Std Prds Front sight removal

[Rustship]

Ok gents, give me some support here. I'm going to pull the front sight on my carbine. I need to change out barrel bands. Never have done one, doesnt look too hard though. I have a puller now and I know you drift the pin out from the left side to the right, grease up the end of the barrel a little and use the puller. I've had people tell me a good piece of hard wood will work, but I went ahead and ordered a puller. After drifting the pin out, how tough are these rascals coming off of the barrel? I've worked on Hot-Rods all of my life, but I dont want to screw up my sight. A little support here is what I need, I'm sure these sights are pretty tuff. I dont have a Installer, I was going to drive it back on with a piece of hardwood and a brass drift real carefully. Now you guys tell me if I need one of the installation tools and I'll wait until I can order one, but if a piece of hardwood and a Brass drift will do the trick I'll give it a shot. I know there are a lot of you old timers on here that have probably done this a lot of times.

Information

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[RangeHound]

I am not going to say my method is text book. I oil the front of the barrel, use a piece of wood to start the sight and finish up with a brass punch. It has always worked well for me.

[Rustship]

Thanks, do you have to tap it all around, or up around the wings where all the meat is? It seems pretty thin away from the top by the wings, I was thinking if I have to rotate around maybe I would use a cleaning patch between the punch and the sight.

[painter777]

Actually the pin can be punched out from either side. It's a straight pin so you don't have a taper to deal with.

First put a nice coat of penetrating oil on the pin and soak between the sights band and the barrel. I like to do this a day or two before removing one.

I have both the Install and Remover tool.
BUT..... have friends that re-install the front sight using just the sight puller tool if it's like this one;
M1 CARBINE FRONT SIGHT REMOVAL TOOL m - 1 carbine m1 - eBay (item 350320346639 end time Mar-01-10 08:58:53 PST)

Don't tap or pry on the outer ears they can break off very easily.
Your sight will have to be removed straight off and installed straight back on to keep the key lined up.

When using the Removal tool to Install,
Just pull the threaded rod out along with the cap on the end that goes in the muzzle when your using it to install.
Masking tape on the front of the tool and around the half circle (where it would contact the barrel) helps to keep from scarring up your sight and barrel.

Before Installing, make sure the inside of your frt sight doesn't have any burrs on it that could scratch your barrel.
Take care to keep your frt sight lined up with the slot and key. Using the front of the stripped down removal tool against the front end of your sight. Gently tap the back of the tool until it lines up with the slot on the key way for the pin.

Good idea to lightly grease your barrel down to where the new band will rest to also protect the finish.

Good Luck,
Charlie-painter777

[Rustship]

Thanks, Charlie. Thats why I like this site. Instructions from someone who has done it. that sounds like a plan, and yes my puller is exactly like the one on the link. Many thanks. If I can get these grandkids back to their moma this weekend I'll do it and let you know. Right now its snowing in Houston, TX, if that dont beat all. This weather has been crazy. I guess its Global Warming LOL.

[painter777]

No sympathy from here..........
Just shoveled and plowed out about 12" more from yesterday.

Charlie

P.S. Our fish have been coming up from holes in the ice.
Nice looking bucket mouth !!

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Perfect instructions for removing a front sight Charlie.
You covered everything!

PS - We 'Ice fish' differently in Texas.
In the winter, we go to the supermarket, point through a glass window, and they fish out what you point to in crushed ice.
(I was lucky and ice fished last weekend and came back home with four rainbow trout that I grilled outside wearing a T-shirt and shorts)

It's not as easy as it sounds. It was in the 70's last week and I broke a sweat walking across the parking lot to the Kroger's.

[puertorican]

Good post, I'm about to do the same thing. Anybody know what size punch is needed to knock the pin out? Thanx

[frankderrico]

puertorican, welcome to the forum. It's the punch that is a hair smaller than the pin. If your sight isn't stake on it's not to complicated. Like Charlie said, penetrating oil soak, block the barrel on something stable and take your time ( soft blows with the hammer). Once the pin starts to move it goes out easy. Than the puller and off it comes. HTH.....Frank

[emmagee1917]

that some carbines , and it seems to be Std. Prod. mostly , have had pins installed that have super hard and very soft patches in them. When installed , the pin deforms and "welds" itself in there. I spent this spring sighting in my 13 carbines , and I had to switch some front sights around . I have the tools , so I had no problems , till my last carbine ( of course). It was my Std. Prod. one , and that pin would not come out. Finally took it to my local gunsmith. Two MONTHS of soaking / hammering / re soaking . All different types of chemicals tried. Nothing.
Finally he had to put it in a mill and cut out the pin. While doing so , he found soft and hard patches during the cutting. Cost me $60 shop time , but not a scratch to the old sight , which I replaced with an identical , but .040 taller , sight. Have read of this before , but always thought of it as "operator error" . Live and learn. Good luck , usually it's an easy job.
Chris