Front sight removal without a vise

[SlvrDragon50]

Anyone have any suggestion on how to remove a front sight without a vise?

I've pretty much destroyed this nylon tip that Dawson Precision gives to remove front sights.

[SPO1SHADOW]

A vice or a wood clamp sure makes things a lot easier. Are you trying to remove the stock sight from a CZ85 or what are you working with? You did remove the cross pin I am assuming.

[SlvrDragon50]

Yea, I had no problem removing the front sight on my CZ85C, but I had a vise when I did that.

I'm trying to replace the stock sight on my Kadet.

[Earl Keese]

I've had success hooking the sight on the edge of an old bench and hitting the muzzle with a plastic mallet.

[SlvrDragon50]

Hmm okay. I think I need to get a plastic mallet.

[SPO1SHADOW]

A cheap vise would be better.

[Earl Keese]

I hope I didn't give bad advice, I picked it up here. Worked fine for me and didn't take much force at all.

[M1A4ME]

I've had success hooking the sight on the edge of an old bench and hitting the muzzle with a plastic mallet.

That worked great for me.  The wood (heavy plywood) had a small divot in it, but hey, it's a work bench.  The sight was unmarked.

[SPO1SHADOW]

I agree that is a great way to remove a stubborn front sight if no vise is available.

[SlvrDragon50]

A cheap vise would be better.

Well I suppose my problem is that I don't have a place to really secure a vise too. All of my tables are cheap desks meant for work. I've got a plastic picnic type table. If you've got any suggestions I am all ears!

[SPO1SHADOW]

Lowes, Home Depot and Sears all sell a fold open work table. It is compact and folds up and stores in a closet when not in use. That would be my recommendation if you don't have a solid table to mount your vise on.

[Earl Keese]

As an alternative, many decent gun shops will do it for 10 bucks or so. As a matter of fact, if you ever have to remove the rear sight on a Kadet, I would recommend this route.

[SlvrDragon50]

Okay, so I found a vise at my gun range that I can use, but I could not remove the front sight at all. I actually shot maybe 150-200 rounds through the kit without the roll pin installed, and the sight wouldn't fly out of the gun.

Will a penetrating oil work on the front sight or no?

[SPO1SHADOW]

Put some green or blue painters tape (several layers) on an aluminum or brass punch and some tape on the sight and drive it off.

[Tok36]

^^ This was my first though as well.  I have yet to run into a stubborn front sight my self, its the rear sights that have given me trouble. Is it possible that you are not hitting it hard enough or that the vice being used is loose at the base? Have you tried a brass punch. I was reluctant to try brass at first but over time it proved to be very useful for removing and installing sights.