Sidearms & Scatterguns Front sight install m&p?

[callen3615]

So my trijicon night sight came in today. Im just replacing the front sight. I knocked out the front sight with a punch and it came out pretty easily. I didnt want to install the new sight with a punch, afraid id break it or knock the insert loose, so I called a local gun shop up and asked the gunsmith if he could install my front sight. I said I was afraid to use a punch and he said he could install it no problem. So I take it the shop and tell the guy at the counter that I need work done. He goes in the back and get what I think is the gunsmith. I tell him what I want done and how the dovetail slot is tapered and that the sight should be installed from the right. He nodded and told me to hang out for a sec. After a few minutes I hear hammering in the back and the another guy comes out with my slide. He said, "all you needed was a bigger hammer!" I looked at the front sight and it looks like he filed the dovetail on the sight to fit into the slide. I said "did it need fitting?" and he said "yeah, i needed to file the sides of the dovetail to fit." I asked "did you file the bottom?" and he said "nope, just the sides". It looks like he filed the sides of the dovetail to give it a taper and hammered it in from the LEFT side.

Now I dont know much about gunsmithing but I did read that when fitting a oversized dovetail sight you should file the bottom of the sight to get it to fit, NOT the sides. I also read that the dovetail slots on the m&p are taper so that you can only install and remove the sights from the right.

So, am I just geeking out? Or is this guy a hack? If he installed the sight from the left Im afraid that it will be loose. I just shot it off the bench to zero it and it was shooting left so I put it in the vise and drifted it to the left a bit, didnt take a hole lot of effort to move it.

 

[callen3615]

Re: Front sight install m&p?

You can see the right side of the sight has been tapered, I can only assume that it was installed from the left side.

Sketchy? or Ok?

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: Front sight install m&p?

It's a common practice to file the dove tails of sights to make them fit but, not too much, they still need to be fairly snug. I installed night sights on my G23 & G21 and had to file them to fit. My 1911 was the same way.

I didnt file the bottom and you cant see the file marks.

 

[callen3615]

Re: Front sight install m&p?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's a common practice to file the dove tails of sights to make them fit but, not too much, they still need to be fairly snug. I installed night sights on my G23 & G21 and had to file them to fit. My 1911 was the same way.

I didnt file the bottom and you cant see the file marks. </div></div>
Ok, then I was misinformed. Good

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Front sight install m&p?

The very best way to install sights on an M&P is with an M&P sight tool. You can get them from S&W customer service. The price is pretty steep but it is a nicely made tool and I am happy I have mine.
I have never had to file on any make of sight to get it to fit the M&P dovetail when using this tool.