DYI: Installing Front and Rear Sights

If you have a jaw vice with neoprene jaw covers and brass punches, you can knock them out yourself. It takes patience and a skill set to get it right, but it is not hard to do. The entire process from set up to removal and install and sighting takes about 1.5 full hours, if everything goes right. The slide will need to be removed from the gun to do this.

Note: I have a sight removing tool I use specifically made for this. 

If You DIY: On the dove tailed end place the brass punch at the bottom of the sight and begin to remove the sight by striking the punch. This is the same for the front sight. Once removed, clean up the dove site area with a brass brush. When assembling put a small drop of gun oil in the center of the dove tail slide area. To reinstall, just reverse the process. Note: I never recommend using Lock Tite in this area, ever. The dove tail holds the sights perfectly.

We use brass because it doesn't mar the slide or hurt the sight. You may need a brass brush to remove any brass left behind by the punch. Where it gets dicey is if they used Lock Tite on the original sights. If that's the case, you'll need to carefully heat the sight to loosen up the Lock Tite. Note: you'll know if after striking the sight with the brass punch and it doesn't move, it's most likely going to need heat.

Trust this helps.