Glock replacement sights

[Guest cdsusong]

I have had a couple of sets of sights replaced on my Glock stash and I was wondering if $20 (gun shop price) is a good price for this task? I know the sight tool is $100 and this is the 3rd set I have had changed. Will the Glock sight removal tool work on other dove tail sights? It may be a better investment to buy the tool and do it myself? I was thinking if I had to move the rear sight slightly it would be a good tool to have. Any thoughts?

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Good tool to have on hand if you swap out sights fairly often, or like to pick up more toys in a specific brand (HK/Glock/Sig/etc). Most (all) of these tools are specific to the platform that you're buying it it for.

For example, a Glock sight tool won't work on an HK gun... vice versa. This is due to the slide mounting into the tool and then the tool drifting the sights where needed. Each slide is different, per manufacturer. And then, even further, slides are often different per model of handgun inside that manufacturer.

So the decision is really whether you want to buy the Glock sight tool for your Glock(s).

Hope that helps.

[deerslayer]

Also, be aware that not all sight pushers will mount just any sights. For example, some aftermarket sight pushers will only push square sights, or only tapered sights. Stock Glock sights and some aftermarket replacements are tapered, and the Glock pusher will only work with these, I believe. If you are sure that you will always use one kind of sight, then it's not as big a deal. FWIW, I've heard that the Glock pusher is not as robust as some of the aftermarket pushers.

By tapered sights, I mean sights that are shaped like this:

_______

/xxxxxxxx\

as opposed to this:

________

lxxxxxxxxxl

Edited August 28, 2008 by deerslayer

[deerslayer]

Well, the margins won't let me line them up just right, but you get the picture.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Yeah, Deerslayer brings up a very good point that I neglected to state. Shape of the sights will factor into the equation.

As he also stated, the Glock (actual Glock branded tool) pusher is pretty flimsy looking. I'd look into picking up a MGW brand sight tool, if you decide to go that route. Much better quality.

EDIT:

/---\ versus |---|

[deerslayer]

I went in half on an MGW w/ Memphis Mechanic. I think it's an MGW--I haven't even seen it yet. Anyway, they screwed up and sent him the tapered pusher. We both use squared sights (Warren Tactical Sevigny Competition), and they wouldn't quite fit into the sight channel on the tapered pusher. I THINK the MGW square pusher will work with both styles--I'll double check w/ MM.

[Guest cdsusong]

good to know. what is the cost on the MGW and where to get one? my first question $20 a fair price at a gun shop?

[Guest Verbal Kint]

good to know. what is the cost on the MGW and where to get one? my first question $20 a fair price at a gun shop?

Yeah... not of the normal realm on pricing. Pretty much what you would expect to pay elsewhere, give or take a few bucks.

MGW sight tools will run you $90-130 depending on the model of tool and model of gun. Which might make that $20 gunsmith fee sound even better at the immediate moment.

[Guest jwp]

If you have a screwdriver and a vise you have all that you need.

Put the slide in the vise, with something to pad it, and use the handle end of the screwdriver.

Viola!

[Guest Verbal Kint]

If you have a screwdriver and a vise you have all that you need.

Put the slide in the vise, with something to pad it, and use the handle end of the screwdriver.

Viola!

I hope you're not recommending pounding them on there (even with the correct tools) versus using a sight tool to drift them in place, if he's referring to tritium sights? If so, remind me never to visit your gunsmith. Especially if his tool of choice is the handle of a screwdriver.

[Guest cdsusong]

Drift tool is for sure the way to go. i tried "once" to do it with a piece of delrin and a light hammer. After a bent upright, I knew that was not a good choice. I think a buddy and I may split the cost of the tool for any future changes. as for now, I believe I will pay the $20 for this change.

[Guest jwp]

I hope you're not recommending pounding them on there (even with the correct tools) versus using a sight tool to drift them in place, if he's referring to tritium sights? If so, remind me never to visit your gunsmith. Especially if his tool of choice is the handle of a screwdriver.

How many years did you spend honing your gunsmithing skills?

Right.

I admit it. It's very embarrassing but when we first started out one of the first things we bought was a high dollar sight pusher. It's still around here somewhere, but I think it is in more than one piece since they tend to be sort of flimsy when put to "real" use.

The simple fact is that most current production guns require little in the way of fitting when it comes to aftermarket sights and require very little pressure to fit them properly.

That being said, fitting Glock sights can be done without a sight pusher.

Just trying to be honest and maybe save someone some much needed money that could be used for better things.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

How many years did you spend honing your gunsmithing skills?

Zero... which is still enough to realize and acknowledge that the industry and pros recommend not to install tritium sights using a hammer and drift/punch (or in your case a screwdriver), due to the impact potentially damaging the vials inside. This is information widely dispersed across the internet for anyone to see.

If you want to dispute well-known practices, by smiths and industry manufacturers that have far more experience than your honed gunsmithing skills, then that's on you and your company's reputation.

