Okay, I'm an idiot -- Help Needed

2019 Views 19 Replies 9 Participants Last post by hobocircus, Apr 17, 2005

Hangfire

Discussion Starter · Apr 17, 2005

Well, sorta.

So, I pick up a new set of Truglo TFO sights from Pistol Gear. They arrive 3 days after ordering (All the way up here in Alaska, no less). I'm really impressed with their service and turn around, BTW. I pop in Don's Guide rod and a 22 lb. 1911 Compact spring. Nice, there's a good deal more resistance when I work the slide.

Then I go onto the meat of my day's modification activity, the sights.

Holy cow. I read a bunch of threads here saying how much of a bear they are to remove off an XD. I have a black 4" model. Good grief! I've broken two brass punches, found an excuse to go buy a new drill press vice so I can do this sort of work, completely ruined a perfectly good plastic mallet, and broken a steel punch on the sights.

End result: My sights are beat to hell, but I've been careful and only barely messed up the finish on my pistol. The sights are dented all over, and the darned thing probably won't shoot straight -- maybe. I'll give Springfield and the Croatian designers credit, the sights can take a beating. They're dented, but still straight and have not moved at /all/.

Any other tricks and tips? I've frozen the slide for 10 minutes to two hours, and used a soldering iron to try to hear the loctite up to melting point. Nothing's worked. I'm almost embarassed to bring this mess to a gunsmith at this point, and would like to get the new sights installed before my range day tomorrow.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

willbond

· #2 · Apr 17, 2005

You're not an idiot (except for trying to work on XD sights in the first place). You need AJames. Do you have a Bat Signal type light with the XD Logo that you can shine on a nearby cloud?

hobocircus

· #3 · Apr 17, 2005

My rear sight loosened up while shooting a few months ago. It wasn't enough to drop off and get lost, but I discovered it in time to catch it.
If looking from the rear of the pistol the sights will go off from left to right. I could tell this because of some light wear marks from the factory when they were first staked on. Actually in my case the rear sight was so loose it would have come off in either direction.
I don't have any experience with the front sight coming loose on either of my XDs so I don't have a comment on that subject.
Since you have already tried several methods and spent some money on this manuever, I would find a good gunsmith on monday and have them use a sight pusher. Shouldn't cost much if the gunsmith is fair.
Good luck

R Dub

· #4 · Apr 17, 2005

It was my THIRD Dawson fiber optic that finally got put on. Finaly took it to Gene at Northern Security and he fixed up my errors and scars and installed it for $20.00. I will never attempt sight removal again on a XD. Take to someone that has the proper tools to do it.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum!!

Hangfire

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 17, 2005

Thanks for the quick responses, all. Yeah, the irony here is that between the plastic mallet I picked up, and the vice I put on my reloading bench today, I could have just paid a gunsmith to do the work. But, what can I say? I'm a do-it-yourselfer at heart, and sights just shouldn't be this hard to remove.

Anyhow. I know where Northern Security is (I drive past it every day to work) so I'll give him a call. Thanks for the help.

Also, I've seen reference to AJames several places around here. Is he a poster in this forum?

Edit: I just caught something another poster put up. Is that correct? When looking down the sights from the rear of the XD, they come off from left to right? If so...er. I found my problem.

R Dub

· #6 · Apr 17, 2005

Ajames post everywhere. Heck, he ought to be our "poster child", aka XD Guru!!!

Don

· #7 · Apr 17, 2005

Hangfire said:
Edit: I just caught something another poster put up. Is that correct? When looking down the sights from the rear of the XD, they come off from left to right? If so...er. I found my problem.

As I remember from right to left, so that is not your problem. A drill press vice may be a bit small and have too much flex. You definately need a solid vice so that there is no energy lost when you are hammering.

ajamesp51

· #8 · Apr 17, 2005

Left to right as don stated are not the problem the dovetails are not tapered they can actually come out either way. But heck why devurginize your whole dove tail its better to take them out like they put them in. Tap the sights out oppisite the ejection port. As if holding the pistol to shoot from right to left.

What others mean is that I install the sights for free for anyone who buys sights from me with free return shiping for the slide or for 15.00 bucks with return shipping. Turnaround time is less than 24hrs and I was going to say that I warrent the work so your sights and slide dont get mangeled up but its kind of too late for your sights. Take it to a local smith if you can and get them to do it with proper tools becuase you should fit the new sights in if you go banging on them you can crack your glass tritium vials or knock you light pipes off...either way Truglo will tell you your out of luck. Hey at least you sights would have never fell out like other xd`s have.

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Hangfire

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 17, 2005

Yeah, well, I tried my big bench clamp vice first.

