Russian SKS Front sight pin removal

S

Stripes

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Toronto Ontario
Hey ladies and gentlemen, I decided to install a tech sight on my Russian SKS and I'm having a wonderful time removing the pin for the front sight! Took a punch to it and managed to get it 1/3 of the way out before my high quality punch decided it wanted to bend 90 degrees. I'm going to grab one of my quality punches from work tomorrow (being a mechanic isn't all bad) and try it again but I figured I'd ask for some tips beforehand.

The first shots with the punch worked pretty well but after getting it 1/4 of the way out it became a real bear. I'm thinking about heating it up with a butane torch before going at it again, good idea or no? Any one else have similar problems? It seems that most people don't even have a pin on their front sights (my buddies Russian SKS included)

The rifle is far from mint but I'd like to avoid doing any unnecessary damage.
 
Soak the bajesus out of it with penetrating oil for a day or two and use a flat punch. You probably need to work it back and forth a few times.
 
I was considering drilling it out today actually as I don't even have a punch that small at work! Two things concern me about that though. 1) Potentially damaging the rifle so I couldn't return it back to original (not that big of a deal though) 2) How hard the metal is. I might just take it to my buddies machine shop and throw it on the drill press. I'm going to grab a smaller punch or two when the MAC and Snap-on trucks come to steal my money this Friday. If that fails, then it's drill time.

I love how nonchalant the instructions with the tech sights were about this pin. "Just tap it out with a punch", clearly Thor was doing it for them!
 
The metal is very hard.... be sure to use very good bits if you do drill it out. For a punch, i filed the punch that came with my SKS a size or 2 down until it fit. The tightness of pins very from SKS to SKS, some will be snug, others will be impossible to remove.d:h:
 
All due respect, the front lug has been seized in place from 65 years worth of sitting in a crate. It needs penetrating oil, and twice as much patients as IQ to loosen it.
 
Soak in oil , wd40 or fluid film overnight as has been said. Use a punch for what you can , working it back and forth and steadily applying oil/lube. At the end use a long needle as a punch.
 
Well guys I got it out! With a high quality punch it came out with ease. For future reference if anyone ever uses search and finds this, you need a 1/16th punch

The sight picture with the tech sights is so much better
 
I soak mine with wd40. When it refused to move, I torched the front sight and tapped it out. The only things you'll lose is the finish. It's an SKS, it'll give it more character
 
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