Iboos,
I've removed five front sights and the pins came out without any problem.
(From some of the posts here it sounds like I've been lucky)
Painter777's advice is good. Soak it down overnight and grease the barrel to make it easier and to minimize marks left toward muzzle.
I know you're replacing a broken type three band with a matching type three band. Your sight has been removed at least once in the past, so hopefully it'll come off without any grief.
Best of luck and let us know how it goes.
~ Harlan