I'm about ready to impact drill an oak plank into my garage floor -- at least then I'll know I have a solid base!

And, BTW, I love your guide rod. Really slick little item. Can't wait to see how it shoots.

ajamesp51

· #10 · Apr 17, 2005

Rdub I have to hang out with dumb people that way I feel smarter

just playing. Listen I guess I will let out some of my plans.... my time line is two years so I can graduate and not over extend my self. But now xd-hs000 has grown is my full time job, but as said within two years I am opening a "real gun store" aka brick and morter to compete with the local stores still keeping the same things I have learned with xd-hs2000 and extending it into a real store. Customers like having someone thats always willing to help no matter what. Basically I owe having an awsome job to the people on this forum so I help when I can.

Hangfire

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 17, 2005

Silly double-post.

Sorry.

Thanks again for all the advice, folks.

R Dub

· #12 · Apr 17, 2005

Hangfire. We're having an IDPA trophy match tomorrow at the indoor range in Palmer - Mat Valley Sportsman Range. Shooting starts at 8:30AM and we will be there most of the day. Come on out and have a look-see if you're interested in IDPA competition.
www.mvsrange.com
If interested, call me if you need info or directions. I'm in Eagle River. 696-3369.

G

· #13 · Apr 17, 2005

James,

If you build it, I will come. I live 1 1/2 hours away, but would be great to meet you and get my XD tricked out.

Good luck. Sounds like your sight deal is hard beat. Might have to get some.

Tony

ajamesp51

· #14 · Apr 17, 2005

Preacher you should have came out to the ar15.com group shoot at the FOP range in Birmingham. I had all my xds out there. We had a plate match and the just some fun class 3 and riffle shooting. We had a GA vs Al shoot. I am shure GA won they had some good shooters.

Hangfire

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 17, 2005

R Dub:

PM sent. Thanks for letting me know.

Hangfire

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 17, 2005

Update.

I'm tenacious, sometimes. Okay, I admit it: I'm stubborn.

I've got shiny spots from friction on my slide now (guess I'm gonna get a refinish this summer)....but:

With a little freezing, thawing and liberal application of WD-40 on the front sight dovetail, I managed to work the sight free. Maybe I just hammered it enough with my (last) bronze punch, but the WD-40 after two freeze-thaw cycles seemed to do the trick.

Now I've got a pistol with no sights. I'm afraid to try to mount the truglos.

bgf

· #17 · Apr 17, 2005

Is this what you call 'open sights'??

B.G.

slowpoke13

· #18 · Apr 17, 2005

No sights? damn.. that sucks... But hey, there's a silver lining. Go down to the range and plink off a couple hundred rounds or so. See where your natural shot it. This should help your overall presentation and bring to bear a "natural" picture. If you can be accurate w/o the sights (solid, center mass) you're much more likely to hit center mass under stress. Every time I go to the range (with a spotter), I practice "blind shooting". Just to see where my natural draw is. The spotter is there to make sure I'm being safe and actually pointing in the right direction.

I wouldn't shoot for competion like this. But, it's a good test to see where you natually shoot.

Joseph Humphrey

· #19 · Apr 17, 2005

hobocircus said:
My rear sight loosened up while shooting a few months ago. It wasn't enough to drop off and get lost, but I discovered it in time to catch it.
If looking from the rear of the pistol the sights will go off from left to right. I could tell this because of some light wear marks from the factory when they were first staked on. Actually in my case the rear sight was so loose it would have come off in either direction.
I don't have any experience with the front sight coming loose on either of my XDs so I don't have a comment on that subject.
Since you have already tried several methods and spent some money on this manuever, I would find a good gunsmith on monday and have them use a sight pusher. Shouldn't cost much if the gunsmith is fair.
Good luck

the same thing happened with my 4" 40. i started off the day with good groups, changed out the target, and all of my shots were center mass, but scattered left to right. pissed me off till my rear sight hit the floor...

the gun smith had to work like hell with a pusher to get the new sights back in.

Has this happened with anyone elses XD? the sights falling off that is?

hobocircus

· #20 · Apr 17, 2005

Yes, when my rear sight came loose it was so loose it would slide freely in both directions no problem. I could see a slight tracking on the right side when it was first slid on from the factory. In my pistol the rear sight was installed from left to right at the factory. I guess at the factory, the sight installers just put on sights from which ever direction feels good that day. I still can't figure out how the sight is staked in, either with a whack from a hammer or some guntite or glue?
I simply cleaned out the channel with gun scrubber and fixed it in place with some guntite. No problems since then.
My Tactical has no sight problems (so far

)

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