If I'm not mistaken, there's also a thread on here where CCA rigged a customer's Witness handgun with improper parts... later having to be fixed, properly, by another store. But I guess that smith, also employed by your company, knew more than the manufacturer too, huh?

[Guest jwp]

Zero... which is still enough to realize and acknowledge that the industry and pros recommend not to install tritium sights using a hammer and drift/punch (or in your case a screwdriver), due to the impact potentially damaging the vials inside. This is information widely dispersed across the internet for anyone to see.

And you've failed to provide links? Man, you're slipping faster than Obama in the polls!

The simple fact is as I have stated. Aftermarket sights can be pressed in place using many items other than expensive sight pushers. It's true. Check it out.

If you want to dispute well-known practices, by smiths and industry manufacturers that have far more experience than your honed gunsmithing skills, then that's on you and your company's reputation.

You're reaching here. Tell you what, come down here and spend a day in the shop watching just what our gunsmiths do and then go to your choice of gunsmith and observe them. You'll see that there is little if any difference in practice or application. What is said and what actually happens "behind the curtain" are two very different things.

Besides, if there were one and only one way to do a job there would not be several volumes of the "Gunsmith Kinks" books available showing new and interesting ways to solve age old problems associated with gun fixing.

But then again my smiths have contributed to the technical briefs published by Brownell's so they must not know what they're talking about if the very same "well known smiths and industry manufacturers" you speak of are using some of their "voodoo."

If I'm not mistaken, there's also a thread on here where CCA rigged a customer's Witness handgun with improper parts... later having to be fixed, properly, by another store. But I guess that smith, also employed by your company, knew more than the manufacturer too, huh?

I didn't want to cause a stink about that thread and used the PM function to discuss it with the parties involved, but since you seem so interested in bringing it up then we'll discuss it for a moment.

We did not replace any parts in the gun in question. The gun worked when it left here. Passed function test with flying colors, passed the test firing with flying colors.

Fast forward: The gun was sold some time later. Purchaser was told by seller that it had some issues previously and the issues were addressed by CCA. The purchaser then had some issues, which are still unknown to us, at a later date and brought the gun to CCA. He was told that if the gun was having the same issue it would be handled under warranty, but if it was not the same issue our standard bench fee is $40.00. He did not leave the gun for us to repair. He then took the gun to another gunsmith who then worked on the gun and claimed that we replaced the slide catch spring on the Witness with the slide catch spring from a 1911, which is not possible since we did not remove or replace any parts and beyond that a 1911 does not have a "slide catch spring."

Furthermore there aren't any parts of a 1911 which will interchange with a Witness .45. Well, maybe the recoil spring, but I doubt it would work for long.

I have the original job ticket sitting here on my desk. #1845391 if you would like to examine it and see just who is telling the truth and who is not.

So, that's an open invitation to watch the gunsmiths work and an open invitation to examine the job ticket. I'll be back on Wednesday if you want to accept. In the meantime, I think you should work on your diplomacy skills and possibly be working on an apology you're going to owe me/us.

[Guest Grout]

jwp is correct.I have installed Warren/Sevigny and Heinie rear Glock sights with a delrin punch and small hammer.Hell you can push them about halfway on with your thumb.They have a set screw to hold them in place

[deerslayer]

Memphis Mechanic put Sevigny Comps on my Glock 34 with a brass punch, and I think it's harmless. Banging on tritium sights may not be as wise, though.

[J Smith]

I have had a couple of sets of sights replaced on my Glock stash and I was wondering if $20 (gun shop price) is a good price for this task? I know the sight tool is $100 and this is the 3rd set I have had changed. Will the Glock sight removal tool work on other dove tail sights? It may be a better investment to buy the tool and do it myself? I was thinking if I had to move the rear sight slightly it would be a good tool to have. Any thoughts?

I have paid about that much a couple times,I would like to get the tool.

[Guest Grout]

Memphis Mechanic put Sevigny Comps on my Glock 34 with a brass punch, and I think it's harmless. Banging on tritium sights may not be as wise, though.

Won't hurt em,I have installed them too.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

I think you should work on your diplomacy skills and possibly be working on an apology you're going to owe me/us.

An apology?

Well if you think "Go **** yourself" is a suitable one, consider it done. If not... you'll be waiting quite awhile.

I stand by my original reply, which is backed by way more people than 2-3 individuals on a TN message board. As for CCA, I think you've done as much (if not more) damage by avoiding questions in the past, and things you spew forth, than me questioning one of your 'smithing practices.

We'll just agree to disagree from here out.

P.S. - I'm still not a moderator. FYI.

[Guest Grout]

[R1100R]

I put trijicons on my Glock with a brass punch/gunsmith hammer from Lyman. Come to think of it I have done a lot of sights with this handy little tool. It won't work on a Sig. Any tips?

Edited August 30, 2008 by R1100R