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josp
11-21-2014, 06:20 PM
So I love my P380 but hate the diminutive sights. Looking at the PM9 sights I took off to put night sights on, I see the bases are very close.
Took my time and pushed them in the P380 slide and they fit just fine!
Test fire for accuracy and no change there, but I don't shoot this one very far as I see it as a backup most days.
Pusher is a commercial heay duty adjustable set up and worked well with both guns.

ReManG
11-21-2014, 06:47 PM
OOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhh..... This is cool, could we get a couple of more pics with the original sights side by side? Maybe from the rear as well as the side? I like your innovation sir, while the sights on the P/CW380 are much better than most of the tiny .380's, I was thinking the same thing about some bigger sights... So did you have to dress the sights with a file any, or just a slow and steady with a sight pusher?

Alfonse
11-21-2014, 07:07 PM
Nice!!

josp
11-21-2014, 09:57 PM
Thanks! Pics will have to wait till I get the old sights from the work shop. I lightly oiled the dovetails, but no other prep necessary. Pushed in as easy as the old ones pushed out.

gb6491
11-22-2014, 04:36 PM
I like this, well donehttp://www.pic4ever.com/images/13.gif
Looking forward to more photos.
Regards,
Greg

muggsy
11-22-2014, 07:44 PM
Rather than oil the dovetail you should have used blue Locktite. The sights may shoot loose using oil.

ReManG
11-23-2014, 10:06 AM
Rather than oil the dovetail you should have used blue Locktite. The sights may shoot loose using oil.

Actually, the oil may have some "Stickiness" with a close fit. Should you doubt this, find a machinist friend with some JO blocks (gauge blocks) and try to pull apart the lightly oiled buggers... The wringing effect (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_block) can be strong on gauge blocks and I imagine a tight fitting dovetail will have a similar effect. Plus if he used WD-40 (according to the internet) he may as well have been using epoxy...... :cool:

If you read the link on the wringing effect/Jo blocks, there is some interesting firearms history in Gauge blocks... Believe it or not, at one time someone wanted to IMPROVE Remington quality..... the old saying that "history repeats itself" does come to mind....

josp
11-23-2014, 07:54 PM
I always use oil, synthetic gun oil in my case, when removing and installing sights for customers guns. Makes removal of old ones easier and installation a breeze. If they are loose enough for lock tite to be necessary, they are the wrong size. 😀

muggsy
11-24-2014, 08:39 AM
Having been a machinist and having used Jo blocks I'd have to say that you misunderstand the concept. You can't pull the Jo blocks apart, but they slide apart quite readily.

muggsy
11-24-2014, 08:44 AM
I always use oil, synthetic gun oil in my case, when removing and installing sights for customers guns. Makes removal of old ones easier and installation a breeze. If they are loose enough for lock tite to be necessary, they are the wrong size. 

Your practice is contrary to the instructions of every sight manufacturer that I know of. Every manufacturer recommends cleaning the sight base and dovetail with mineral spirits and using Locktite.

berettabone
11-24-2014, 10:00 AM
Who needs sights on a .380 anyway?????????;)

muggsy
11-24-2014, 11:36 AM
So I love my P380 but hate the diminutive sights. Looking at the PM9 sights I took off to put night sights on, I see the bases are very close.
Took my time and pushed them in the P380 slide and they fit just fine!
Test fire for accuracy and no change there, but I don't shoot this one very far as I see it as a backup most days.
Pusher is a commercial heay duty adjustable set up and worked well with both guns.

What sight pusher did you use? Can you post a picture of it?

muggsy
11-24-2014, 11:37 AM
Who needs sights on a .380 anyway?????????;)

Me, but only to impress the girls at the range. :)

ReManG
11-24-2014, 07:10 PM
Having been a machinist and having used Jo blocks I'd have to say that you misunderstand the concept. You can't pull the Jo blocks apart, but they slide apart quite readily.

I have to beg to differ on this, I have used Jo blocks.... There can be quite a bit of lateral shear strength on the finer grades. If you check the link, you can see the picture of the 36 Jo blocks being held horizontal, proving they do have some shear strength.

