Sight Replacement

[sqqy14]

What's the best way to remove an old front sight that is dovetailed? I put the barrel in a padded vice and used a 1/8" flat faced punch.
I hammered from right to left on the dovetail and it took forever. I finally got it out but the base of the sight was really banged up.
The replacement didn't require as much effort to install, but the old one is virtually destroyed. Thanks for any advice.
Regards
Bob

 

[hockeyref]

Ummmmmm... If I remember correctly, they should get pushed out to the right - as in pushed left to right.

 

[fyrfyter43]

It shouldn't matter which way you drive it out.

I'd much rather have a sight that is pretty snug in the dovetail than too loose.

 

[Birddog6]

The best way is with a rectangular faced punch that fits almost the full with of the dovetail. The more surface area you punch, the less damage to the sight. And you always punch the base, not the middle or the top. :wink:

 

[mazo kid]

I always drive left to right, looking down the barrel towards the muzzle. I don't know if it really matters but seems I read that the dovetails are tapered a bit.

 

[erzengel]

My experience on my weapons is, that your reading is correct.

Exemptions might be possible.

 

[fyrfyter43]

I always drive left to right, looking down the barrel towards the muzzle. I don't know if it really matters but seems I read that the dovetails are tapered a bit.

I could be wrong, but that doesn't make much sense to me. If you need to drift the sight to the right to correct windage, the sight would loosen up. I also wouldn't be surprised if the vibration in the barrel from firing caused the sight to gradually drift to the right by itself.

The front and rear of the dovetails should be parallel.