Front sight shot loose, what Loctite to use?

[kraigster414]

Hi. My front Heinie sight shot loose on my XD45c. I have a choice of three different Loctites:

1. red
2. 609 (retaining compound/press fit but not for high heat) - fills caps to .005
3. 620 (retaining compound/slip fit) for high heat surfaces - fills caps to .015

Which is best? I don't want to have to do this again. Keep in mind, if you have your slide refinished, they are going to take your sights off and re-install them afterwards. Everytime you take sights off you strip a little metal off the sides. When you re-install them, they are never going to be as snug so Loctite is an absolute must.

[XD 9 Loaded Sub-Compact]

I don't know if it's still under warrenty but I'd use that first if it's an option. Even if it's not I'd try calling Springfield anyway and see if they won't just hook it up.

[kraigster414]

Originally Posted by XD 9 Loaded Sub-Compact

I don't know if it's still under warrenty but I'd use that first if it's an option. Even if it's not I'd try calling Springfield anyway and see if they won't just hook it up.

huh?

[XD 9 Loaded Sub-Compact]

yeah my bad, I speed read it and thought it said your site was loose... never mind and discount previous post.

[Grip]

i use red loctite on all of my firearm's...havent had any problem's yet.

i even went over my dad's AR the other day and red loctite'd a bunch of thing's.

[ralphh]

What I would also do in conjunction with the loctite is, Get a small center punch, (1/4") and punch the dovetail on the slide in about 3-4 places staying away from the edges of the dovetail. What this will do besides put a punch mark in the dovetail, is raise the metal in the area around the punch mark and in doing so, tighten up the fit between the sight and the slide. After punching, a small dab of loctite, install front sight, and that should do it. I did this on a 1911 I have, I could remove the front sight easily by hand, after punching and a little loctite, it's still tight and has never moved again, that was 5 yrs ago...

[kraigster414]

Originally Posted by ralphh

What I would also do in conjunction with the loctite is, Get a small center punch, (1/4") and punch the dovetail on the slide in about 3-4 places staying away from the edges of the dovetail. What this will do besides put a punch mark in the dovetail, is raise the metal in the area around the punch mark and in doing so, tighten up the fit between the sight and the slide. After punching, a small dab of loctite, install front sight, and that should do it. I did this on a 1911 I have, I could remove the front sight easily by hand, after punching and a little loctite, it's still tight and has never moved again, that was 5 yrs ago...

Good tip. A less invasisve approach is to apply Loctite to the base of the sight and the dovetail. Position the sight in the dovetail so it is even on both sides. Then, with the sight positioned the way you want it, apply a few more drops of Loctite to the edges of the site base where it contacts the edge of the dovetail. Let the Loctite seep in, wait a minute or so and wipe off the excess. This allows the Loctite to fill in the gaps and harden preventing the sight from moving even under heavy recoil. I have used this approach before even with sights that could be moved back and forth in the dovetail easily with my finger, and it works. Let things cure overnight.

Thanks guys and something to think about for those who are considering getting their slides refinished. Watch those sights afterwards - they may look snug but if you are shooting .45 ACP in particular, be careful. Better yet, tell whoever is doing the work to use Loctite when they reinstall them. Blue (medium strength) is not IMHO strong enough for this purpose. Go with red or one of the Loctite retaining compounds.

[ggruber]

Originally Posted by kraigster414

Hi. My front Heinie sight shot loose on my XD45c. I have a choice of three different Loctites:

1. red
2. 609 (retaining compound/press fit but not for high heat) - fills caps to .005
3. 620 (retaining compound/slip fit) for high heat surfaces - fills caps to .015

Which is best? I don't want to have to do this again. Keep in mind, if you have your slide refinished, they are going to take your sights off and re-install them afterwards. Everytime you take sights off you strip a little metal off the sides. When you re-install them, they are never going to be as snug so Loctite is an absolute must.

don't use loctite. go to your local auto parts store and get a set of feeler gauges. start with 0.002. cut a small strip, smaller than the size of your sight, and slip it underneath. if you can push 1/3 of your sight into the dovetail by hand, you have the correct thickness.

if not, keep increasing the thickness, .001 at a time until you find the correct shim stock thickness.

i have used this technique many, many times. always works.

[kraigster414]

Originally Posted by ggruber

don't use loctite. go to your local auto parts store and get a set of feeler gauges. start with 0.002. cut a small strip, smaller than the size of your sight, and slip it underneath. if you can push 1/3 of your sight into the dovetail by hand, you have the correct thickness.

if not, keep increasing the thickness, .001 at a time until you find the correct shim stock thickness.

i have used this technique many, many times. always works.

I would consider what you suggested only if Loctite didn't work. No offense but I think that is overkill. 9 times out of 10, a simple and quick application of Loctite Red or Loctite 609 (every gun owner should have a small tube of Red Loctite onhand, ditto for blue) will do the trick of securing your sight in place - now and forever.