). Knock the front sight out (drift it towards the muzzle). The new front sight should slip into the dovetail relatively easily. Then I gently tap a punch through both sides of the retaining hole to mark the front sight. Pull the front out and use a chainsaw file or a triangular file to cut the notch in the front sight. Put everything back together using a bit of red loctite and you should be good to go. ML |
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I've done this a couple of times too, ultimately with the FO sight. Realize that all the rollpin is doing is holding the sight to the rear. So be careful to try to start fileing your slot to the front first and then expand it to the rear, stop to check fit as you go, maybe with a drill bit of the correct size. That way you'll ensure that the sight is held firmly to the rear with the roll pin. I once wasn't careful and somehow overcut my slot such that the sight wiggled front to back. I saved it by just using a lot of red Loktite to glue it all in place and that worked perfectly and even came loose a year later when I wanted it to. Otherwise I would not use Loktite normally, the rollpin alone should hold it tight, I would think optimally. Also, don't try to force the roll pin in. I think I did that too and it buggered up the channel a bit. I had to drill it out, through sight and channel. Luckily it came out perfectly. |