Far better to use a quality sight pusher. I prefer MGW. They last forever. It’s been my experience that when I loan mine out it is generally retuned with a six pack. Seriously, I’ve had it for years and it’s paid for itself many times over. It doesn’t matter which way you remove and install rear sights but I always go left to right.

 

I use the installation tool to install, punch and hammer to remove since it's scrap anyway unless it's steel aftermarket piece. I center up the new rear sight on granite surface plate and dial height gage. I can usually get within .005".

 

Cool approach. Gives me an idea for using a dial caliper.

 

What mmcbeat said-

This one is mine and I’ve had it a long time.

 

+1 for MGW Sight tool. I love mine!!

:thumbsup:

 

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDRkzwLlX4Y&list=WL&index=8&t=0s


I have one of these. Not sure they are still made, but there are many on EBay just like it, with the same functions.

You don't have to spend $125. on MGW (although still a fine tool, but more geared to a commercial gunsmith, than a hobbyist) just to remove an old and add a new Glock rear sight.

IMHO and YMMV

 

I install XS big dot sights on my Glock pistols.
You do not need a sight pusher for the rear sight, as they just slide on (sometimes requiring a few passes on some sandpaper) and then are retained with set screws and loctite.
That isn't WHY i choose XS sights... but it is handy feature.

 

Last xxsight I installed on Glock was their F8. Unlike XS big dot they are fitted, but fitted loose and easy to tap in. Not tight enough to stay in place during heavy use so you apply the provided red loctite once sighted in.

The F8 rear sight was too high for me to use my MGW Glock specific sight pusher, but my universal MGW sight pusher would have worked, but I just did old tap, tap without a problem.

 

I use this sight pusher:

https://www.opticsplanet.com/ncstar-universal-pistol-rear-sight-tool.html

 

I use this sight pusher:

View attachment 792622
https://www.opticsplanet.com/ncstar-universal-pistol-rear-sight-tool.html

How is the quality on it?

 

MGW makes great tools. I have a sight specific MGW sight pusher for the Glock and later bought their universal tool. Not exactly universal as have to buy pistol specific shoes for about $20 each.

First Glock original equipment sights are easy to tap out. How hard it will be to tap in a new sight depends on the sight. Some may require filing for fit. And some like xssights may come with loose fit and some loctite provided to hold in place.

Problems with tap in method is with tight fit will tend to move bench unless bench is real heavy and/or secured. Also when sight does move it generally moves too much, especially when dealing with tight fit.

One solution with Glock is to put slide in vise and tap out old sight which is easy. Then file new rear sight until it taps in easily and once get sighted in apply a good creeping red loctite. Clean sight and dovetail with non chlorinated brake cleaner or gun scrubber before install rear sight so loctite will adhere.

 

I used a vise and plastic punch for my G27. The punch was one you'd use to push AR15 takedown pins if they're really stiff. I taped cereal box cardboard to the jaws of the vise with masking tape and used extra pieces at the top of the jaws that were just wide enough to fit the flats of the sides of the slide minus the slide rails. I put the rear of the slide in the jaws such that the jaws did not apply pressure to the slide rails or any part of the slide between the breach face and the muzzle because the slide can crack and bend irreparably in those areas.

The factory plastic rear sight has a hollow base that is filled with a little steel plate and that plate can stay behind in the groove after you tap the sight out. Luckily I was able to get it out with the plastic punch but it was a pain, you may want to have a brass punch on hand in case.

Also if you do it make sure the slide is tight in the vise. If you drop the slide on the floor the slide rails and the tang the end of the guide rod seats into can bend or crack.

Some rear sights require the bottom flat to be filed down bit by bit until it fits into the dovetail tightly but not too tight. For my front sight I degreased the sight and screw with rubbing alcohol then put a small amount of blue loctite 242 on the the threads and let it set for 48 hours. I haven't had it come loose but I haven't done mag dump after mag dump with it.

 

You might also want to try this in lieu of a dedicated sight pusher. I've found lots of uses for this kit:
https://www.amazon.com/Winchester-Piece-Brass-Steel-Punch/dp/B005NBT0AM

And for your vise:
https://www.esslinger.com/soff-jaws-bench-vise-pads/

 

I used a nylon tipped punch. I don't think I've ever cursed and swore so much in all my life.

Even after filing the dovetail for a better fit. Finally had to add a drop of oil to get it in there.

Next time I'll splurge on a sight pusher.

 

A sight pusher avoids breaking the fragile tritium vials of a night sight.
Breakable tritium vials is the reason night sights aren’t returnable. Decide to buy your tritium sights from the local gun store with free installation, or pony up for sights and a pusher.

