Sight installation - XDTalk Forums

glockstok · 07-04-2009, 03:20 PM

I got some really good advice on my earlier post regarding which night sight to select. Thank you very much for your advice. I'd like to turn the corner a bit and ask about installation. I have replaced the sights on several Glocks and a couple of Rugers, they where relatively easy. In the case of replacing the sights on my XD45 I am not so sure. Two different manufacturers (as well as a couple of you) recommend that I have a qualified gun smith install them for me. I will admit that the sights on the XD are much tighter than what I have experienced on any of the Glocks that I have worked on. The two Rugers that I have worked on were tight, I had to remove a little material from the sights to get them to press in. Have any of you done a sight replacement on your XD's before? I don't want to be overconfident in my ability nor do I want to damage the sights or slide, but on the other hand I just don't have the extra cash right now to send my slide out to a gun smith. I am a machinist by trade (retired) so I am familiar with press fits and tolerances. I can even make my own sight press tool if I had to. Thanks again!

hurley842002 · 07-04-2009, 03:42 PM

I have personally never installed a set, nor have I removed the factory ones. I have heard they are VERY Tight, you being a machinest by trade however shouldn't have any issues I wouldn't think, Provided you have the proper tools.

APismoClam · 07-04-2009, 04:27 PM

Unless you are planning on replacing a bunch of XD sights, for the expense of the materials/time in building your own XD sight pusher, and coupled with the risk of dicking up your beautiful XD because something slips, or goes "snap" in the middle of trying to push the sights out/in, Springfield customer service will do it for you quickly and for a very reasonable price.

Rumor has it that Springfield uses a special hydraulic press fixture to push the sights out. I can absolutely believe that, after attempting to get mine out with a sight pusher and a piece of steel pipe used as a lever arm. The rear sight actually made a 1/16" impression in the side of the pusher (made of tool steel, btw) and still would not budge.

Do yourself a favor and have Springfield do it for you.

Mr.510 · 07-04-2009, 08:02 PM

I'm an experienced machinist. I recently installed Trijicon night sights on my XD45C. I used the "Bridgeport as a press" method. There's a thread about it here somewhere, do a search. I used gauge blocks and a Kurt vise to hold the slide. Removing the stock sights involved WAY more force than I was willing to apply to a Bridgeport. I ended up used a punch wrapped in electrical tape to beat them out.... with a 3 pound hammer! Putting the rear in is easy as there's a nice, big flat area to push on with a dowel pin in the spindle. For the front I machined a tool steel pin that pushes on both the sight blade and the end of the dovetail, within .005 of the bottom of the dovetail. Long story short, doing it sucked. I now have a nice pusher pin so if I ever do other XDs I'm set but it really wasn't worth the effort. If I could have a "do-over" I'd buy a sight pusher tool. If you've got a lot more time than money and a Bridgeport, I wish you a happy afternoon project!

techman · 07-04-2009, 08:44 PM

I bought this tool, XD Sight Pusher, worked great, I had more trouble with the rear sight than the front. Installed a set of Trijicon sights, worked great.

-tim

fett701 · 07-04-2009, 10:04 PM

When changing the sights there is a few tips i can give you. Take 2 pieces of cardboard or similar material and place in between the slide and vice. So as not to mar the slide. Next make sure you have a vice with the ability to securely hold the slide. When you go to push the sights out put electrical tape on the end of the punch and check and replace often. Last but not least the old sights are pushed out to the left when looking at the back of the slide. New sights are pushed into the right. When i replaced my sights on a xd45svc i used a 75lb vice 4lb sledge and steel punch.

BJN644 · 07-05-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techman

I bought this tool, XD Sight Pusher, worked great, I had more trouble with the rear sight than the front. Installed a set of Trijicon sights, worked great.

-tim

+1 on the sight pusher.
I bought one of these to install a set of TFO's on my 45 compact, no problem at all with removal of the stock sights and new sight install. Well worth the investment for sight installation and future sight adjustment.

