- Messages
- 96
- Reactions
- 105
Have one of the older Beretta 92's with a dead front night sight? I am talking about the sight post that is cast/milled into the slide - no dovetails, etc. I had one…92G. The front sight was 17+ years old…and dim. I had it listed for sale on this sight and multiple people asked about the front sight. So I did some research.
Beretta will not touch it. Trijicon, who initially installed the lamps, will not touch it. Tooltech no longer replaces the lamp either.
Options:
1) Find a gunsmith to grind off the front post and mill in a dovetail. I found quotes $250-300+, not including the new sight. Some folks thought the 92 was to light of a slide for this, and recommended getting a beefier slide, so there was more metal available.
2) Tooltech makes a sight that slips over the front post. Involves some milling, and final product has sights that ride higher than stock. About $350 plus s/h.
3) Find a gunsmith to remove part of the front sight and install a fiber optic sight. I found one for $80 plus s/h, and a second with a "call for pricing", which I knew was in excess of $50.
4) Put a dab of fingernail polish, or paint on the sight, and call it good. By far the cheapest and easiest.
5) Get a replacement slide without the fixed front sight.
I opted for number 3, with a twist. I did not like the pics of the finished product I found online. I knew I could do it better, and so did the person who wanted my Beretta.
Steps:
1) I first wrapped the slide in electrical tape and placed it in the vise with wood blocks, all to protect the finish.
2) I heated the front site with a heat gun. I read somewhere that the lamps were glued in with an epoxy. I do not know if this is true, nor if the heat is even necessary, but I do know the heat won't hurt. I believe a hair dryer would work fine.
3) There is a small hole (Pic 2) in the muzzle end of the front sight. I took a 1/16" punch and tapped out the lamp. Tap from front to rear. Mine came out easy. I then took a 1/16" drill (by hand) just to clean out any residue.
4) I took a hacksaw blade to start a cut midway on the front sight to use as a guide for the following step. (Pic 3)
5) I used a 3/16" round file here. Bigger may give marginally more light to the fiber optic, but I also wanted the sight post to still have strength. 7/32" would be fine also. (Chainsaw files - it's what I had) (Pic 4)
6) Clean up any raw edges and prep for paint…and paint.
7) Install the fiber optic: pick your color, cut to length, trim and heat. It is 1.5mm/0.060". It helps to trim the muzzle end at an angle - makes for a cleaner finish.
Beretta will not touch it. Trijicon, who initially installed the lamps, will not touch it. Tooltech no longer replaces the lamp either.
Options:
1) Find a gunsmith to grind off the front post and mill in a dovetail. I found quotes $250-300+, not including the new sight. Some folks thought the 92 was to light of a slide for this, and recommended getting a beefier slide, so there was more metal available.
2) Tooltech makes a sight that slips over the front post. Involves some milling, and final product has sights that ride higher than stock. About $350 plus s/h.
3) Find a gunsmith to remove part of the front sight and install a fiber optic sight. I found one for $80 plus s/h, and a second with a "call for pricing", which I knew was in excess of $50.
4) Put a dab of fingernail polish, or paint on the sight, and call it good. By far the cheapest and easiest.
5) Get a replacement slide without the fixed front sight.
I opted for number 3, with a twist. I did not like the pics of the finished product I found online. I knew I could do it better, and so did the person who wanted my Beretta.
Steps:
1) I first wrapped the slide in electrical tape and placed it in the vise with wood blocks, all to protect the finish.
2) I heated the front site with a heat gun. I read somewhere that the lamps were glued in with an epoxy. I do not know if this is true, nor if the heat is even necessary, but I do know the heat won't hurt. I believe a hair dryer would work fine.
3) There is a small hole (Pic 2) in the muzzle end of the front sight. I took a 1/16" punch and tapped out the lamp. Tap from front to rear. Mine came out easy. I then took a 1/16" drill (by hand) just to clean out any residue.
4) I took a hacksaw blade to start a cut midway on the front sight to use as a guide for the following step. (Pic 3)
5) I used a 3/16" round file here. Bigger may give marginally more light to the fiber optic, but I also wanted the sight post to still have strength. 7/32" would be fine also. (Chainsaw files - it's what I had) (Pic 4)
6) Clean up any raw edges and prep for paint…and paint.
7) Install the fiber optic: pick your color, cut to length, trim and heat. It is 1.5mm/0.060". It helps to trim the muzzle end at an angle - makes for a cleaner finish.
