Qbert Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I have a Witness Match Elite in 40 that I got a Dawson FO front for. For the life of me, I cannot bang out the front sight. I took out the set screw, bathed it in Kroil, tried heat, etc, and it won't budge. I've banged on it so hard that a brass punch dented, peened, and warped the hell out of the face of the front sight blade. Any tricks to removing the front sight? For the record, I've replaced the one on my Match 9mm, and it also was tight as a drum, but it came out. But this 40 is giving me fits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercooler2 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) I have always just used a 2x4 to support the end of the slide and hang the sight off the edge. Tap it with another 2x4 and hammer. Edited May 6, 2015 by Intercooler2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nealio Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Make sure you are hitting the sight as square as possible. If the punch isn't touching the top of the slide, it can cause the sight to bind up. I always worry I'm going to hit my slide when removing sights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Put it in the freezer. I catch the front sight on the edge of a saw horse then hit the front of the slide with a rubber mallet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qbert Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share Posted May 5, 2015 Thanks for all the tips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himurax13 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Put it in the freezer. I catch the front sight on the edge of a saw horse then hit the front of the slide with a rubber mallet. This works great. OP are you sure you removed the setscrew? I made that mistake once before on a rear sight, LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qbert Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share Posted May 5, 2015 himurax13, I'm no PhD, but yes, I did remove the set screw. I tried Kroil, heat from a propane torch, brute force, and even sprayed butane directly on the front sight for cold. I'm going to try sticking the whole slide in the freezer tonight and give it another whack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shabodah Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Had the same issue with my hunter. Stock sight is still on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nealio Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Had the same issue with my hunter. Stock sight is still on it. quitter.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 himurax13, I'm no PhD, but yes, I did remove the set screw. I tried Kroil, heat from a propane torch, brute force, and even sprayed butane directly on the front sight for cold. I'm going to try sticking the whole slide in the freezer tonight and give it another whack. Soooo, did it work?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shabodah Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 quitter.... I will get back to it. Its just a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qbert Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 Sorry I've taken so long to reply. No luck. I let the sight soak in Kroil for a couple days and then stuck it in the freezer for a couple hours. Did the whack a mole thing with the rubber mallet and everything. Didn't even budge. I'm considering using a dremel or drill press to just 'mill' the dang thing out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercooler2 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 If you place the slide on a hard surface, use a metal hammer with a brass punch... I don't see how it couldn't come out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hav3n Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 This guy did a video on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qbert Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 I wish it were that easy on my particular pistol. It's like they welded that bad boy in there and then peened the edges of the slide to stake it in as well! I tell you, I'm beginning to think the only way to remove it is to have it milled out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intercooler2 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 You more than likely won't save that front sight. Hammer it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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