Putting Tech Sights on a 10/22. How Hard?

If you had asked last week, I would have told you it was too easy to worry about.

I've done three sets, the first two were so easy I barely remember getting the factory front off, a small hammer and punch, a steady hold with support, and they popped right out. The T-S one went in really easy, it is designed to expand into the slot with a setscrew and cut in the sight's base. (hard to describe, obvious if you have it in your hand). The rear sights are trivial, the only thing to worry about is to NOT over-tighten them in the receiver, you run the risk of stripping out the holes (really bad) or shoving the screws into the bolt's travel (not so bad, test and add a spacer if it happens). I wouldn't loctite anything until you have a feel for the sights, myself ... be aware that things will loosen up over time if you skip the loctite altogether, because you do NOT want to torque anything in beyond the two-fingers-on-allen-key level.

Just yesterday I was installing a set onto an international model (carbine action/barrel, nicer finish, mannlicher stock) and that front sight just. would. not. come. out. ... after much cursing, an attempt to construct a sight pusher out of a vise and magnets*, penetrating oil, damaging a brass punch, hitting my thumb, and generally getting pretty steamed about the whole deal ... I took a break, calmed down, and came back with a bigger hammer and a steel punch. Two good whacks and it was free, I went back to brass hammer/punch to get it the rest of the way out. In the end I have some brass marks on the barrel side of the dovetail, and the Ruger sight has a ding in the side ... it wasn't quite smooth underneath, I think it was dragging and/or cocked in there. The T-S front sight tower went in with just a bit of tapping (previous ones slid in) and everything is good now, the new sight even covers up the brass marks. I'd suspected that the rear sight was a bit cocked from day one with the Intl model ... now I'm guessing that the barrel wasn't clamped quite right at the moment of milling the two dovetails, plus a burr on the front locking it in.

* (didn't work, might think more on the concept though ... it almost worked, maybe I need to magnetize smaller blocks?)

Summary:
With a good support and a hammer/punch, you can do it, it isn't rocket surgery, but it might take some force. Don't bend the barrel, be ready for some frustration, and have a helper. This is NOT a gunsmith job, you CAN do it, and it is worth it, and the instructions/tools in the kit will cover everything but the bonkin' tools.

Don't forget to get the adjustment tools, they make things really easy. You'll want the cylindrical one for sure, and the flat wrench gadget if you get the rear elevation adjustment.

+1 on what bigfatdave said.

it's not installing the new sight that is the problem. it's uninstalling the dang front sight. it's a real PITA. i used a 28 oz hammer and a steel punch and it took about 20 minutes to get the darn thing out.

the tech sight will just drop right in.

Also ... I have another bit of wisdom to pass on about ordering if you're planning a LTR build.
When you order the nice sling from T-S, make sure you have 1.25" sling points on your gun. I ordered their sling assuming it would fit my Intl model, found that it did not fit, and then a sense of deva vu came over me, I went to the drawer random gun stuff goes in, rummaged around, and found another identical sling ... so now I need two sets of 1.25" sling points for a couple guns.

If you're not building a LTR, I suppose it might still matter, but a LTR needs a sling, and the T-S one is pretty nice ... it just won't fit the 1" sling attachment points common on rimfire guns, you'll have to swap.

The only trick to know is that in taking out the old sights, you go left to right, the right side of the gun being the ejection port side. There is a slight taper to the dovetail, and they only go one way. As others have said, getting them started can be a trick. The main thing is to secure the barrel so that your blow from the punch isn't wasted bouncing the whole barrel around.

Can't speak to the 10/22, but I can tell you that Tech sights are very well made and will make a huge improvement in your shooting. I have a set on a Remington 597 that I took to Appleseed last year and had a blast (and shot Rifleman). If you're not used to peeps, they take a little getting used to, but they will dramatically shrink your groups. I shoot as well with the Tech sights as I do with a scope at anything under 50 yards.

If you can eat a bowl of cereal, you can install the Tech Sight.

The only trick to know is that in taking out the old sights, you go left to right,

Click to expand...

And the nice folks at T-S have made it not a trick, because it is in the directions.

My front sight was stuck so badly, I had to cut it in half to get it out. The rear sight was also stuck, so I just removed the sight leaf and left the base, which looks better the gap in the barrel anyway.

Very straightforward installation, and a real step up from the factory sights. It'll feel a lot like an M1 Carbine, and you'll have a better sight radius.

Don't go to a bunch of trouble before even giving it a tap with a drift punch. Either clamp it in a padded vise or lay it down on a heavy sandbag and give it a good pop. It'll probably come right out.

HoosierQ, here ya go:



Its wearing the EABCO Carbine tribute stock. That should give you a good idea of the end result. I'm happy.

Tech Sights are good... Just throwing out another option for you, if you want a bit more of an upgrade (micrometer clicking instead of detent locking) check out what I did with the williams rear sight here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=559180

The Wiliams rear sight is a substantial upgrade over the tech sight, but the installation requires a little bit of woodwork.

CraigC is right, don't build a jig until you're stuck. two of three were trivial, the last one just needed some extra love in the form of a bigger hammer, and to be honest I was hampered by the pretty furniture and lack of a padded clamp. I was considering warming up the brand-new Dremel and mini-drillpress to chop the original sight (I do have two more original sights, after all!) and had success with the "bigger hammer and steel punch" plan.
... Again:
With a good support and a hammer/punch, you can do it, it isn't rocket surgery, but it might take some force. Don't bend the barrel, be ready for some frustration, and have a helper. This is NOT a gunsmith job, you CAN do it, and it is worth it, and the instructions/tools in the kit will cover everything but the bonkin' tools.

Floppy_D, nice work on the carbine clones. I haven't built a 10/22 in a few years, that may change. If I could find a beat up 22mag donor.