Pinned front sight

Marred · August 27, 2012, 09:15 PM

Hi, I have a S&W Mod 60 with a pinned front sight that I want to replace. The research I've done shows the correct way to do it is, remove pin, remove old sight and install new sight and clamp down, then with a hand drill, drill a new hole in the new sight using the existing pin holes as a guide for the drill bit. My question is will using the existing holes as a guide enlarge the holes? What else can go wrong? Like drilling crooked. Will marking the holes and then drilling on a drill press with the sight removed from the gun be a better way to do this? What are the pros and cons of either of these techniques? Thanks in advance for any help.

Marred · August 28, 2012, 01:34 AM

Yup, the information I came across was just as hard to get. Another gunsmithing mystery.

mete · August 28, 2012, 09:44 AM

The clamp is to make sure the sight is seated all the way down. Start the hole with an undersize drill ,then redrill with one that will require light tapping to seat the pin .Then it's there properly.

PetahW · August 28, 2012, 11:08 AM

If you're concerned that your drill bit will enlarge the existing holes in the rib/ramp, you can consider the drill bit used a "sacrificial lamb", and utilize it's shank (ground to length) as the "new" pin.

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Slopemeno · August 29, 2012, 12:49 PM

Here's how I did it: Securely clamp the two front sights side by side, and drill through the old pin hole to make your new pin hole. This preserves the tightness of the pin hole in the barrel.

August 27, 2012, 09:15 PM	#1
Marred Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 82	Pinned front sight Hi, I have a S&W Mod 60 with a pinned front sight that I want to replace. The research I've done shows the correct way to do it is, remove pin, remove old sight and install new sight and clamp down, then with a hand drill, drill a new hole in the new sight using the existing pin holes as a guide for the drill bit. My question is will using the existing holes as a guide enlarge the holes? What else can go wrong? Like drilling crooked. Will marking the holes and then drilling on a drill press with the sight removed from the gun be a better way to do this? What are the pros and cons of either of these techniques? Thanks in advance for any help. __________________ Guns don't kill people, the bullets do.

August 28, 2012, 01:34 AM	#2
Marred Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 82	Yup, the information I came across was just as hard to get. Another gunsmithing mystery. __________________ Guns don't kill people, the bullets do.

August 28, 2012, 09:44 AM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	The clamp is to make sure the sight is seated all the way down. Start the hole with an undersize drill ,then redrill with one that will require light tapping to seat the pin .Then it's there properly. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

August 28, 2012, 11:08 AM	#4
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	If you're concerned that your drill bit will enlarge the existing holes in the rib/ramp, you can consider the drill bit used a "sacrificial lamb", and utilize it's shank (ground to length) as the "new" pin. .

August 29, 2012, 12:49 PM	#5
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Here's how I did it: Securely clamp the two front sights side by side, and drill through the old pin hole to make your new pin hole. This preserves the tightness of the pin hole in the barrel.