Front sight base removal. Need help!

[Maspat]

Hey guys! I recently (yesterday) got a m&p 15 or and the front sight post is just a block with a rail on top. I am installing a low profile gas block for the handguard I am putting on it but am having trouble removing the front sight base. It has what looks like two pins that sit on each side of the base and looks like they go through the barrel but they obviously don't.. How do I remove these two pins?! And also, I have seen people put little tapers into the barrel where the new screws for the new gas block will sit, should I do something like this before I remove the existing gas block or is there something I can do after?! Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!

[Mickael81]

You need a punch, hammer and some wood to keep the FSB steady while u ham er out the pins. Once the pins are removed, place the upper barrel down and gently tap the rear of the gas block. Wrap the barrel on the back side of the gas block with electrical tape so it doesn't get scuffed by the hammer. Use some liquid wrench if you have it. Needless to say, remove the gas tube before doing anything.

[Maspat]

You need a punch, hammer and some wood to keep the FSB steady while u ham er out the pins. Once the pins are removed, place the upper barrel down and gently tap the rear of the gas block. Wrap the barrel on the back side of the gas block with electrical tape so it doesn't get scuffed by the hammer. Use some liquid wrench if you have it. Needless to say, remove the gas tube before doing anything.

How do I get the pins out? The one pin is basically in the center of the gas block almost even with the center of the barrel. So I know it's not just one pin but rather a pin on each side of the barrel... And I'm not sure of how to get the out..

[bender152]

If your's looks like this, it's just a taper pin and set screw.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_18/510994_.html&page=1

[Maspat]

If your's looks like this, it's just a taper pin and set screw.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_18/510994_.html&page=1

Ok so it is just a single pin! Awesome! Thank you so much! And by chance what side did you hit out?? Left or right from right hand shooter stand point?

[gemini1]

If its a taper pin, like the one shown above, you drive it out from the left side.
Place a block of wood on the opposite side with holes drilled at the same spot where the pins are, and whack the pins out with a puncher. Initially, I used a bigger sized punch to drive the pins flushed at the FSB, then a smaller one to push it all the way out. Once the pins move, it'll slide out with just a few light hammer taps.

Edit: My above suggestion is with a FSB, not with a railed gas block.

[bender152]

Ok so it is just a single pin! Awesome! Thank you so much! And by chance what side did you hit out?? Left or right from right hand shooter stand point?

Not my pic, I've never worked on one of these. I just found it doing a simple google search.

As for which direction to knock out the pin, did you even bother reading the thread I posted for you?

) 2)Used a 1/8” pin punch and a big hammer and punched out the taper pin (REMBER: RIGHT TO LEFT. Smith does it backwards for some reason.)Took about 3-4 good solid hits and it moved half way out. I used the nail set (yellow) and easily knocked it the rest of the way out. I could have used the 1/16” pin punch to move it the rest of the way, but didn’t want to accidentally bend that little sucker before I had a chance to use it on the gas tube pin.Also, you may want to tape up the gas block if you plan on using it again. I nicked mine a little when the pin punch slipped off the taper pin once. I didn't care though because I won't be using this gas block again.

I would verify the above before you go whacking the taper pin. You want to be hitting the smaller head of the taper pin. If it's on overly tight, Kroil (or other penetrating oil) will be helpful.

[Maspat]

Not my pic, I've never worked on one of these. I just found it doing a simple google search.

As for which direction to knock out the pin, did you even bother reading the thread I posted for you?



I would verify the above before you go whacking the taper pin. You want to be hitting the smaller head of the taper pin. If it's on overly tight, Kroil (or other penetrating oil) will be helpful.

Sorry but I actually overlooked the link.. But thank you for your help!