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The channel is not tapered and direction doesn't matter. Which direction you go depends on which pusher you are using (flat or angled) and which hand you prefer using to work the gear. The vast majority of my sights are slant sided so I'm near always going right to left and right hand cranking. Flat sided, the direction is left to right because I prefer a right hand crank.Ive never been able to move a sight with a delrin punch. I couldnt find info on the web if Glock dovetails are tapered or not but I did find a good youtube video from Iraqvetran8888 that showed install right to left. That aligned with a tiny notch on one side of the sight so I assumed that was for pushing in on but after halfway I looked and gah everything was distorted.
Heres a pic of my sight pusher for reference, its an old school design that was once popular.
Lookin at that photo enbiggined... it kinda looks like you might have been using the flat side of your pusher (vs. slanted) and the slide was set too low(?) There should be some plates of varying thickness to adjust the height of the slide (raise/lower) so the pusher is just clearing the bottom of the channel. Not up high on the upper part of the sight like that.What is the proper way to install the rear sight on a Glock?
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I bought it years ago to replace sights on my 1911s but you are right its not easy to align or use at all. I never messed up the 1911 sights but those were metal sights... I did not suspect the plastic Glock sights would be "that soft". But I can see now how if its not perfectly centered then it will induce side leverage which increases friction...I used to use one very similar to yours for quite awhile. I've never once mangled a sight... even the cheapo plastic OEM's... but it is important to get the pusher contact point just about dead center of the dovetail and those cheap universals can be a real PITA to get aligned properly. If they are slightly out of alignment it increases the torque on the sight and can make the push significantly more difficult. If you're only doing one or two every once in a very great while, those cheap ones work just peachy. The main downside is they are for crap when trying to make minor sight windage adjustments. The gear threads are too course to get any precision.
Correct on all points. I thought about reversing the pusher block but its a real pita to unthread on the tool and there is a little rectangle notch molded into the one side of the Glock sight I assumed was designed to align a pusher block with. I was close but didnt see I wasnt exact until after it was too late... I started to slide easy at first so it gave me false confidence I was doing the right thing... I diverted my eyes to watching the opposite side move into position and when I looked back... gah, I screwed up. The light mark on the bottom was my attempt to fine tune the centering with a plastic drift (again, to no avail).Lookin at that photo enbiggined... it kinda looks like you might have been using the flat side of your pusher (vs. slanted) and the slide was set too low(?) There should be some plates of varying thickness to adjust the height of the slide (raise/lower) so the pusher is just clearing the bottom of the channel. Not up high on the upper part of the sight like that.
Or.... someone mangled it and put that gash in before you... and those real light marks near the base are your slanted pusher marks?
View attachment 1895499
That should be perfectly smooth/flat, and if it was deformed like that before you tried installing it... with the plastic undoubtedly bulged to some degree... it would certainly make it more of a chore getting it compressed into the dovetail.![]()
Yeah. That's part of what drove me to invest in a better pusher. The "fidget factor". It can be such a process getting the alignment just right... every single time, but for 25 bucks, and a little time and aggravation invested, it's still a dandy little tool. For just a few small projects... 25 bucks is 25 bucks, right!Correct on all points. I thought about reversing the pusher block but its a real pita to unthread on the tool and there is a little rectangle notch molded into the one side of the Glock sight I assumed was designed to align a pusher block with. I was close but didnt see I wasnt exact until after it was too late... I started to slide easy at first so it gave me false confidence I was doing the right thing... I diverted my eyes to watching the opposite side move into position and when I looked back... gah, I screwed up. The light mark on the bottom was my attempt to fine tune the centering with a plastic drift (again, to no avail).
Eventually I did get it perfectly centered so the sight will be functional. Its a 6 dollar sight so a good way to learn a lesson the hard way.
Now I have to contemplate if its worth the investment in a proper sight tool.... I only have two builds I want to install sights on and thats it. Though Id like to play around with sight options on one to cowitness with an RMR.
I've replaced sights on my Glocks with a similar sight pusher. The sights were Mepro's and I used scraps of old business cards to protect the sight, putting the card scrap between the sight and the sight pusher. I'll try to get pictures.Ive never been able to move a sight with a delrin punch. I couldnt find info on the web if Glock dovetails are tapered or not but I did find a good youtube video from Iraqvetran8888 that showed install right to left. That aligned with a tiny notch on one side of the sight so I assumed that was for pushing in on but after halfway I looked and gah everything was distorted.
Heres a pic of my sight pusher for reference, its an old school design that was once popular.
View attachment 1895481
Oh then that part your doing wrong, there is a way to measure exactly if a rear sight is centered if you have calipers. I got mine centered under .010" even while marring them up. Test fired today and they shoot very accurate.The killer is when making fine adjustments. It's really bad at that. Having to remove your slide for test fire after every adjustment only to discover you went a just a hair too much, or not enough, you gotta reload your slide again to go back... crap! Rinse and repeat until you get it where you want it. The "fidget factor" got to be too much for me.![]()
The business cards held up to pressure and stayed in place? Thats a really small driving area to align up even without aligning protecting strips.I've replaced sights on my Glocks with a similar sight pusher. The sights were Mepro's and I used scraps of old business cards to protect the sight, putting the card scrap between the sight and the sight pusher. I'll try to get pictures.
They sure did. The key is to get as low as possible on the sight, leverage and patience are the keys.The business cards held up to pressure and stayed in place? Thats a really small driving area to align up even without aligning protecting strips.
Very generous offer thank you. I will keep that in mind if I decide on a sight upgrade.Not sure where you are in Oregon, but if in the PDX area, you are welcome to try my pusher (Real Avid).
Thats the same sight pusher I have. Crude but functional... and finicky to align. Yes, you will learn patience mastering this one...They sure did. The key is to get as low as possible on the sight, leverage and patience are the keys.
Here's the sight pusher used:
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And the new rear sight on a G19, Gen2, sights were pushed from Left to Right:
View attachment 1896009View attachment 1896010