Installing Sights w/ MGW Tool

[LeadSlinger585]

Bought an MGW sight tool when Brownells was having coupons up.

Just wondering if eyeball center is good or if there's a better way to precisely center up the rear sight. Does it even matter?

FWIW, I normally shoot at the 25 yard range at the RRG&C though I eventually plan to shoot at the action range, once I've gotten my Gadget.

[Old4eyes]

Get a caliper. A cheap digital one will work for this and can be had for under 20 bucks at Amazon. I have found that my eyeballs weren't as calibrated as I hoped they would be.

If you think you may be doing other stuff where precision and repeatability are needed then you might want to look at a Mitutoyo gauge which will be in the $120 range.

[Legasat]

Calipers help, but a good eyeball will get you very close.

[Citadelgrad87]

Eyeball. Take the tool to the range, adjust sights as if they were adjustable.

Good luck.

[Creampuff]

Are you installing new sights? Or replacing it with nightsights?

Or are you just trying to center your sights on the firearm?

If it is the first two, I just mark a line juxtapose to the original sights with a fine tip sharpie. And then I use those marks as my reference point when I am installing the new sights. That always is good enough for range purposes.

If you are just trying to center up your sights, then I would wait for the range to see if that is even necessary. Then as citadel stated, eyeballing always works for me. It's more an art than a science, because those sights tend to lock up when you first start turning the MGW, and then it breaks free and turns more easily. So you can't really go based on degree of turns. It is one of those turn off your targeting computer and use the force Luke kind of things.

[CaliF1]

What the guys said above. Eyeballing should do you fine, but use calipers if it'll make you feel better. Unless you are sighting in a competition pistol you will be just fine using this method. Additionally, take the tool to the range on your first outing if you want to make fine adjustments.

I eyeballed my night sight installation on my last Glock and it's more on center than it was from the factory.

[bsg]

Eyeball. Take the tool to the range, adjust sights as if they were adjustable.

Good luck.

^^^ this; the proof is in the puddin and the puddin is at the range.

[thorium]

If you're eyeballing consider using a magnifying glass of some kind

[Divehobo]

I like puddin' and eyeballin'.

[LeadSlinger585]

Thank you for the responses!

Be sure you take the safe handgunner course first before venturing onto the action pistol range. And don't wait until you get your Gadget, hurry up and get out there. You're wasting time on the public range.

It doesn't matter where the sights are centered, it just matters if your shots are centered. I'd suggest eyeballing them as centered as possible, and if you're slightly left or right of center, just have it a little over on whatever dominant eye you are. So my sights are center-right as I'm right eye dominant.

I did, several years ago. Will do it again.

Never a waste of time, no matter what range you're on!

Are you installing new sights? Or replacing it with nightsights?

Or are you just trying to center your sights on the firearm?

If it is the first two, I just mark a line juxtapose to the original sights with a fine tip sharpie. And then I use those marks as my reference point when I am installing the new sights. That always is good enough for range purposes.

If you are just trying to center up your sights, then I would wait for the range to see if that is even necessary. Then as citadel stated, eyeballing always works for me. It's more an art than a science, because those sights tend to lock up when you first start turning the MGW, and then it breaks free and turns more easily. So you can't really go based on degree of turns. It is one of those turn off your targeting computer and use the force Luke kind of things.

Yes. Replaced factory Glock night sights with Ameriglo CAP sights.

If you're eyeballing consider using a magnifying glass of some kind

What?

[thorium]

You can tell if the rear sight is centered a lot better thru a low power magnifying glass than just the naked eye.

Calipers are good too, but due to the contours of pistols it's hard to consistently measure with them.

[AFTII]

Just went through this with my G30SF and my Sight Pro. Use the calipers. I eyeballed and was off by .006" to the L. That translated into around an inch L at 12 yds with my gun. Adjusted using calipers and got it dead nuts (though it looks off to my eye). .010" is the width of a human hair. Not too many eyeballs can differentiate this distance. Calipers work.

[LeadSlinger585]

Anyone got a how to guide to follow? I just tried using calipers and got inconsistent results.

[Old4eyes]

Slog through these two videos from Dave Dawson of Dawson Precision Sights

Dave Dawson punching a rear sight in and out on a Glock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp8tqXvnNEA

Front Sight on a 1911

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do8sHBDfIGk

At the 18:50 point on the 1911 front sight install he shows a method of using a bench vise with aluminum bar stock taped to the sides for slide protection can also be used as a fixed reference point to determine position.

You just need to go from a fixed reference point (the bar stock in this instance) and measure to the same point on the sight. For example make the distance from the bar stock to the edge of the rear sight the same on both sides of the slide, you've got it centered.

[nothingextra]

I've done sights swaps at RR&G on my Sigs.
I'm about to do it again to a 1911.

Cheapie digital caliper from Harbor Freight works fine.
You want the one you can use the end pin.

It doesn't matter if the sights are centered in the slide if it shoots straight.
I have a 228 that's visually crooked but shoots fine.
Ideally you want your front sight to be centered relative to the barrel.
That may not be visually centered in the slide.
If you have a slotted front do your math at home, draw it out and it to help subtracting the width of the front sight from barrel measurements.

Set your rear and shoot from a rest.
Don't bother with the lines in the tool, just tweak in until you're set.

The real problem is when you are good right and left, but you end up having to get new sights BC impact is off vertically.

Start with a moveable target, my 66-3 had so much rise it drove me nuts at 25yds.

I'm going out there in a few weeks to do my buddy's 1911, and setup another 228 slide for my 229.

Lmk when you are going and I'll meet you there.
I've got 100rds of birdshot I was going to burn thru my Benelli that other ranges aren't cool with.