Removing Front Sight - 10/22

[slim]

I'm putting on some Tech-Sights and I'm having a bear of a time getting the factory front sight out of the barrel. I've never had any problems in the past just drifting them out with a punch and tapping it a few times with a hammer.

But this one.... 

I've banged on it super hard and it hasn't budged. Sprayed it down with WD-40. Nothing. Even tried heating it up. Nada.

Any tips?

[floydf]

Someone (Oladcock) said he had to use a dremel.

[boscohurn]

Yes, Dremel.

It saves time and potential damage from beating on the poor thing.  Mine would not budge either.  I just cut it down the middle, perpendiular to the barrel, stopped just short of the dovetail and it popped right out.

[Edheler]

Here is the $60 solution to the problem. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/732798/williams-ramp-type-front-sight-pusher I don't have one, but I have used one and they work great.

[Hinermad]

I've banged on it super hard and it hasn't budged. Sprayed it down with WD-40. Nothing. Even tried heating it up. Nada.

Any tips?

How are you supporting the barrel? I've had a couple of guns where I couldn't get the front sight out of the dovetail if the barrel was resting on a wooden workbench. The wood flexed, absorbing some of the force of the impact. To get the sight off of my 10/22 I had to rest it on the metal rails of a Workmate (padded with a couple layers of cotton towel) with the edge of the rail right behind the dovetail notch.

Dave

[slim]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I figured someone on here'd encountered this problem a time or two.

It's way past time I buy a Dremel anyway so I guess I'll go with that.

Edheler, like most other things in the rifle world, that item is out of stock. I do have an AK sight tool that might work though. Even explored the option of buying a press to push it out. In the mean time, it's time to get cuttin!

I tried to pound it on a wood table, the floor, in a vise, etc. No dice. Time to cut!

[Unbridled Liberty]

Of course the Dremel will work, and I rarely pass up an opportunity to employ one, but this stuff will unstick anything: Kano Aero Kroil Penetrating Oil.  Everyone ought to have some on hand.

UL

[2 clicks low]

+1 on the Kroil. Also the best way to remove lead from a barrel.

2cl

[douglas34474]

The problem with removing the front sight is tht they are not 'standard' dovetails. They are made so that the dovetail of the front sight is loose in the barrels dovetail. There is a small projection on the bottom flat that is an interference fit and it is pressed in using a press.

I use the Williams sight pusher and have no problem with them.

[Kosciusko]

+1 on using Kroil

has somebody staked it in place?  I have seen that on some 10/22s, usually used ones.

Using two  people works good, one to hold it steady, one to run the hammer.

I use a desk/table/counter top.  Lay out a beach towel to protect the stock.  Then I put a paperback book under the end of the barrel, just far enough back from the muzzle to let the sight fall out.  This prevents any flexing and makes sure when you whack the front sight, all the energy goes into pushing it out.  If it sticks after a couple hits in the center, I start to alternate left, center, right, right, center left.  I've never had to cut one out, but I have had to really beat 'em bad.

k

[oladcock]

No, I don't think it was me with the dremal but as a last resort option for sure. Just don't let it get away from you! The more solid the bench is you are backing the barrel with, the easier it'll be. I've had them be stubborn on a wood bench or even a concrete floor, lay it across my cast iron table saw and knock them right out. You are going left to right? Had to ask. I don't where one could find it, maybe a drug store, but oil of wintergreen is the best penatrant for breaking loose stuck objects.....O.L.

[KodyJaret]

Try an actual penetrating oil like KROIL or PB BLASTER. Then apply some heat. Then giveit a few raps. I've got the Williams type sight pusher, very useful thing.

WD40 is a good moisture displacent,,, it should never be used as a lube, is of little use as rust protectant, and has virtually no application for firearms, except perhaps an emergency. It should never be used in fine mechanisms.

[oladcock]

WD-40 is an EXCELLENT solvent to remove old grease/oil. I'll take trigger groups, hose it down with WD, it'll desolve all the gunk. Blow it out with compressed air then relube. Ain't the tool, it's how you use it.......O.L.

[Red Alder Ranch]

I couldn't budge mine, either, until I flipped it over and tried driving it out "backwards". Came out in a jiffy going that way. Can't hurt to try.

[Charles McKinley]

I used the sight pusher it moved a little the stopped again.  Massaged it with a steel punch and a 3 pound hammer it moved a little more, back to the pusher and it finally came out.

It was a brand new rifle and was WAY harder than the last one I did.  Yes, I was going the recommended direction.

I was on the verge of appling heat but it was not my rifle.

[Nero]

I got three 10/22s as loaners in late 2011, took the front sights off two (scoped the other).  The sight on the 'compact model' popped right out.  But the standard carbine was as described above - no amount of cussing and banging moved it.  The Dremel did the trick. 

[Pain Killer]

I hated the thought of using a dremel on my new rifle. So I soaked it in WD40 overnight in a red solo cup. Used a brass punch in the AM and it came right off. I have done this on 3 rifles now.

-PK

[cdavidhord]

Soaking in WD-40 overnight did nothing for me.  I had to use the dremmel.  Didn't want to destroy the front sight, but after wasting all that spray and all my time pounding, figured I'd never be using it again anyway.  Just cut it and be done.

[Pete!]

I carefully used a butane torch to slightly heat up the base.  It came right out then.

[passinthru]

Just ran across an independent machinist's test of penetrating oils.
The shopmade one performed the best, even better than the Kroil.
A 1 to 1 mix of A.T.F. (automatic transmission fluid) and acetone.
Try it.

[AFTERMATH]

I'm putting on some Tech-Sights and I'm having a bear of a time getting the factory front sight out of the barrel. I've never had any problems in the past just drifting them out with a punch and tapping it a few times with a hammer.

But this one.... 

I've banged on it super hard and it hasn't budged. Sprayed it down with WD-40. Nothing. Even tried heating it up. Nada.

Any tips?

Cut barrel to 16.1 inches.
Thread for flash suppressor.
Weld tech-sight to flash suppressor.
Thread suppressor onto barrel.
Voila!

Disclaimer:  The author has no idea how well this will work, he's never done it.  But now that he's thought of it, he thinks it sounds cool and would like to try it.  Just 'cause he can.  Now he just needs a spare 10/22 to work on, and a black-hawk axiom stock....  Darn-it!  Author has too many ideas, not enough money and not enough time....  Author will return to bailing now!

[dart67eb]

Make something that looks like this out of 3/4" aluminum stock and a setscrew.  I made one that I use on my Mosin.