I'm at home getting more and more furious with this stupid thing. I'm not hitting the press pins lightly or the wrong way. The front sight looks like it's done a few tours of duty, I'm down one hammer and two punches, and they still aren't budging. I really wish the shop had just put all this crap on or told me that it's best they do it. It looks like I might have to cut it off but I'd really like to avoid buying a new front sight and waiting for it. Any tips or tricks?
Norinco CQA front sight removal?
- Thread starter gixxstar
- Start date
Get a sturdier punch and a bigger hammer. You could try some heat on the FSB, too.
I did one for a buddy last week and it took 4 hands and a BFH to get them loose.
Are you trying to remove it so you can install a one-piece free-float handguard?
I did one for a buddy last week and it took 4 hands and a BFH to get them loose.
Are you trying to remove it so you can install a one-piece free-float handguard?
I'll keep working at it but yeah, it's for a one piece handgaurd. If I had any idea it was going to be like this I would have gladly bought a 2 piece. I'm getting a little scared I'm going to wreck something else the way that this is going. Thanks for the input.
How long is the handguard you're installing? Is it large enough to slide over the FSB if you cut it down? Or do you need to install a proprietary barrel nut as well?
Worst case you cut it off, replace it with a low pro gas block and get a new, longer handguard to cover it. It's a PITA, but not that difficult.
Worst case you cut it off, replace it with a low pro gas block and get a new, longer handguard to cover it. It's a PITA, but not that difficult.
Use some Kano Kroil to loosen things up.
Brownells sells a front sight block but I have used a few layers of heavy cardboard to drive the pins into.
Use a big hammer 2lbs or heavier, put down your purse and swing that hammer.
Brownells sells a front sight block but I have used a few layers of heavy cardboard to drive the pins into.
Use a big hammer 2lbs or heavier, put down your purse and swing that hammer.
Most are .750" diameter.
2lb or 4lb hammer. Use an auger punch, not a straight punch to get her started and once she starts moving, you can switch to a straight punch
You see how this one is tapered and can take more abuse from the hammer and without bending
And to finish the job by pushing the pin all the way through, use a regular straight pin punch
I think CORE15 uses the same press-happy dude as Norinco as mine required an auger punch and 4 sets of hands to get 1 of the pins out. Used a 4lb hammer.
You see how this one is tapered and can take more abuse from the hammer and without bending
And to finish the job by pushing the pin all the way through, use a regular straight pin punch
I think CORE15 uses the same press-happy dude as Norinco as mine required an auger punch and 4 sets of hands to get 1 of the pins out. Used a 4lb hammer.
Okay, I managed to put the purse down, and got the job done with a real hammer. The pins may/may not be re-useable but I'll worry about that later. Now that I have the floating hand guard on there. The only thing I'm a little confused about is that even after tightening this thing down, it rocks up and down quite a bit. I can throw a strap wrench on there but this is a lot of slop. is that fixed by the front sight being on there and do I throw that round plate back on too?
Congrats on getting the front sight off.
What hand guard are you trying to install?
Any pics of it?
just remember the pins are tapered, so hit the correct side with the correct size punch and the largest hammer you can find and go to town on the thing. if youre worried that youre giving it too much juice, then just hit it harder until they come out.
I'll try to upload some pictures. The locater pins that are put in the barrel nut with the forend kit were too tall. I shaved them down a bit with the grinder and now everything fits perfect. It was kind of a frustrating process but I'm happy to have a result. I hope it shoots good after all this!
Heavy hammer, straight punch, just the right amount of beer, and maybe a pair of calipers to measure the pin diameters just to make sure you're hitting things in the right direction before you start beating the hell out of it - or pay someone else to do it!
FallenShadow80
Regular
- Location
- Hobbema, Alberta, Canada
I was bashing on mine with my armorers hammer for a while. Like yours, rifle looks like its been through a couple tours. Switched over to a regular hammer, framing hammer of all things, first hit popped it loose. It was ridiculously easy with a normal hammer. I should have done that to be begin with.
