Do you need to be a gunsmith to install sights on your pistol?

I bought my first firearm in 2006, and until recently, I either bought pistols with the sights I wanted or had them installed by a gunsmith. But do you really need to have a gunsmith install sights on your pistol or can you do it yourself?

Last year I picked up a Glock 20 and decided to try installing a set of sights myself. I watched a few YouTube videos, ordered some tools, and went at it. I didn’t break anything, but my rear sight wound up a bit beat up from pounding on it. Luckily I didn’t break any of the tritium tubes.

Then I bought a Glock 19 MOS Gen 4. After mounting a Trijicon RMR on it, I wanted a set of co-witness sights installed. That way if the red dot failed or the battery ran out, I had a set of backup iron sights to aim with. I figured I would give the installation another shot myself but did a little more research this time. I decided on a set of Dawson Precision Glock MOS Fixed Co-Witness Tritium Sights. (These are no longer for sale.)

Dawson Precision provides you instructions on how to install the sights. Watching a video of Dave Dawson installing a set of their sights on a Glock, a few times, helped my confidence. I made a list of some of the tools he used to make sure I had everything I needed to complete the installation. I already had a cheap vise and a Wheeler Punch Set but I picked up a few other items that I’ll list below.

Materials List

• Sights – As I mentioned, the first set I bought is no longer for sale but you can get the set I bought for my Glock 19 MOS Gen 5
• Vise – I bought a cheap vise off of Amazon that has worked well for me so far.
• Triangle File
• Acetone
• Wash Bottle
• Locktite 262
• Locktite 271
• Wheeler Punch Set
• Gun Cleaning Brush Set
• Front Sight Removal Tool – Not necessary as Dawson Precision gives you one but I was able to get a better grip with this one as you can see in the video.
• Paper Towels
• Q-Tips
• Masking Tape

As you can see from the video, the installation went pretty smooth. In the video, you’ll see me installing a set of sights on a Gen 4 and a Gen 5 Glock 19 MOS. After filming the first installation, I wound up getting a Gen 5 and decided to film that installation as well for some different angles. The second installation went even smoother since I knew exactly what to do.

I had a little trouble getting the front sight off the first time. But once I put the front sight in the vise, it was easy to remove. With the rear sight, just make sure you only file off a little bit at a time and then test the fit. That way you don’t take TOO much off.

Would a sight pusher tool make things easier? Possibly. But I don’t install enough sights to justify buying one. And it really isn’t hard filing off some material to get the fit just right.

So should you install sights yourself or let a gunsmith install them?

That decision is up to you? Are you handy and like projects that you can do yourself? Then have at it. The tools you need won’t set you back that much and most can be used for other projects like the punch set. But if you don’t want to risk messing things up, by all means, drop it off to a gunsmith. And you might just have to make that decision since we are giving away a set of sights.

Giveaway Details