Changing out S&W sights...

[WebHobbit]

You all remember my 5 inch 686?

It came with High Viz front sight with V notch rear:

As it turns out I just HATE these sights!

I am really used to my older 686's red-ramp with square rear with white-outline.

Can I buy a set of the red (or orange)-ramp/white-outline deal and change these out?

Will it require any fitting or can I do it myself? Where is the best place to order?

Advice please!

If possible I'd like to NOT permanently alter the gun as this is a very limited pre-lock gun (about 1200 made).

 

[only1asterisk]

Except for the sights, thatone fine 686. I'm very interested in the answer to your question, but I can't tell much from the picture. Have you had the sight off yet? From the placement of the pin, I'd say that you may very well be able to replace it quite easily. This is a good question for the guys at the S&W performance center. Let me know what you find out.

David

 

[Dave T]

Any competent gunsmith, particularly one familiar with S&W revolvers, should be able to change your sights. By the way, you only need to change the rear blade which is much cheeper than replacing the whole rear sight.

I just did that with my Model 27-2. The rear blade that came in it was the shortest one Smith offered. Had my factory trained gunsmith friend replace it with the medium hight rear blade. You have to have a new adjustment screw/nut put in with the new blade but it isn't very expensive. The whole deal cost me $13.25 with postage. Of course that didn't involve the front sight which you also want changed.

On a related note. I have been kind of interested in those sights. What about them don't you like? I'd be curious to hear your reasons for wanting to change them - thanks.

 

[WebHobbit]

As to why I wanna change them:

The red dot must be aligned to sit in the V-Notch rear. This is anything but a good fit. There is quite a bit of "slop" on either side of the V...just seems to float around too much for me. This is in sharp contrast to the way my other 686 lines right up with almost NO effort on my part.

With my orange ramp/white outline square blade arrangement I can literally close my eyes and then bring my gun up to eye level...when I open them the orange block is sitting perfectly in the white-outline square.

Putting the round dot "inside" a V cutout is to me like trying to shove a square block into a round hole.

 

[Old Fuff]

You already know how to fix the rear sight, although you might consider buying a whole new rear sight assembly (from either S&W or Brownell's) and then selling the Hi-Viz rear/front set to recover your money.

I think from looking at the picture that the front sight blade is pinned in the ramp. If so, your gunsmith can drive out the pin (be sure the punch has a cup end) and then take out the blade. S&W makes replacement blades with or without red inserts. Again either the company or Brownell's could fix you up.