Installing XS Big Dot 24/7 Sights on a Rem 870

[Rob62]

I have a stock rifle sighted Remington 870 barrel that I owuld like the XS 24/7 Express Shotgun Sights put on.

http://www.xssights.com/store/shotgun.html

I have a sight pusher but the XS FAQ web page says:

FAQ #2

Sight Pushers

Q: Is it OK to use a sight pusher to install XS sights?

A: Not really. Sight pushers are a handy tool to easily move an already installed sight the small amount needed to regulate windage correctly. Sight pushers are a simple screw jack which has a very large mechanical advantage and can apply a great deal of force on a small area with an easy twist of the fingers. It is difficult to “feel” how a sight is going into the dovetail.

Other maker’s sights have been manufactured to allow them to be installed with a sight pusher. One version will have a hollow area under them to allow the sight to compress and go on into the dovetail. Other manufacturers will build the sights out of soft steel so the excess material will readily shave off as the sight goes into the dovetail.

We don’t think having sights made from malleable steel is a good thing so we build our sights from solid bar stock. Solid steel does not readily compress or bend. They are designed to be fitted in the traditional manner. If you use a sight pusher to install our sights in a dovetail without checking and altering the sight to correctly fit the slide dovetail you will most likely damage or break the sight. The sight will start in the dovetail due to the chamfered edges and then the power of the sight pusher will bend or break the sight when it binds up unless it is fitted properly.


So my question is for those that actually have placed these sights, or had them placed on their 870's. Can I get away with using my sight pusher ? Or as the FAQ says the sights really do need to be hand fitted by a trained individual.

TIA and Regards,

Rob

 

[Al Thompson]

Bump - I'd like to know the answer too.

 

[Rob62]

Al - I cross posted this on Glocktalk. The answer I got there from people that did it was one could install the sights, front basically, yourself with a sight pusher. But, you had to be prepared, like just about all front sight replacements, to do some minor fitting.

My concern was and still is, how much "minor" fitting there will be. In my other post I was told that basically it is very minimal if any.

Bottom line is that I have decided to order a set my self and see if I can't fit them. I can not find any discount source for these sights other than XS itself which charges full retail of $120. I may have to break down and pay full retail. But I am still looking for a discount source.

I will post how everything works out for me here.

Regards,
Rob

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Rob - I PM'd you.

 

[gb6491]

There is a video on youtube detailing how to fit XS sights into dovetails. The video is pistol specific, but I imagine the procedure would be similar for a dovetailed front sight on the 870 or enough so as to give you an idea of how it's done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1YxRoi_9Lc

There are also some of the videos that are Glock specific.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISUMmXiZMGw&feature=user
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAahHP7z7so&feature=related

Regards,
Greg

 

[Rob62]

Greg - I saw those video clips as well as the ones posted on the XS home page. But as you probably can see my concern is their FAQ #2 statement as copied above.

Not sure if it’s just a "CYA" thing on the part of XS if someone screws up a self install. Or if these sights really do require some special fitting. Bottom line is that I am going to get a set, hopefully at some discount thanks to the offered help by Sir Aardvark. They will be installed by myself. I bought a Wheeler brand sight pusher a while back that is waiting to be used.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=375336

When I do get the sights and install them I will post pictures and comments about the install to this thread.

Regards,
Rob

 

[Rob62]

I was excited to get the XS Big Dot sights in the mail . So instead of my natural procrastination I decided to get busy and install them on my 870 Express Magnum.

The sights installed without any problems – its like they were made for this gun. Which I guess they were, only not by Remington. The fit was absolutely perfect without any filing or sanding required. This installation could have been done with a brass/nylon drift pin but having the front sight pusher helps tremendously IMO.

As soon as the project was finished the install I shouldered the SG a few times to check the sight picture and sight alignment on a target. It sure seemed a lot faster than the faster factory sights. Not sure if I will be able to get out to the range tomorrow, or for that matter anytime soon, but I am going to try. The range results will be posted here.

Total install time was less than 15 minutes and I really took my time.

Regards,
Rob

This will be my last post here at THR. I support Oleg Volk and in good concience can not post here until he has control again of this fine web site !

http://olegvolk.livejournal.com/

Rob62 - Out

Sights in package:



Sights out of package:



Factory rear sight:



Old non factory front sight (I had previously replaced the original factory sight for this big white dot sight)



Old rear sight removed and checking the line up of the XS rear with factory base:



Pushing the XS Big Dot front sight into place (I placed some blue LockTite in the dovetail to help keep the sight in place even though it did not seem like it needed it. As posted above the bottom of the sight and dovetail matched up perfectly):



Final installation XS Big Dot front sight – perfect alignment and fit:



XS Big Dot Rear shallow “V” notch sight installed:



Overall picture of the Big Dots sights installed.