So I changed my sights..... - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Mountaineer10 · 05-04-2008, 12:26 PM

For my first post, I would like to say that the sights on a XD are tough enough to give Owen Schmitt a run for his money.

When I received my XS Big Dot sights, I figured I would go to my work bench and install them real quick. Well I ended up bradding my brass punch, and getting frustated when I couldn't get them to budge with a steel one.

Since I have access to a metal shop full of equipment, I decided to get a few buddies to help me change my sights with the propper equipment. We then gather up a 4lb hammer, a punch set, and a Kano Kroil and head to the vice table. We soaked the sights with Kroil, padded the vice, and made a wood insert so the slide wouldn't get bent. We hammered away...nothing. So we move to the end mill, where we promptly break a 1/8th inch bit trying to mill the front sight in half to drive it out in two pieces. Back to the bench with more Kroil and more determination. We broke out the hack saw and the die grinder. The hacksaw wouldn't even scratch the finish on the front sight and we decided against the die grinder because we might scratch the finish. So after some deliberation we took a brazing tip and heated the front sight to break any Loctite loose, and began to wail away, bam the front sight breaks and we can then hammer out the remainder. We then hit the rear with the brazing tip and it slides out relatively easily.

The Big Dot front slide in relatively easily with the plastic punch provided, and we used a set of calipers to center it. The rear went in about 1/16th and bound up. We flatten the plastic punch, then proceed to have to use a steel punch with a leather pad to stop from marring the sight. It went after about 15 minutes, and we centered it using the calipers.

The vial in the rear sight still glows, so I reckon we didn't break it, and when my buddy asked what if you don't like the new sights, I replied "I'll sell the damn pistol". If the rest of the gun is as tough as the OEM sights, then Glock never had a chance.

By the way, it was about 6.5 man hours of hard work and not even a scratch to the finish!

Conceyted · 05-04-2008, 12:38 PM

How do you like the BigDot? I have a standard XD dot on the front of my S&W 340 and I am about to either send my TruGlo's in for refund or replacement and then sell them used on here. I am considering either the Trijicon's or XD Standard Dot. I just think the 3 posts works out pretty nicely and have considered just going Trijicon.

Mountaineer10 · 05-04-2008, 12:44 PM

The dot gets picked up by the eye really fast. Couple that with the pointability of the XD and I am really liking this combo. I have Novak night sights on my custon 1911, and they work well, but the Big Dot sights are intrinsically faster. I am shooting them tuesday so I will see how they do accuracy wise.

**bruce21b** · 05-04-2008, 01:44 PM

ive read several posts about trying to change XD sights and how it takes a small thermo-nuclear bomb to get them to budge....why are they so tight??? im glad in a way because ill never have to worry about my XD9 sights falling off....LOLOL

**mhillsing23** · 05-04-2008, 05:22 PM

What model XD did you put these on? I heard that they aren't intended for the SC, does anyone have any information on that?

charlie.45 · 05-04-2008, 06:22 PM

i wouldnt get rid of the gun if ya didnt like the new sights might of been a joke but i know gander mnt up here told me 30 bucks to change sights..seems pretty cheap especially since i dont have any of the tools needed to do it myself..

bigjimmy57 · 05-04-2008, 06:49 PM

Well this post was rather helpful. I think I will just pay someone. Jimmy

charlie.45 · 05-04-2008, 07:23 PM

hey i'm all for doing it yourself if you have the right tools and knowhow but i'm not familiar with changing sights out and from what i hear (hence this thread) is that it normally a real pain in the a** to change xd sights even with the right sight remover tool. so until i either get the right tools and read up on it some or pay somebody to do it i personally would not attempt it.

foo.c · 05-04-2008, 09:31 PM

My rear sight isn't quite centered, so I decided one day to see if I could tap it over a little bit. I beat on it for half an hour and all it did was ding up the sight a little bit.

bama · 05-04-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foo.c

My rear sight isn't quite centered, so I decided one day to see if I could tap it over a little bit. I beat on it for half an hour and all it did was ding up the sight a little bit.

Did you loosen the screw first?

