Trouble removing S&W front sight - Need advice

[gunsrfun1]

I have a S&W 66-8 revolver with a pinned front sight, that I want to replace with a Dawson. I had no trouble removing the pin. But I'm having trouble removing the sight itself.
Called S&W and they refused to help, for "liability reasons." (What a crock.) Plus seems all the old-timers are gone, and it's just a bunch of newbies who know nothing about guns.
But enough ranting.
I've seen videos where people just yank it out with a vise grips, and videos where people tap it either toward the front or toward the rear. I'd prefer not to destroy the sight in doing so.
Is there a right way to do this?
Thanks

 

[Tennessee Jed]

I just did it on my 66-8 last weekend. I used a small hammer with a plastic face, so as not to mar the sight. I first started tapping it forwards (towards the muzzle) until it moved forward about 1/4 inch. Then I started tapping it upwards on that 1/4 inch until it came out. Yankee Marshall has a video on YouTube about this, which is what gave me the idea. Turned out great. No damage to the sight. Good luck, you'll be glad you did it. I sure am.

 

[Pat Riot]

I did something similar to a couple of sights I changed only I used a brass punch and a light hammer. I tapped it backwards a couple taps then tapped it forward. “Tap” is the key word there.
On the 63 it popped right out as the gun was new. Just be patient and you’ll get it.

 

[Pat Riot]

Check out this thread on page 4 I posted a video that should help you (not my video…one I found) and my next post below that one shows what I did to install a new sight.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/s-w-63-22lr-vs.854761/page-4#post-11846227

 

[Palladan44]

If it wasn't super snug, it would move around under the snap of the recoil. That doesn't help for trying to remove it though. If the posts are not staked, then they are installed by heating up and tapping in, then when returns to room temp it's very very snug.

 

[gunsrfun1]

Success. I followed the procedure that Tenn Jed used. Originally I was using a wooden dowel instead of a metal punch, so as not to mar the sight. After awhile I realized that the wooden dowel was too soft. So I used a large-diameter-face metal punch with masking tape wrapped around the end. I moved it forward, then tapped it up, and it came out.
I've done two of these before, and they seem to have been a bit easier. But it worked, so I am satisfied.
Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[AzShooter1]

Just did mine on my 617 and had to hit it with a brass punch and hammer as well. Easy to do.

Now the trick is to install the new sight. I used this from an old drill press.

 

[gunsrfun1]

My experience is the new sight (wherever you get it from) can usually be installed just by tapping it in from the top. I don't think you will need a vise. It should be snug, but if you have to use a vise to install it, I would think it might actually be too tight. (Although it really wouldn't matter.) Sometimes the sides of the sight need to be sanded a bit if it is too wide for the slot.
One issue if it is too tight: You might have to move the sight slightly fore and aft, or even a bit up or down, to align the hole in the sight with that of the sight base. If it's "vise-tight," you might have trouble doing so.
I prefer snug, but not overtight. The sight pin will do the rest.
Just my two cents.

 

[AzShooter1]

Mine was loose so I used the jig to keep everything in place.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Glad you got it out ok. For what it's worth, my Dawson Precision fit perfectly in mine, didn't need any filing or anything.

 

[Speedo66]

Called S&W and they refused to help, for "liability reasons."

Yeah, because removing the sight might cause the gun to blow up, or kill people. It's for the children.

Glad you were able to get it out with some THR help.