HOW TO: TruGlo and DAWSON Fiber Optic front sight installation on SigSauer P226 X5 Allround w/pics

[99ways2die 3]

This “HOW TO” has been created to help some of you install a TruGlo TFO(or any other) front sight on a SigSauer P226 X5 Allround (or other P226), with the help of MGW Sig sight tool/pusher.

Scroll down to see DAWSON sight installation info.

 

This is an informal guide only and in no way, shape or form shall I be held responsible for any damage or harm while performing this task. You are solely responsible for all SAFETY precautions when working with firearms.

USE/FOLLOW AT YOUR OWN RISK.

 

I’ve done a lot of research and found a lot of good info, but nothing as detailed. It has been reported that the TruGlo sights (and perhaps other brands/models) have some issues with installation when using sight pushers/etc.

With all that said and done, let’s get to work.

 

 

1.Follow MGW directions for removal of your stock front sight.

 

2.While mounting the slide in the tool note how the bolt is all way to the right. The adjustable rear sight on the X5AR will not fit in the “rear notch” on the tool. This step allows for proper clearance.

 

3.Inset the slide at an angle, as the rear adjustable sight on the X5AR is also too tall to go straight back in. It will fit in just fine, but it need a little bit of finesse (see pic 1).

 

4.Move the slide back half way, reposition the tool bar in the middle, move the slide back making sure the front sight goes into the “front sight notch” on the tool.

 

5.Tighten up the bottom bolt (thus locking the frame in place, firmly), proceed to push out the stock front sight (see pic 2).

 

6.Test fit the TruGlo TFO (to the tool). This is where the reported problems come in when it comes to installation. TruGlo sight is too wide for the “front sight notch” on the tool (see pic 3).

 

7.Move the tool bolt out of the way, release the slide and bring forward to test fit the TruGlo sight by hand.

 

8.File/etc or otherwise prep the new sight according to the manufacturer’s specifications/instructions and make sure you don’t file too much!

 

9.If you get distracted by something and file too much the sight will be too loose and you WILL get pissed off (at yourself of course….although you can try and blame someone else).

 

10.Mount your loose sight upside down in a vice (try not to scratch it) and using a narrow/medium punch create 3 indentations in the bottom of the dovetail-this will re-tighten the sight when fitted to the slide again (see pic 4).

[99ways2die 3]

11.Add a little bit of lubricant (if you wish) to the slide to help and glide the sight in place. Instead of using oil, like some do, I used a bit of Locktite 620. Why? I was going to secure the sight with it later on anyway, and figured it wouldn’t hurt to get some of it under the sight while pushing it in (see pic 5). Use your own judgment here.

 

12.Push the TruGlo sight intot he slide by hand (having the proper fit/filing/tension/etc). Position the tool bar in the middle (with the rear sight notch in the middle). Push the slide back and lock in place.

 

13.Install/push the TruGlo sight into your slide using the sides on the rear sight notch on the sight tool (since the front sight notch is simply too narrow). Move the sight into the middle of your slide (see pic 6).

 

14.Loosen up the slide, back off the tool bar a bit, move slide forward to clear the front sight (see pic 7), then move the tool bar all the way to the right in order to remove the slide completely from the tool (see pic 8).

 

15.You’re done! ….or so you believe.

 

16.Mount the slide in a vice (protecting it from scratches/gouges/etc-you’re responsibility).

 

17.Verify alignment of the TruGlo slight. Here comes the biggest PITA of the day – your new sight will not be perfectly in the middle, as you will see when checking distance on both sides with a digital caliper (which you should have for this installation; see pic 9).

[99ways2die 3]

18.Remove the slide from the vice, re-install in the sight pushing tool…and adjust the sight to L or R as needed (see pic 10). You will repeat this step a number of times (unless you have a great eye…which you don’t). This really is a PITA and gets annoying very quickly.

 

19.Check and re-check until you are satisfied with the measurements on each side (see pic 11). If you performed this at a range you could now take a few shots to verify/etc, and continue to make adjustments as needed. I will rely on my measurements (L and R difference: below .03mm), and make any further adjustments (if needed) with the adjustable rear sight on the X5AR.

 

20.Put some Locktite 620 (or whichever you choose to use) on each side of the dovetail, and give a few minutes to soak in (see pic 12).

 

21.After a few mins clean off any remaining Locktite, sit back and admire your work. You’re done.

 

 

CREDITS:

I’d like to openly thank Bgrafsr for lending me the MGW sight pusher tool (see one of the top/sticky threads in this section). Much appreciated.

 

Any and all questions, comment and criticisms welcome.

Images hosted on Photobucket (feel free to rehost/copy/etc as you wish).

 

***Cross-posted from my Sig forum, but figured someone here might find it useful as well.***

Many of these steps apply to installation of many other sights; if you think you can do it, I think you can adapt and change certain steps to fit your need/installation.

-99

[99ways2die 3]

So...due to unpopular demand I'll give you guys a quick review.

 

Alternate post title: Why I am going to replace TruGloFO with Dawson FO ("DFO" going forward) today.

Saw that coming? Maybe.

 

It's shortcomings, for me personally are the following:

1. Too wide, period.

My stock X5 front sight is .125, the newly acquired DFO is .110 (my choice-wanted slightly slimmer than stock)...but the TFO is .168!

