Help wanterd Removing sights from 10/22 barrel

[FishDoc]

Ok...I am dressing up a 10/22 and I need to get the front and rear sights off to make my new toy. I bought a second barrel just for this (So if I ever want to go back to the original rifle I can with a quick barrel swap)... but damned if I can get the sights out... Ruger says they can be tapped out with a wooden dowel, but I have wrecked 3 so far and not a budge - even tried to warm up the metal around the sights to remove them and nada...
thanks in advance
Dr.Oz

 

[guntech]

Hold the barrel in a vise and try a hard wood dowel or a brass punch.

 

[starpuss]

yup brass punch should do it. got mine off with one (try hiting the other side)

 

[icehunter121]

With the barrel locked solid...hell it doesnt have to be that solid and it facing away from you as if you were shooting it...place a punch on the LEFT hand side and drive the sights towards the right side...should pop right out...