05-04-2008, 12:26 PM	#1
Mountaineer10 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 12	So I changed my sights..... For my first post, I would like to say that the sights on a XD are tough enough to give Owen Schmitt a run for his money. When I received my XS Big Dot sights, I figured I would go to my work bench and install them real quick. Well I ended up bradding my brass punch, and getting frustated when I couldn't get them to budge with a steel one. Since I have access to a metal shop full of equipment, I decided to get a few buddies to help me change my sights with the propper equipment. We then gather up a 4lb hammer, a punch set, and a Kano Kroil and head to the vice table. We soaked the sights with Kroil, padded the vice, and made a wood insert so the slide wouldn't get bent. We hammered away...nothing. So we move to the end mill, where we promptly break a 1/8th inch bit trying to mill the front sight in half to drive it out in two pieces. Back to the bench with more Kroil and more determination. We broke out the hack saw and the die grinder. The hacksaw wouldn't even scratch the finish on the front sight and we decided against the die grinder because we might scratch the finish. So after some deliberation we took a brazing tip and heated the front sight to break any Loctite loose, and began to wail away, bam the front sight breaks and we can then hammer out the remainder. We then hit the rear with the brazing tip and it slides out relatively easily. The Big Dot front slide in relatively easily with the plastic punch provided, and we used a set of calipers to center it. The rear went in about 1/16th and bound up. We flatten the plastic punch, then proceed to have to use a steel punch with a leather pad to stop from marring the sight. It went after about 15 minutes, and we centered it using the calipers. The vial in the rear sight still glows, so I reckon we didn't break it, and when my buddy asked what if you don't like the new sights, I replied "I'll sell the damn pistol". If the rest of the gun is as tough as the OEM sights, then Glock never had a chance. By the way, it was about 6.5 man hours of hard work and not even a scratch to the finish!

05-04-2008, 12:38 PM	#2
Conceyted XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 477	How do you like the BigDot? I have a standard XD dot on the front of my S&W 340 and I am about to either send my TruGlo's in for refund or replacement and then sell them used on here. I am considering either the Trijicon's or XD Standard Dot. I just think the 3 posts works out pretty nicely and have considered just going Trijicon. __________________ Chris XD Sub Compact 9mm in Black S&W M&P 340CT .357mag

05-04-2008, 01:44 PM	#4
bruce21b XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 499	ive read several posts about trying to change XD sights and how it takes a small thermo-nuclear bomb to get them to budge....why are they so tight??? im glad in a way because ill never have to worry about my XD9 sights falling off....LOLOL __________________ Springfield XD-9 Service Sig Sauer P-229 Wilson Combat CQB (when gas prices come down to earth)

05-04-2008, 05:22 PM	#5
mhillsing23 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: +38 26 31 -90 22 48 Posts: 2,500	What model XD did you put these on? I heard that they aren't intended for the SC, does anyone have any information on that? __________________ Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them. - Ronald Wilson Reagan

05-04-2008, 06:22 PM	#6
charlie.45 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maumee,OH Posts: 1,104	i wouldnt get rid of the gun if ya didnt like the new sights might of been a joke but i know gander mnt up here told me 30 bucks to change sights..seems pretty cheap especially since i dont have any of the tools needed to do it myself.. __________________ Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! Patrick Henry

05-04-2008, 12:44 PM	#3
Mountaineer10 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 12	The dot gets picked up by the eye really fast. Couple that with the pointability of the XD and I am really liking this combo. I have Novak night sights on my custon 1911, and they work well, but the Big Dot sights are intrinsically faster. I am shooting them tuesday so I will see how they do accuracy wise.

05-04-2008, 06:49 PM	#7
bigjimmy57 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ellabell, Ga outside of savannah Posts: 115	Well this post was rather helpful. I think I will just pay someone. Jimmy

05-04-2008, 07:23 PM	#8
charlie.45 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maumee,OH Posts: 1,104	hey i'm all for doing it yourself if you have the right tools and knowhow but i'm not familiar with changing sights out and from what i hear (hence this thread) is that it normally a real pain in the a to change xd sights even with the right sight remover tool. so until i either get the right tools and read up on it some or pay somebody to do it i personally would not attempt it. __________________ Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! Patrick Henry**

05-04-2008, 09:31 PM	#9
foo.c XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 207	My rear sight isn't quite centered, so I decided one day to see if I could tap it over a little bit. I beat on it for half an hour and all it did was ding up the sight a little bit. __________________ Springfield EMP

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