Help. Trying to change sites on M&P

[Hokie_PhD]

Ok folks please help me out.

I have an M&P 2.0 5”.
I’ve taken it to the range and it’s an amazing gun. It’s dead on and even with my so so shooting I can hit targets dead center at 10 yards doing rapid fire. I suspect as I get more practice and get better well the gun isn’t something I can use as an excuse.

That aside, last summer I had the pleasure of being one of the 4 winners of the Propper clothing range day
With Jerry Miculek. As part of that one of Jerry’s sponsors is HiViz sights. So one of the swag items was a set of HiViz sights. Since I want to use the M&P for 3 gun, USPSA and such I want to put the sights I git on the M&P.

Now I’ve watched a bunch of videos and my understanding is using a punch you drive the front sight out, I understand they’re suppose to be tight but I can’t get it to move.

Am I missing something or are the really so tight that I have to really pound on them? I started with mild hits and have worked up to some really hard ones. I’m using a HF multi head hammer. So it has different heads. I can go with something heavier (and nicer) , but I thought that was a good one to start with.

So any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

If its dovetailed I would invest in a sight pusher, makes life a lot easier.

Back when I got my Glocks and was asking the same question some folks said to just "knock it out" with a punch. That's a little aggressive for my liking.

I bought a pretty cheap sight pusher/remover tool off Amazon and it's worked great. Granted, you can spend a fair bit more, I leave that to you. But it is a invaluable tool for swapping most DT sights.


This is the one I bought, allows you to easily adjust or remove DT sights.

https://www.amazon.com/HJP-Products-Pusher-Universal-Adjustment/dp/B01BZ7VYEW

 

[Walkalong]

If its dovetailed I would invest in a sight pusher, makes life a lot easier.

Yep.

I have this one, works well.

Research and make sure the dovetail isn't smaller on one side.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Thanks guys.
I was hoping I could do it with the punch. But looks like that’s the wise choice.
I’m planning on getting a 9 Compact so will probably get another set of these sights. So I suspect this won’t be my only time changing sites. So guess I need to order a sight tool.

 

[TomJ]

Keep in mind that the rear sight holds a spring in place, and if you don't cover the sight while removing it the spring will fly out. I learned that the hard way.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Keep in mind that the rear sight holds a spring in place, and if you don't cover the sight while removing it the spring will fly out. I learned that the hard way.

Yea I know the rear has that “surprise”. I went to do the front first as it was suppose to be easier.

 

[JRadice45]

Did you lock the slide in a sturdy vise? I have no experience with the m&p 2.0 but I have successfully moved the rear sight on my m&p shield using a nylon tipped hammer with solid blows while the slide was supported on a bench with my hand.

When using a hammer and punch to move sights it is important to swing through the punch. If you stop the swing of the hammer once you contact the punch the sights tend to stay put. This is especially true with very tight sights.

 

[Trey Veston]

If its dovetailed I would invest in a sight pusher, makes life a lot easier.

Back when I got my Glocks and was asking the same question some folks said to just "knock it out" with a punch. That's a little aggressive for my liking.

I bought a pretty cheap sight pusher/remover tool off Amazon and it's worked great. Granted, you can spend a fair bit more, I leave that to you. But it is a invaluable tool for swapping most DT sights.


This is the one I bought, allows you to easily adjust or remove DT sights.

https://www.amazon.com/HJP-Products-Pusher-Universal-Adjustment/dp/B01BZ7VYEW

I went nearly the same route, but spent another $10 and upgraded to this one...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HU4NNDE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



I actually just used it yesterday to install some Glock sights. I've probably used it half a dozen times in the past year or so to remove and replace sights on various pistols. Love it!

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Did you lock the slide in a sturdy vise? I have no experience with the m&p 2.0 but I have successfully moved the rear sight on my m&p shield using a nylon tipped hammer with solid blows while the slide was supported on a bench with my hand.

When using a hammer and punch to move sights it is important to swing through the punch. If you stop the swing of the hammer once you contact the punch the sights tend to stay put. This is especially true with very tight sights.

Thanks
Yea I worked up to a decent blow. And my father taught carpentry so I learned how to drive through. But thanks for the remin

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I went nearly the same route, but spent another $10 and upgraded to this one...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HU4NNDE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

View attachment 867473

I actually just used it yesterday to install some Glock sights. I've probably used it half a dozen times in the past year or so to remove and replace sights on various pistols. Love it!

Will that do the front and rear sights

 

[Trey Veston]

Will that do the front and rear sights

Yes, however you have to be creative to do the front sights on the Smith. You don't want to put pressure on the blade, or it will bend/snap it. IIRC, I redneck engineered it by using a small piece of composite material in front of the plunger so that all the pressure was on the base of the site in the dovetail and not on the blade. The tool is basically just a little vice/jig.

 

[kcofohio]

I went nearly the same route, but spent another $10 and upgraded to this one...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HU4NNDE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

View attachment 867473

I actually just used it yesterday to install some Glock sights. I've probably used it half a dozen times in the past year or so to remove and replace sights on various pistols. Love it!

I bought that setup a while back. Works good.
What I found was, when sights are super tight, I use a small brass hammer and light sharp blow to the pusher jars it enough to move the sight without marring them.

Hokie, my M&P "1.0" rear sight needed drifted out from left to right, when looking at the back of the slide. It's dovetail has a slight taper that is tighter on the left side. Not sure if S&W kept it that way with the 2.0.

 

[kcofohio]

Yep.

I have this one, works well.

Research and make sure the dovetail isn't smaller on one side.

I like the looks of that sight pusher. Looks a little more compact, but sturdy. And Made in the USA.

 

[Crazy Horse]

I have both the Shield 9MM 2.0 and 45 2.0. Yes they are extremely difficult to remove. I love the S&W Line of semi's, but their sights, especially they're rear sights are a PITA. I have the Rear Sight pusher Trey Veston posted. This works well for the rear sight. I would also recommend using KANO Kroil on the sight before removing. It will help with loosening. For the front sights, I recommend using the Sylvan Arms sight pusher or the Universal Sight pusher by Washington gun works. Don't forget to read the fine print on The Washington Gun works sight pusher. It states to keep the pressure below 44 ft lbs of torque. I didn't see that and managed to bend a screw on the pusher-yes S&W sights are that difficult to move. I will add that once you move them once, they seem easier to adjust afterwards. Good luck.