blasted front sight taper pins

Shadow9mm · July 30, 2020, 07:04 PM

trying to get a front sight off an AR. I cant get either of the taper pins to move. I checked diameter with calipers and started on the smaller side. Using a piece of wood with a hold drilled it it so it can move out. Must have hit it 100 times per pin, I alternated pins every 20 hits or so. Nothing is moving with good solid hits.... what am I doing wrong?

10-96 · July 30, 2020, 07:22 PM

I came across one like that a few years ago. I gave up on trying to get them out on my bench with a wood backer block. I used a metal plate and a wood spitting wedge and way-layed the tar out of it on the concrete floor. They'll eventually move.

Chipperman · July 30, 2020, 08:32 PM

Try soaking them with penetrating oil for a day or two then heating the FSB before pounding the pins

Shadow9mm · July 30, 2020, 08:38 PM

got them out. I got fed up and put the front sight straight on the vice jaws. I'm guessing the wood soaked up too much of the hits.

44caliberkid · July 30, 2020, 10:31 PM

I have the bench block for driving them out and still had one I could never get out. It was comical, I was hitting them so hard stuff was falling off my garage walls and shelves. It was an assembled barrel and front sight from a cheap complete AR parts set that Sarco was selling a couple years ago for $299. Probably all Chinese made. Most of the parts were out of spec, the springs were improperly tempered, defective. I think the only useable parts were the detent pins.

bfoosh006 · August 1, 2020, 01:12 PM

While this may sound silly.. you were hitting them on the correct side of the taper .. right ?

I say this because, maybe not everyone realizes that is exactly why they are called taper pins.

jetinteriorguy · August 1, 2020, 02:47 PM

Read the first post.

HiBC · August 1, 2020, 10:09 PM

As you said these are questionable parts....not all taper pins are equal.

A lot of them are soft,by design And some are hardened. Surface hardened,generally. You want the hard pins.

The soft ones can peen like a rivet on the small end as you beat on them.

bfoosh006 · August 1, 2020, 10:16 PM

Oops.. my bad.

Bartholomew Roberts · August 2, 2020, 02:27 PM

*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
Removed reluctant front sight taper pins without a Dremel

2 more achievements remain until true AR15 owner.

July 30, 2020, 07:04 PM	#1
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,974	blasted front sight taper pins trying to get a front sight off an AR. I cant get either of the taper pins to move. I checked diameter with calipers and started on the smaller side. Using a piece of wood with a hold drilled it it so it can move out. Must have hit it 100 times per pin, I alternated pins every 20 hits or so. Nothing is moving with good solid hits.... what am I doing wrong? __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

July 30, 2020, 07:22 PM	#2
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	I came across one like that a few years ago. I gave up on trying to get them out on my bench with a wood backer block. I used a metal plate and a wood spitting wedge and way-layed the tar out of it on the concrete floor. They'll eventually move. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

July 30, 2020, 08:38 PM	#4
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,974	got them out. I got fed up and put the front sight straight on the vice jaws. I'm guessing the wood soaked up too much of the hits. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload. Last edited by Shadow9mm; July 30, 2020 at 09:48 PM.

July 30, 2020, 08:32 PM	#3
Chipperman Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Location: Live Free or Die, Baby! Posts: 1,550	Try soaking them with penetrating oil for a day or two then heating the FSB before pounding the pins

July 30, 2020, 10:31 PM	#5
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	I have the bench block for driving them out and still had one I could never get out. It was comical, I was hitting them so hard stuff was falling off my garage walls and shelves. It was an assembled barrel and front sight from a cheap complete AR parts set that Sarco was selling a couple years ago for $299. Probably all Chinese made. Most of the parts were out of spec, the springs were improperly tempered, defective. I think the only useable parts were the detent pins.

August 1, 2020, 01:12 PM	#6
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	While this may sound silly.. you were hitting them on the correct side of the taper .. right ? I say this because, maybe not everyone realizes that is exactly why they are called taper pins.

August 1, 2020, 02:47 PM	#7
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,175	Read the first post.

August 1, 2020, 10:09 PM	#8
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	As you said these are questionable parts....not all taper pins are equal. A lot of them are soft,by design And some are hardened. Surface hardened,generally. You want the hard pins. The soft ones can peen like a rivet on the small end as you beat on them.

August 1, 2020, 10:16 PM	#9
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Oops.. my bad.

August 2, 2020, 02:27 PM	#10
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED Removed reluctant front sight taper pins without a Dremel 2 more achievements remain until true AR15 owner.