Stubborn Front Sight

[Will556]

My friend owns a P320 XFIVE. He wants to have the slide Cerakoted but is absolutely unable to remove the front sight. We have tried a front sight pusher, we have tried a punches and a hammer (and I have given it some good whacks!) and literally nothing...that thing won’t budge for anything. Has anyone in here had any similar issues? Does Sig install their front sight with red loctite or some similar product? I’ve got two different methods to try from my research...
1) Heat it up with a torch to get it nice and hot and then try and knock it out.
2) Use penetrating oil, re-apply more penetrating oil {in case it’s rust that has bonded the two together} and let it sit for about 24 hours. Then use one of the biofreeze wart things to spray on the front sight to make it cold to hopefully shrink it slightly, then knock it out. Has anyone on here had issues with a sight that literally will not move the slightest bit?

 

[Edwardteach72]

Is it screwed in?

 

[kev74]

Try some heat. Not wreck the finish hot, but warm it with a torch.

 

[MilesTeg]

Does Sig use a beveled dove tail? So you can only push it in or remove it, in one direction? Have you tried pushing from the other side? Just spit-balling here no experience with them.

 

[Will556]

Is it screwed in?

I even checked that, I was like I’m gonna feel like a reall asshole if I’m trying to knock this sight out and it’s screwed in. But nope! Definitely not screwed in.

 

[nortatoga]

Put it in the freezer overnight?

 

[Edwardteach72]

Put it in the freezer overnight?

This
Freeze not heat first

 

[GOYABEAN]

Just a steady with proper tool's

 

[Bustedknees]

Sight Removal: Left to Right or Right to Left?

sigtalk.com

 

[Will556]

Sight Removal: Left to Right or Right to Left?

sigtalk.com

I’ve read different directions for installing/removing the sights. Even in the video that @GOYABEAN just posted. It’s opposite of what the majority of people are saying. What appears to be the correct way to install and remove the sight is when you’re looking at the slide from the rear (as if you were shooting it), the sight should be pushed out to the left {opposite ejection port side}. And when installing the sight, it should be pushed in from the left to the right. Which is the way I have been trying...and it won’t move the slightest amount.

 

[Will556]

This
Freeze not heat first

I decided to try this and now it’s sitting in my freezer. Yes the front sight will constrict very slightly because of the cold, but won’t the slide constrict in the cold as well and it’ll remain just as tight. Then I’ll just be in the same boat as before, except I’ll just be hitting on a cold slide and sight?

 

[kev74]

I decided to try this and now it’s sitting in my freezer. Yes the front sight will constrict very slightly because of the cold, but won’t the slide constrict in the cold as well and it’ll remain just as tight. Then I’ll just be in the same boat as before, except I’ll just be hitting on a cold slide and sight?

Maybe you'll get lucky and the sight will shatter when you hit it.

Heat on the slide will do 2 things - it will expand the size of the dovetail, and it will soften any glue/loctite/gunk that might be holding the sight in place.

A sturdy (and padded) vise to hold the slide will help a ton.

 

[Will556]

Maybe you'll get lucky and the sight will shatter when you hit it.

Heat on the slide will do 2 things - it will expand the size of the dovetail, and it will soften any glue/loctite/gunk that might be holding the sight in place.

A sturdy (and padded) vise to hold the slide will help a ton.

Honestly, I’ve already talked with my friend and said that we might destroy this front sight to get it off. He’s ok with it, a new front sight isn’t expensive anyway. If it’s anything like red loctite, heat is the only way to get this stupid thing off. But if it’s rust, the penetrating oil and some cold seems to be the only way. If you saw how hard I had tried hit it already, you’d be surprised. There is absolutely no reason for a sight to be installed this tight. There has to be something else holding this thing on besides just a tight friction fit.

 

[nortatoga]

I picked up one of these awhile back (haven't used it yet) mainly for scope ring screws, but it may work on the front sight by pinpointing the heat?

 

[S&W Fan]

Just a crazy thought here but have you tried contacting Sig’s customer support team about this issue? I’ve heard good things about their support.

 

[nortatoga]

Just a crazy thought here but have you tried contacting Sig’s customer support team about this issue? I’ve heard good things about their support.

Why would you do that, with all the experts on this forum? LOL!!!!!

 

[Will556]

Why would you do that, with all the experts on this forum? LOL!!!!!

I’ve actually my reached out to Sig. I haven’t got a response back yet.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Just a steady with proper tool's

The modified punch is priceless.

 

[nortatoga]

I’ve actually my reached out to Sig. I haven’t got a response back yet.

 

[togmaster]

If you are trying to break the chemical thread locker you will need to apply heat. A hair dryer should work.

 

[Will556]

If you are trying to break the chemical thread locker you will need to apply heat. A hair dryer should work.

That’s the thing, I have no idea if there is a chemical thread locker on there or not. And a hair dryer won’t do it. Once red loctite is cured, it needs to heated it to 500 degrees fahrenheit to be removed.

 

[GOYABEAN]

That’s the thing, I have no idea if there is a chemical thread locker on there or not. And a hair dryer won’t do it. Once red loctite is cured, it needs to heated it to 500 degrees fahrenheit to be removed.

Perfect excuse to buy another

 

[thegatman]

That’s the thing, I have no idea if there is a chemical thread locker on there or not. And a hair dryer won’t do it. Once red loctite is cured, it needs to heated it to 500 degrees fahrenheit to be removed.

Heat gun at Harbor Freight will melt anything. Be careful you don’t ignite your workbench.

 

[kev74]

Even a butane lighter will help. A propane torch is ideal.

 

[togmaster]

Start low and go up. First hair dryer then heat gun then torch.

 

[kev74]

It can't stay stuck if its melted!

 

[Will556]

It can't stay stuck if its melted!

Plasma cutter!

 

[Will556]

Been listening to the same automated message bullshit for over 20 minutes now. “All of our agents are busy assisting other customers...” Sig’s customer service is terrible. I’m glad this isn’t my gun. That’s why I have a Glock 34. lol

 

[Edwardteach72]

Just a crazy thought here but have you tried contacting Sig’s customer support team about this issue? I’ve heard good things about their support.

Hahahhahaha

 

[Edwardteach72]

Been listening to the same automated message bullshit for over 20 minutes now. “All of our agents are busy assisting other customers...” Sig’s customer service is terrible. I’m glad this isn’t my gun. That’s why I have a Glock 34. lol

This... sigs "customer service" is garbage