07-04-2009, 03:20 PM	#1
glockstok XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 12	Sight installation I got some really good advice on my earlier post regarding which night sight to select. Thank you very much for your advice. I'd like to turn the corner a bit and ask about installation. I have replaced the sights on several Glocks and a couple of Rugers, they where relatively easy. In the case of replacing the sights on my XD45 I am not so sure. Two different manufacturers (as well as a couple of you) recommend that I have a qualified gun smith install them for me. I will admit that the sights on the XD are much tighter than what I have experienced on any of the Glocks that I have worked on. The two Rugers that I have worked on were tight, I had to remove a little material from the sights to get them to press in. Have any of you done a sight replacement on your XD's before? I don't want to be overconfident in my ability nor do I want to damage the sights or slide, but on the other hand I just don't have the extra cash right now to send my slide out to a gun smith. I am a machinist by trade (retired) so I am familiar with press fits and tolerances. I can even make my own sight press tool if I had to. Thanks again!
	Share

07-04-2009, 03:42 PM	#2
hurley842002 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 127	I have personally never installed a set, nor have I removed the factory ones. I have heard they are VERY Tight, you being a machinest by trade however shouldn't have any issues I wouldn't think, Provided you have the proper tools. __________________ XD 9mm Sub-compact XD .45 Compact -The muzzle end of a .45 pretty much says "Go Away!" in every language! -Clint Smith
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07-04-2009, 04:27 PM	#3
APismoClam XDTalk Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Near Dizney Woild, FL Posts: 64	If you weigh the options... Unless you are planning on replacing a bunch of XD sights, for the expense of the materials/time in building your own XD sight pusher, and coupled with the risk of dicking up your beautiful XD because something slips, or goes "snap" in the middle of trying to push the sights out/in, Springfield customer service will do it for you quickly and for a very reasonable price. Rumor has it that Springfield uses a special hydraulic press fixture to push the sights out. I can absolutely believe that, after attempting to get mine out with a sight pusher and a piece of steel pipe used as a lever arm. The rear sight actually made a 1/16" impression in the side of the pusher (made of tool steel, btw) and still would not budge. Do yourself a favor and have Springfield do it for you.
	Share

07-04-2009, 08:02 PM	#4
Mr.510 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Belfair Washington Posts: 27	I'm an experienced machinist. I recently installed Trijicon night sights on my XD45C. I used the "Bridgeport as a press" method. There's a thread about it here somewhere, do a search. I used gauge blocks and a Kurt vise to hold the slide. Removing the stock sights involved WAY more force than I was willing to apply to a Bridgeport. I ended up used a punch wrapped in electrical tape to beat them out.... with a 3 pound hammer! Putting the rear in is easy as there's a nice, big flat area to push on with a dowel pin in the spindle. For the front I machined a tool steel pin that pushes on both the sight blade and the end of the dovetail, within .005 of the bottom of the dovetail. Long story short, doing it sucked. I now have a nice pusher pin so if I ever do other XDs I'm set but it really wasn't worth the effort. If I could have a "do-over" I'd buy a sight pusher tool. If you've got a lot more time than money and a Bridgeport, I wish you a happy afternoon project!
	Share

07-04-2009, 08:44 PM	#5
techman XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 51	I bought this tool, XD Sight Pusher, worked great, I had more trouble with the rear sight than the front. Installed a set of Trijicon sights, worked great. -tim
	Share

07-04-2009, 10:04 PM	#6
fett701 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hampton Roads, Va Posts: 264	When changing the sights there is a few tips i can give you. Take 2 pieces of cardboard or similar material and place in between the slide and vice. So as not to mar the slide. Next make sure you have a vice with the ability to securely hold the slide. When you go to push the sights out put electrical tape on the end of the punch and check and replace often. Last but not least the old sights are pushed out to the left when looking at the back of the slide. New sights are pushed into the right. When i replaced my sights on a xd45svc i used a 75lb vice 4lb sledge and steel punch. __________________ `You cant love life too much, everybody dies.' Boba Fett Even though i shall walk through the valley of death i shall fear no evil because i am the meanest mother@#$%er in the valley.
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