Regardless of the shear strength, the point was not that the oil and dovetail is exactly like a Jo Block, other wise there would be no dovetail. The surface tension of the oil on the sight in the dovetail (tight as the OP stated) should prove that the oil acts more like an adhesive in this application (on the small molecular scale due to surface tension) than the traditional lubricant. I have to agree about the locktite, your dovetails need work if you have to use thread-locker to hold the sight. The manufacturers like to recommend things like locktite so they can have lower standards and therefore prices to pass on to the consumer. Nothing wrong with it, just in this point the OP is doing it his way and it seems to work....

muggsy
11-24-2014, 10:08 PM
I have to beg to differ on this, I have used Jo blocks.... There can be quite a bit of lateral shear strength on the finer grades. If you check the link, you can see the picture of the 36 Jo blocks being held horizontal, proving they do have some shear strength.

Regardless of the shear strength, the point was not that the oil and dovetail is exactly like a Jo Block, other wise there would be no dovetail. The surface tension of the oil on the sight in the dovetail (tight as the OP stated) should prove that the oil acts more like an adhesive in this application (on the small molecular scale due to surface tension) than the traditional lubricant. I have to agree about the locktite, your dovetails need work if you have to use thread-locker to hold the sight. The manufacturers like to recommend things like locktite so they can have lower standards and therefore prices to pass on to the consumer. Nothing wrong with it, just in this point the OP is doing it his way and it seems to work....

I never argue with a man who knows what he knows. Why I myself have had to beat Jo blocks apart with a 10# sledge hammer. :) Maybe you'll believe someone who manufactures after market precision sights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4maCQhEIjoA

ReManG
11-25-2014, 01:10 PM
Maybe you'll believe someone who manufactures after market precision sights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4maCQhEIjoA

I would respect your opinion more if the video wasn't about glock sights, there is no front dovetail and I am Not knocking the company, but their dovetails are set screwed, so apples to oranges for you to compare sight installation with the OP's.....

NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!!!

muggsy
11-25-2014, 02:10 PM
I would respect your opinion more if the video wasn't about glock sights, there is no front dovetail and I am Not knocking the company, but their dovetails are set screwed, so apples to oranges for you to compare sight installation with the OP's.....

NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!!!

His comments apply to every sight installation that they do and on every make and model of gun for which they manufacture sights. Now, go argue with Dawson.

ReManG
11-25-2014, 02:36 PM
Just some friendly banter muggsy, hope you did not take it wrong without the sarcasm tag. I get your point of view, and the OP's method of install is sound in my experience as well, I abhor dogma about one way to skin the cat, so I figured I would point some things out, from my experience, not trying to denigrate your experience with my statements either... just backing the cat skinner of this post...

muggsy
11-25-2014, 02:38 PM
All is forgiven. I'll scratch you off my A-hole list. :)

b4uqzme
11-25-2014, 03:40 PM
^^^ with your cat's claws?

ReManG
11-25-2014, 08:48 PM
All is forgiven. I'll scratch you off my A-hole list. :)

Use pencil next time, I get moody too...

josp
11-25-2014, 09:29 PM
Damn fellas, just trying to give yunz a sight option. Never said I was a know it all!

muggsy
11-26-2014, 11:40 AM
You done good Josh. While in close encounters I'm more likely to point shoot, there are times when aimed fire can be of benefit. I'm considering changing the sights on my P380. What sight pusher did you used to remove and install your sights. By your use of "yunz" you must be from somewhere near Pittsburgh PA. I'll try not to hold that against you. :)

muggsy
11-26-2014, 11:44 AM
^^^ with your cat's claws?

More like bear claws. (Note to self, add b4uqzme to list. :) )

ReManG
11-27-2014, 08:42 AM
Damn fellas, just trying to give yunz a sight option. Never said I was a know it all!

Still looking for some side by side pics when you get the chance..

josp
11-27-2014, 01:12 PM
I promise I will after turkey day!

ReManG
11-27-2014, 05:00 PM
I'm sorry, I was napping, what did you say???... LOL of course after turkey day... I just think it is cool you discovered this little anomaly.....

josp
12-02-2014, 02:28 PM
OK so it took a little more time to get these but here are some more shots of the old standard sights compared to the PM9 sights installed by the sight press we have.

ReManG
12-02-2014, 07:12 PM
And how many times have you used the "That's not a sight press, THIS is a sight press" line..... Seriously though, that is almost perfect for what I was thinking... Now I will have to order some PM9 sights and swap them out.... I really appreciate this....

josp
12-02-2014, 08:35 PM
It IS a gargantuan sight press, but still won't budge Springfield XD sights. I swear they put them in when the slide is red hot!