OK guys, My front sight just fell off. PICTURES - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

atkamano · 11-25-2005, 12:39 PM

First off, I treat my XD like a kitten. I barely shoot it, only on occasions I actually have time to go to the range. (Not often)

I sent in my XD to be refinished in Tuff Gun 2 and Tuff gun 1 coats at Mac McGraw's shop. During the coating process, Mac encountered some errors on the surface of the slide, and had to shave off a couple of thousandths of an inch to smoothen the surface. After that he applied the coatings, no problem. What this did, however, is create a small gap between the front and rear sights and the slide itself. (the sights' height remained the same, while the slide's grooves became shallower)

I don't know if that has to do with anything, but a couple days ago I was practicing reholstering my XD in a tactical holster, and all of a sudden, the front sight just fell off. The gun was never dropped, it was never banged against anything. Upon inspecting the groove where the front sight was, I saw a gluey material. Are front sights supposed to be glued on?

I emailed MAC twice already within the last week about the problem and if he could fix it for me since he put the sights back on the XD, but I have not received a response yet.

I am getting a little worried here guys....do I have to purchase a new slide and have it recoated all over again?

Any help would be appreciated.

ichy_trigger · 11-25-2005, 12:52 PM

Use a center punch, a spring-loaded one would work, and put some dimples on the dovetailed portion of your sight. Then get some red locktite and put a drop in the slot and tap your sight back into place. Let it dry for an hour or so and your good to go.

ajamesp51 · 11-25-2005, 02:16 PM

Just use some red loktite and it should be allright.

**Frenchy** · 11-25-2005, 10:26 PM

Both of these gentlemen have the ticket. Go forth now, and shoot.

atkamano · 11-26-2005, 02:32 AM

I am just wondering.......doesn't the front sight get hammered in just like the rear sights?

Or is it normal for the front sight to be glued in?

**Old School** · 11-26-2005, 07:49 AM

As AJames noted, the simplest fix would be to apply some red loctite. It won't move after that.

ajamesp51 · 11-26-2005, 11:23 AM

Well if you refinish a firearm especially with a spray on usually the firearm is not Fully cured when it is reassembled. So instead of banging all over your sight to get it in like it was as hard to get off you can shave the bottom of the sight. take the base that fits in the dove tail and just make it fit it should go in without having to torque to hell and back but some loctite will be required to get the full fit that wont fall out.

ajamesp51 · 11-26-2005, 11:24 AM

Oh yea remember it is a Holiday week, I even got calls on Thanksgiving day for orders. I took some of them but if he works for him self like I do he may have the week off.

atkamano · 11-26-2005, 02:09 PM

How do I make sure that the front sight does not come off again?

Is there a really permanent way to attach the front sight so that it does not come off when I really need it? (example: self defense, quick draw from holster)

Or is this locktite so strong that even God's hands won't be able to peel them off of the gun?

JD McDorce · 11-26-2005, 02:19 PM

Loctite Red should suffice. TIG weld, silver solder, and Loctite Black Max are other options, but probably not necessary.

11-25-2005, 12:39 PM	#1
atkamano XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 87	OK guys, My front sight just fell off. PICTURES First off, I treat my XD like a kitten. I barely shoot it, only on occasions I actually have time to go to the range. (Not often) I sent in my XD to be refinished in Tuff Gun 2 and Tuff gun 1 coats at Mac McGraw's shop. During the coating process, Mac encountered some errors on the surface of the slide, and had to shave off a couple of thousandths of an inch to smoothen the surface. After that he applied the coatings, no problem. What this did, however, is create a small gap between the front and rear sights and the slide itself. (the sights' height remained the same, while the slide's grooves became shallower) I don't know if that has to do with anything, but a couple days ago I was practicing reholstering my XD in a tactical holster, and all of a sudden, the front sight just fell off. The gun was never dropped, it was never banged against anything. Upon inspecting the groove where the front sight was, I saw a gluey material. Are front sights supposed to be glued on? I emailed MAC twice already within the last week about the problem and if he could fix it for me since he put the sights back on the XD, but I have not received a response yet. I am getting a little worried here guys....do I have to purchase a new slide and have it recoated all over again? Any help would be appreciated.

11-25-2005, 12:52 PM	#2
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 8,069	Use a center punch, a spring-loaded one would work, and put some dimples on the dovetailed portion of your sight. Then get some red locktite and put a drop in the slot and tap your sight back into place. Let it dry for an hour or so and your good to go. __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

11-25-2005, 02:16 PM	#3
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,026	Just use some red loktite and it should be allright. __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

11-25-2005, 10:26 PM	#4
Frenchy XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Mid-Missouri Posts: 14,271	Both of these gentlemen have the ticket. Go forth now, and shoot. __________________ ~SC Harvey~ "The Republicans know we have a constitution, and they dismiss it with contempt and arrogance ... The Democrats simply never heard of it ..."--Livyjr-2008

11-26-2005, 07:49 AM	#6
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,695	As AJames noted, the simplest fix would be to apply some red loctite. It won't move after that. __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

11-26-2005, 02:32 AM	#5
atkamano XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 87	I am just wondering.......doesn't the front sight get hammered in just like the rear sights? Or is it normal for the front sight to be glued in?

11-26-2005, 11:23 AM	#7
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,026	Well if you refinish a firearm especially with a spray on usually the firearm is not Fully cured when it is reassembled. So instead of banging all over your sight to get it in like it was as hard to get off you can shave the bottom of the sight. take the base that fits in the dove tail and just make it fit it should go in without having to torque to hell and back but some loctite will be required to get the full fit that wont fall out. __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

11-26-2005, 11:24 AM	#8
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,026	Oh yea remember it is a Holiday week, I even got calls on Thanksgiving day for orders. I took some of them but if he works for him self like I do he may have the week off. __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

11-26-2005, 02:09 PM	#9
atkamano XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 87	How do I make sure that the front sight does not come off again? Is there a really permanent way to attach the front sight so that it does not come off when I really need it? (example: self defense, quick draw from holster) Or is this locktite so strong that even God's hands won't be able to peel them off of the gun?

11-26-2005, 02:19 PM	#10
JD McDorce XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 1,267	Loctite Red should suffice. TIG weld, silver solder, and Loctite Black Max are other options, but probably not necessary.

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