 

Leather mallet. Eyeball it. Shoot it to confirm. I figure if they’re not exactly centered I have something to blame my misses on.

 

My highly calibrated adjustment and installation vice is a nylon tipped hammer. For the rear sights only lol Never found a sight that took more than a few good smacks and the nylon hasn’t damaged any yet. Don’t do this with night sights though, use or borrow a pusher

 

I’ve used a sight pusher for years on the Glock 9mm and 45 slides, but had th resort to a brass drift after getting a couple of. 43s. Be gentle when tapping a tritium sight into a dovetail. That got expensive for me once.

 

I did a one time sight change with a punch and hammer. It worked dandy.

 

I got the MGW sight tool because not only does it remove and install rear sights, but it also allows for precise sight adjustments. I keep it in my range bag when I sight them in.

As an additional comment, a local lgs does Glock days where they have sales on Glocks, parts, etc. and usually a Glock armourer onside to install Glock accessories. For the sights, I notice they all seem to use the MGW rear sight tool.

Again, when at the range, hard to beat the tool for adjusting sights in controlled increments vs tapping and guessing.

 

If I did it often I may have spent money on a sight pusher. I'm a machinist and have a very good vise my Dad gave me, he was a tool maker. I used a piece of Delrin and a hammer. I didn't use a heighth gage, I just eyeballed in the rear sight. I bought a wrench for the front sight and lock tighted that with blue Loctite. I placed a scale on the side of the front to align with the slide before tightening it completely. If I wanted to get critical I could still move the rear sight but I'd say it's close enough as it is. Trijicons are advertised to be shock resistant, but still I wouldn't go crazy with a hard press fit, I filed a side of the sight a bit.

Over the last few months I called a couple of gunshops, one wanted $50 to do it, one was $25, the last one I called I got to talk to the gunsmith, he wanted $20. I asked him if he used a sight pusher and he said No, that he used a vise and an aluminum punch. After talking to him I decided to do it myself.

 

I understand about changing the front sight with the hex nut. But I wanted to know how you change the rear sight. Do you drift it out with a brass punch and drift the new one in ? Do you need to have it 'pressed' in instead ? Does the old one come out right to left,,,and the new one go in right to left,,or visa versa ?
Thank you

i recently put night sights on my 19 G5 & 43x. i put the slide in a vice with padded jaws. i use a nylon punch. rear sight on 43x came off with with one light hit with small hammer. glock sights are the easist to change of any gun i have worked on.
both were centered after shooting.

I understand about changing the front sight with the hex nut. But I wanted to know how you change the rear sight. Do you drift it out with a brass punch and drift the new one in ? Do you need to have it 'pressed' in instead ? Does the old one come out right to left,,,and the new one go in right to left,,or visa versa ?
Thank you

i recently put glock night sights on my 19 G5 & 43x. i put the slide in a padded vice. rear sight on 43x was on the floor with one light tap with nylon punch & small hammer. it came off that easy.
rear sights on both installed with a few small hits with nylon punch a sm hammer. centered both with micrometer . never had to adjust after shooting.

 

Hammer and punch works good don’t be afraid if they are steel sights nothing to worry about


Sent from my iPhone using Glock Talk

 

I have installed several sets on Glocks. My shooting friend bought a Pusher, and I changed sights for him too.
When I was getting ready to move to South Carolina I returned the pusher to him. I ordered a new pusher, and have not used it yet. I tried to just give him the new pusher, but he wanted the older one. The new one has finer threads and a height adjuster that the old one didn't have. I had made shims for the Glocks to fit.

 

The handful I've done I used a machinist vice and a piece of 1/4" brass rod as a punch. Tap out old. Fit new. Tap in new. No issues to date with tritium vials.

 

I just put Dawson adjustable sights on my g45 today. Used a aluminum punch that came with the sights.

 

For those that use a hammer and punch, how do you verify the rear sight is perfectly centered in the dovetail?

I use the NcStar tool and a cheap digital caliper to verify centering by 0.01” on each side.

 

I have the NcStar, it would not remove the rear sight on a S&W shield 9 or a Ruger LC9s.
A punch worked on the S&W, but I had to hacksaw the sight on the LC9S.
Eventually, I broke the arm off the part that actually pushes. Note to self, stop when the threaded piece starts to bow.
Being handy with tools, I turned the pusher part around and promptly broke the arm off the other side.
NcStar sent me a new piece but I got the MGW Pro and never looked back.