Putting on xs sights?

[Too Tall Todd]

I posted a while ago about when I was waffling between the k9 the p9 or the cw9. I love my new p9, just qualified my Ccw with it 30/30. It took a little getting used to that looong trigger pull but about 400 rounds in and looking good. I have previously put night sights on both my mini-14 and my glock without incident, last night when I tried to drift out the rear sights (from left to right as the slot is not parallel) and it would not move, becoming concerned I stopped. Does anyone have any ideas. Right now I am considering sending it back to Kahr. By the way I am intending to put the xs sights that I bought directly from Kahr on.

[Bawanna]

Some of those sights on Kahrs and a few others as well are just gosh darn tight. Usually once you get it to move your pretty much home free but sometimes that initial movement is tough. A good padded vise, a good quality punch, sometimes I have to leave brass behind and go to steel at least for the initial start, then back to brass once it moves. Too much movement with the brass.
A sight pusher just to get it going is a plus but not worth the investment for the average owner.
Getting the new ones on is a snap as you can take a little material off the new base till it starts about half way.

Sending it to Kahr might be a good option. Just send the slide and you don't have to pay all the heavy shipping a gun fees. It'll come back right and usually in a good timely fashion.

[Too Tall Todd]

Thanks bawanna, I was using the plastic punch that came with the sights. I ilwill try at least brass before I send it in. Do you know if they locktite them down.

[Bawanna]

Thanks bawanna, I was using the plastic punch that came with the sights. I ilwill try at least brass before I send it in. Do you know if they locktite them down.

I don't know for a fact that they use locktite but it appeared so when I pounded mine off. I'm not sure a little heat would help that or not but a good thought.

That punch is delrin and they are right handy for lots of stuff but you ain't gonna budge that factory kahr sight with it. Just ain't gonna happen.

Its the ticket for putting the new sights on once you get them right, should be able to start them on a third or half way without a lot of effort, then drive them the rest. Go to the brass if the Delrin isn't making it.

Keep us posted, you might come up with a new trick we can all use.

[jocko]

I'm sure this poster has been advised that the bes thing to do is send the slide into kahr (for about $5) U.S. mail even, and let them install those sights. I have never seen sights put on any gun as hard as kahrs are. I have a nice set of brass punches that are now shaped in Us and L's.

I don't think they locktite thier sites in, there is no need to, normallly locktite is used on threads (the reason it is called threadlocker). Now they do recommend some type of locktite (color blue) when installing new sights, alot depends on who is doing the mounting and reworking the new sights to slide on easier to..

A good sight pusher IMO is a must for taking sights off of kahrs.

[Bawanna]

I think sending it in for their install would make much more sense than investing in a sight pusher unless of course a person plans to install a lot of sights and even then the good quality pushers are gun specific so the money would be better spent on other things.

Being the impatient type myself I only suggested these ideas in an attempt to get r dun now. Jocko as usual is correct and far more patient than I and a trip to Kahr for install would indeed be a good thing.

I'm also a firm believer that what one man can do another can do but sadly this has gotten me in lots of jambs previously. I guess it should be amended to what one man can do with the proper tools another can do with the proper tools.

[jeepster09]

They also make sight installing tools, kinda presses them out like using a C-clamp.

[jocko]

I think I paid around $130 from brownells, wish I had bought it 10 years ago. I spent that much on damn brass worthless punch sets. If you only have one pea shooter, the best thing is to let the gumn maker install the sights, far cheaper. One even mess up a wet dream with a good sight pucher to, so it is not always the answer to all questions. When I first got my pusher I wa susing it, moving my sights left to right and then back right to left and so forth, now I bet I have't used that pusher in over 6 months.

I moved my sights o much on my PM9 that after awhile allI had to do was get the pusher out and damn if that rear sight on my PM9 didn't start to move by ITSELF. I would not spook anyone about that either. That statement is as true as Nancy Pelosi saying she has never had a face lift!!!!

[REACT]

Since there seems to be some questions about how to install the sights, specifically about the use of loctite, I wanted to make sure that everyone knew that XS has provided installation videos.

XS Sight Systems - Installation Videos (http://www.xssights.com/install.html#1911)

or on YouTube

YouTube - XS Sight Dovetail Installation - Pistol (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1YxRoi_9Lc)

I have the big dot version on my K9 and I love 'em. I also had a local gunsmith install them for $10. That back sight is tight, I don't have the right tools, and I didn't want to mess up my beautiful gun.

[DarwinG31]

I installed a set yesterday on my P380. It was a PITA to get the front sight off. I destroyed the provided punch before I finished completely. I had to use a brass punch and a steel one get get the front off. Oddly, I noticed the rear sight on my P380 does not have tritum. Is this common on the little Kahr sights? I may have to call XS...

As stated its not so bad once you get the moving. My trick was I taped over the tip of my steel punch to pad it and get a solid hit. The brass was bending and the derlin was flexing and chipping. Good luck

[jeepster09]

When I have expensive sights....I let my gunsmith do it, if he breaks them he buys them. He only charges $20 to install.

[Tilos]

You are lucky most smiths won't touch them unless you bought them from him/her.

Gun show sight sellers will usually install for free while you wait/watch, if you pay full retail.
I watch them do someone elses first, then decide if I want them to do mine.;)
If they break the sight they just grab another one and I always can stop them if they start reaching for the BIG hammer.:eek:

XS sights, good for defense, not so good for gun games.

just sayin'
Tilos

[Bawanna]

You are lucky most smiths won't touch them unless you bought them from him/her.

Gun show sight sellers will usually install for free while you wait/watch, if you pay full retail.
I watch them do someone elses first, then decide if I want them to do mine.;)
If they break the sight they just grab another one and I always can stop them if they start reaching for the BIG hammer.:eek:

XS sights, good for defense, not so good for gun games.

just sayin'
Tilos

Some of those guys lose customers with their antics as well. We have one outfit that has a pretty good inventory, mostly black rifle stuff and I even bought an XD from them awhile back. Then I saw them beating on an AR15 with a large hammer behind their table. Sounded like a blacksmith shop. I've never looked at their stuff since. Bull in a China closet comes to mind.
I've not seen any dealers that install sights are our shows, actually not may that sell sights for that matter.
I do more research on gunsmiths than I do doctors, figure my body will grow back but ruining my gun is forever.

[jeepster09]

Handgun Work (http://www.ahlmans.com/handgunwork.html)

You could always ship to my guy....I see the price went up to $25.00
Great shop to deal with and quality work. Check the above link.