1911 Front Sight Staking

[brass slinger]

My Colt Series 70 milspec front sight is just too hard to see with my old eyes now. I bought a taller MGW sight set to replace it. The local gunsmith is quite booked up because they do good work. I was thinking of buying the Brownells front sight staking tool and giving it a try since I am also a big DIYer. I guess if it doesn't go well, I can just buy another front sight and wait for an opening with the gunsmith.

Anyone here has done it on their own? I have a drill press vise and a Lyman rear sight tool.

 

[john323]

I have done many of them.
Give it a try. If you have any questions please feel free to call me 323-722-3903

 

[Enfielder]

I had a loose front sight on my Colt and used the Brownell staking tool with no issues. Worked fine.

 

[brass slinger]

Thanks for the confidence building replies! I guess at $60, it's worth the try.
I read that even when they are staked well, they can still work loose due to recoil and I'll have the tool to tighten it up.

 

[BigBossman]

Thanks for the confidence building replies! I guess at $60, it's worth the try.
I read that even when they are staked well, they can still work loose due to recoil and I'll have the tool to tighten it up.

I actually had oe fly off in the middle of a match. That was fun...

 

[AR15barrels]

Thanks for the confidence building replies! I guess at $60, it's worth the try.
I read that even when they are staked well, they can still work loose due to recoil and I'll have the tool to tighten it up.

Whatever you do, make sure the sight is seated fully in the slide and that you have the sight resting on a block that will take the force so that the sight does not try to move out of the slide as you are staking.
I ended up making a fixture that I clamp the slide and sight into while I stake to ensure the sight stays tight and flush with the top of the slide.

 

[brass slinger]

I got my MGW sights installed and ordered the Brownells staking tool!
The original front sight snapped off with a adjustable wrench but I had to punch out the remaining post. It was in there good, thank you Colt!
The rear sight was a bear to remove and I was wondering if my Lyman sight pusher could handle the job but it finally started to move.
MGW said it would take fitting for the new rear sight and it sure did. Some filing and stoning to get it started in the dovetail.
I over did it on the first rear sight and it was too loose. I had ordered a second sight without white dots and was super careful with fitting that one. Then painted the dots to match the front.