Replacing PM9 Front Sight

[McE]

I ordered a Meprolight tritium front sight from Kahr, $30 + $7some shipping.

The sight itself looks nice, not much different from the Trijicons on another pistol I have.

I have a cheapie sight pusher tool off ebay that worked very well, smooth and easy, as far as taking off the stock sight. I did not experience any of the horror that I was waiting for after hearing just how tight others have found the stock sights to be.
I went straight for it, didn't bother with any penetrating lubes. Sight pushed out the right side without any fuss.

However, I am stuck here trying to figure out how I should go about installing the replacement.
How do I know if I'll need to file down the new sight? Should I take a caliper to the two sights and compare? Is it normally a trial and error thing where I cram it in there with modest force and if it doesn't go in far enough, I have to remove and file more?

[Alfonse]

Here is one take on it: https://shop.harrisoncustom.com/fitting-and-installing-dovetail-sights

I have found I usually have to take material off the bottom of the new sight as well as file a bit off the bottom corners. Yes, I use calipers and go slowly. I test fit it often. It should slide in part way with just light interference. After installation, I put some locktite on it.

[cobrasjp]

"Is it normally a trial and error thing where I cram it in there with modest force and if it doesn't go in far enough, I have to remove and file more?"

Exactly right. Try pushing it in by hand to see how far it will go. From my experience (installed 4 recently) it should go about halfway in. You may have to file some off the bottom of the sight. Lay the sight base on a flat file and file a little bit off the bottom flat surface. This will decrease the effective width across the dovetail of the base.

When you've got it about right, it should go about halfway in (or a little more) and your can drive it the rest of the way in with a punch. I use a delrin punch that leaves no mark on the sight or gun. It gets chewed up, but they are cheap and easy to replace.

[McE]

Well I got impatient and just decided to go for broke.

Crammed the sight in there, there was even resistance during the whole thing but some of that may have been within the sight pusher itself possibly getting a teeny bit warped during the removal process.

Anywho, sight went in perfectly, looks great, pics in the next post. This was also the first mod of any sort I've done to a firearm aside from installing CT lasers or changing grip panels, so I'm quite pleased with the outcome of not having marred anything.

[McE]

http://s30.postimg.org/qz9up0kct/20141121_162857.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/rku87dq19/20141121_164109.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/dwe85qu4t/20141121_164341.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/a8tvlxwjx/20141121_164731.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/f18ab4glp/20141121_190804.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/b7eu1yz9p/20141121_192522.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/unzjohudp/20141121_194633.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/p3n2duvil/20141121_195012.jpg

Link to all the pics/ larger ones

http://postimg.org/gallery/2r8kmjye6/

[ReManG]

Nicely done! Thanks for the detailed pics, I always get so into things I forget to take pics....

[McE]

I took lots of pics solely because I wanted to document up to the moment things go horribly wrong lol

[Firemedic]

I'm going to pick up some Meprolights for my PM9 soon. I just have to figure out if I'm going to attempt it to do it myself or not. Thanks for posting your experience!

[gb6491]

Excellent work McEhttp://www.pic4ever.com/images/13.gif
Regards,
Greg

[BEARDOG]

Looks good McE.
Do you have a link to the Ebay seller you bought the pusher from by chance?

[McE]

The seller was 4x4machineshop, I got it shipped for 38.95 total, but that came with extra adapters for various handguns. Plain setup would work for the Kahr and it's cheaper.
Already paid for itself, changed out a couple other sights on others' guns for $20 a pop.

[BEARDOG]

Thank's McE, I just placed an order for one. Good deal!