Sight Pusher or Sight Pusher Shaped Object?

[Alllen Bundy]

A $200+ sight pusher just isn't in my budget quite yet. But the really cheap ones seem to have some rather coarse threading on the pusher, leading me to believe that they might be difficult to use precisely. I saw a sight pusher on Amazon that looks a lot like the expensive sight pushers for about $50. This pusher may be used for front or rear sights. I decided to take a chance knowing full well that it might only be a sight pusher shaped object.



The first problem out of the box is that any part that was threaded seemed gritty and was not turning smoothly. I started to disassemble it. The handle that turns the threaded rod that moves the pusher was loose. The set screw was not tight. Typical Chinese product. After disassembly I cleaned all threaded parts. As you may have guessed, there was a considerably amount of crud in the threads . Again, typical of products from the People's Republic of China. I lubed the threaded parts with Mil-Comm TW25B synthetic grease with teflon. I could have used Redline CV2 synthetic grease, which is my go to grease that works very well, but it is stinky, so I used the Mil-Comm grease instead.



I noticed that the two large threaded studs were dinged up and that the chrome plating was coming off. I could scrape off the chrome plating with my fingernails! Again, I wasn't surprised. The two huge knurled adjustment nuts on the top of the sight pusher were NOT tapped perpendicular to the shoulder of the nuts. Again, not surprised.

After cleaning and relubing all adjusters rotate smoothly. In fact I can now spin the pusher adjuster.

But now to the most important part, the actual pushers themselves. It has two. One pusher has parallel sides and the other pusher has angled sides. In order to switch between the two pushers you turn the pusher adjuster and move the pusher all the way to the right. Then you rotate the pusher 90° on the threaded shaft until the top tab on the pusher lines up with the groove in the pusher upper body and then reverse the rotation of the the adjuster rod and move the pusher to the left

Now the major problem. The pusher is too wide to fit into the dovetail groove for the sights!!! Apparently they expect you to place the pusher at the side of the sight instead of at the side of the dovetail on the bottom the sight. Some people claim that pushing at the side of the sight can damage the sight and I'm inclined to believe it.. It should be safer to push the dovetail area at the bottom of the sight.



I'm not going to return the sight pusher. Instead I'm going to grind down the width of the pusher so that it will fit into the dovetail groove and push against the dovetail area near the bottom of the sight. I fully expected there to be problems with a sight pusher that is this cheap. I wasn't disappointed.

If I was an armorer as a profession, there is NO way that I would buy this. But for my own use on a couple of pistols I don't minding spending some time to make this pusher work correctly. I would NOT recommend this sight pusher unless you are handy with tools and can do a good job at grinding the pusher to size. Even then it might not be worth your time.

I'll update this after I've modified this sight pusher and I get my new gunsights and try out this pusher.

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Edit: I forgot to add these videos:

Note that in the following video the actual sight pusher presses on the side of the sight and does NOT push on the dovetail edge.

How to remove and install pistol sights using the Accucraft Sight Pusher - Sig Guy - Dec 7, 2022


Note that in the next 3 following videos the actual sight pusher presses on the edge of the dovetail of the sight. It does NOT push on the side of the sight.

How to Install Iron Sights on Your New SIG P365 Slide (XS Sights F8 Night Sights) - UBR Arsenal - Aug 27, 2021


Changing Sights Installing TruGlo TFX Pro on Sig P365 - by Let's Talk!!! Rita Dinnoo - Sep 20, 2020


Harbor Freight $32 Gun Sight Installation Pusher Press Tool - DIY Homemade - by gmcjetpilot - Apr 17, 2016

 

[9mmepiphany]

A $200+ sight pusher just isn't in my budget quite yet. But the really cheap ones seem to have some rather coarse threading on the pusher, leading me to believe that they might be difficult to use precisely. I saw a sight pusher on Amazon that looks a lot like the expensive sight pushers for about $50. This pusher may be used for front or rear sights. I decided to take a chance knowing full well that it might only be a sight pusher shaped object.

I was recently in the market for a sight pusher and couldn't justify the Wheeler at $140.

A reputable source recommended a simple Motafar for about $25, but it looked a little too crude for me. Plus it didn't look very stable

I ended up getting a Bravex based on more recommendations for $70. It is made in the PRC and the workmanship looks pretty good and all the threads and machining are clean. The reviews recommend that the pusher be mounted in a vise, which I did.


Shoppers beware that some sight pushers can only be used on the rear sight (likely intended for Glocks)

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet (too cold in the garage), but I'm looking forward to it. I still need to determine the front sight height I need to change my POI to match POA

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

There is a guy on Ebay who makes model-specific pushers at very reasonable prices, especially for milsurp rifles and the like.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I have two Williams sight pushers for rifle front sights, but for rear handgun sights I use one of these generic things from eBay:



Coarse threading or no, this has worked well for installing tritium sights on several Glock slides.

 

[SDGlock23]

I bought a MGW sight pusher tool years ago and it's paid for itself probably 100x over, definitely worth the $100-125 they cost nowadays.

 

[CajunBass]

I noticed my Girsan MC P-35's front sight was slightly cocked from the factory apparently. I suppose I could have gotten the guy at my LGS to center it for me, but I ordered one of those generic cheap ones off E-bay for about $25.00 or so. Did the job just fine.

 

[trackskippy]

Ill second the MGW sight pushers. If you have a bunch of the same make gun, they are well worth the money. I started using one with my SIG's, and that one did both the front and back sights. I sold that one when I sold off most of my SIG's (should have kept it in retrospect) and bought one for my Glocks.

Whats nice with the MGW pusher is, I can take it to the range with me to fine tune things, and it just slips on the back of the slide without disassembling the gun.

I more recently bought one of the ATG generic pushers off Amazon that isnt brand specific and will do a bunch of different makes/models. It was around $50. Ive used it on a couple of 1911's and SIG's now, and it works, but it is cumbersome to set up and use and isnt real awe inspiring. The MGW's just feel a lot more solid and secure in comparison.

Just a thought here if the cost is a bother, I basically paid for my MGW SIG tool by selling off the old night sights I took off of guns on eBay. They were burnt out, and I was still getting right around half the cost of a new set ($45 +/-) for them. I still keep the old sight sets I take off and throw them up on eBay here and there if Im selling other things. They always seem to sell too.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Save the 50$ and save up for the MGW pusher. It's a life time investment.

 

[Viking357]

I recently bought a sight pusher for like 50 on Amazon. Looks like the Bravex. It worked good on my XDM Elite. Better than a punch and hammer.!

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I’ve always wondered if there was a pusher tall enough to use on a large globe sight on octagonal barrels. But everyone suggests the “Wyoming Sight Drifter”. I guess I need to try it but I’m just not convinced.