I have only myself to blame for not checking how big the TFO really is, before buying it. Some may like it (in that aspect), some may not - I realized that I don't. I gave the TFO 2 trips to the range, and after shooting my X5 and friend's 92FS back and forth I concluded that I was lining up much better and quicker with his Beretta (not to day that his was great (as it was too narrow), but better than mine).

This obviously is an individual preference so I can't and won't say that size is a negative for the TFO. If .16+ sight is your thing, you'll like the TFO.

2. The FO in TFO isn't bright enough. Why? One of the major advantages of the TFO as opposed to other FO sights is that the FO itself is well protected inside the sight itself......and that''s the exact problem (when it comes to light gathering and transition). The FO doesn't have enough exposure (to light) to be very effective. It only really gets lit up from above; where as many competitors expose the FO at least 180 degrees to light, the TFO is "covered up" on 3 sides. This means that it can only pick up rays of sunshine/etc from above to really "light up" that FO. Low light conditions? Low "glow."

Aha! But you have tritium behind that fiber optic-how can it be too dim???

Well, the "night sight" behind the FO works wonderfully - AT NIGHT! Turn the lights off and you have a truly great looking green dot.

What comes to mind about the TFO is this: Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

Disclaimer:

The TFO is very well made; I have absolutely no criticism as to the product itself. It definitely looks like it can take a lot more abuse than many other FO sights, and it is exactly what it is. I highly recommend the product for anyone LOOKING FOR WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER.

 

I however want a front sight that is easy to spot in normal to slightly dimm conditions, in a RANGE/COMP settings only. Since my X5 isn't my primary home defense firearm, I consider the overall width and light pickup/display presentation to be sub-par to other offerings.

 

So-tonight (most likely) the TFO is being replaced by Dawson FO.

Even if no one ever replies to this thread I'll still doc all this nonsense, figuring someone doing their homework may benefit from my own adventures. I'll follow up with a few pictures, as we all like to see pictures.

-99

[Jon 264]

Thanks for the info!

[99ways2die 3]

Mercy reply, ehh?

Hahahhh...

 

PS:

TXT coming your way in a few.

-99

[Jon 264]

Lol! Nah, legitimately grateful for the info. See ya tomorrow.

[tony357 386]

If the site becomes to loose you can use a shim underneath it to make it tight again..

 

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=589/Product/KIT-NO-AC-24-STEEL-SHIM-STOCK

[99ways2die 3]

So, here's the quick run down on how to install the DAWSON FO sight using the MGW tool.

Now, before you consider doing this keep in mind the following: I'm not 100% sure but I could swear that I saw a warning from DawsonP itself somewhere that their FO sight SHOULD NOT be installed using "sight pushers" as they WILL get damaged.

I agree.

 

However, using the following modified guide you will be able to install the sight using the MGW sight pusher (MGW Sig tool in particular - don't know if it would work the same with other tools), with the assistance of the Dawson provided tap, which comes with their FO.

As always, perform all/any of these modifications at your own risk, and all that other good stuff.

I won't repeat firearm safety warnings-you should know (and follow) these like the back of your hand by now.

 

Let's get to work:

Most steps listed above for TruGlo installation are repeated here, so I will only list differences and provide pics of the important stuff.

I think you guys should be able to figure things out.

 

1. Compare the Dawson FO (DFO) to TFO. Where as the TFO is much larger, wider and simply "beefier," the DFO is much more fragile, yet much more precise in design and finish.

 

2. Perform all steps to get the DFO ready for installation. Once ready you can try i tin the tool, where you will see WHY Dawson warns you NOT to use it! The sight is much smaller than many others and the tool simply doesn't have enough proper contact on it when it would come to push it in.

I imagine it would bend or break if we tried to push it in, like we did with TFO.

 

3. So, take it out, scrap the tool and pound it in by hand? Well, of course not! Take the small bar provided by Dawson and file it on the flat end by about .1 inch or maybe a bit more. Why? The bar would fit between the slide/sight and tool bar just fine, but it would be very tight. It would scratch the DFO, so we want to take a bit off to allow for wrapping of this bar in tape. If you want, you may substitute this bar with anything else which will be hard enough and the right shape to "butt" against the DFO and the tool. What we're doing here is simply providing a much greater push surface for the tool. Once fitted between the sight and tool, the bar will prevent any damage to the DFO once we start pushing the sight in. Here's how I filed mine (pic taken mid-way; I filed a bit more afterwards).

[99ways2die 3]

4. Here's how we put all of this together and start to crank that tool up to push the sight in. I hope this pic in self-explanatory. Sight in the slide, taped-wrapped bar against it and pushed back about 1 inch, then crank the sight pusher. Sight moves in place, and that bar in between gives a flat full surface to ensure the DFO is not damaged or strained din any way during installation.

Take all/any necessary steps to protect the slide and new sight from damage/scratching when you are about to do this (this is where filing and proper wrap are important). This is also why I mention that you can find/fabricate a similar bar from almost anything else (plastic/etc...)

 

You're done (after measuring, testing and otherwise adjusting the DFO in the slide) and here're a couple of pics of the finished product:

 

 

...or....you can use the Dawson supplied "tool," read all the warnings and follow the manual installation guide(s) found online (including a very nice video on YouTube provide by Dawson Precision).

 

Following this method allows you much greater control in the installation (as opposed to pounding things in with hammers, bars, etc), and especially the alignment process.

Once I was done my left to right distances were within .02 of an inch.

Good luck and hope this helps someone out there.

-99