Ruger P89 rear sight question.

[waburn]

Hello. I am new here, and i must say that the people here seem quite intellectual. I have a Ruger P89, and the rear sight seems impossible to "drift". Even after loosening the hex head screw no amount of coaxing can persuade it to move. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RecoilRob]

Welcome to THR!

The moving of dovetail sights CAN be a chore. A good penetrating oil like Kroil can help but the sights fit tightly in their dovetail and can take significant force to move.

Remember, if it was pressed in there, you can move it. You just need to have a secure method of holding the slide....like a strong padded vise, and a non-marring drift to transfer the large hammer impact to the sight.

Yes, some of them seem immoveable but they WILL move if you hit them hard enough.

One other thought...Are you sure the sight needs moved? Most Rugers are pretty spot-on from the factory. If your shots are hitting far from the POA, you might want to check your grip and trigger finger placement.

 

[waburn]

Thanks for the reply RecoilRob. I will apply some penetrating oil to the sight and try again. Grip and trigger finger I believe are not causing the problem. Groups are tight, just always left of center.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Here's a tip I learned...use some layers of electrical tape to provide a little added protection for the sight and the slide. Even a "non-marring" drift can leave marks. Three or four layers of electrical tape is enough to provide a good cushion -- and it's easy to apply.

I changed the sights on my P94 last night. It took some significant blows on the punch to get the rear sight out of the dovetail. You won't break it...just use some force. I've found that the small drill press vises are great for gun work. I picked one up at Lowe's for about $15. I use some thick cardboard to pad it and prevent any damage to the frame.

HTH,

Jim