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Rear sight fell off of my p230

645 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Willard, 
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I recently bought a p230 pistol and was shooting it today for the first time. I shot maybe 50 or 60 rounds through the gun and then holstered it. A few hours later, I went to take the gun out of the holster to shoot some more, but found the rear sight was drifted all the way to one side and barely still holding on. I was easily able to take the sight out with my hands, and now the sight is so loose i can push it through the dovetail with minimal resistance.

What could have caused this? I do not recall the sights being loose when I bought the gun. I was out shooting outdoors and it was extremely hot - maybe the previous owner glued the sight in, and the heat and humidity worked it loose after shooting?

Anyways, is there any way to check to see if it is the sight and not the dovetail cut in the slide that is defective? Does anyone have measurements of an "in-spec" rear sight? I can post any pictures you might want tomorrow, but the dovetail cut looks completely factory perfect and does not look messed with in any way.

Finally, does anyone know where to get a replacement factory sight to try and install? Maybe a new one would fit better.
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D
OP,
As you mentioned, the previous owner probably glued or loc tite the rear sight into the dovetail-plumber operation - instead of fixing the issue correctly.

2 options-
1.A brass punch to peen either the fwd or aft dovetail in the slide to tighten/shrink it for sight installation.(sight press may be required)

2.A brass punch to lightly peen the 4 corners of the slide's rear sight dovetail will hold the sight in the dovetail./slide.
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Willard
Once again, this is where photos would be ideal, to see what you actually have. More to the point, is this OEM factory or replacement?

In most cases on P230s, the front sight was integral with the slide, and the rear only was adjustable for windage, and heights of the rear provided elevation adjustment.
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A few pictures of the pistol slide dovetail and sight:

Hood Grille Vehicle Automotive design Wood

Hood Bumper Automotive design Automotive exterior Office supplies

Wood Bumper Tool Knife Automotive exterior
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Willard said:
Once again, this is where photos would be ideal, to see what you actually have. More to the point, is this OEM factory or replacement?

In most cases on P230s, the front sight was integral with the slide, and the rear only was adjustable for windage, and heights of the rear provided elevation adjustment.
Click to expand...
This should be the OEM German sight the gun came with. I posted some pictures of the dovetail - it also looks completely original and not messed with. Yes, the front sight is part of the slide - this issue is only with the rear sight.
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DansSIGs said:
OP,
As you mentioned, the previous owner probably glued or loc tite the rear sight into the dovetail-plumber operation - instead of fixing the issue correctly.

2 options-
1.A brass punch to peen either the fwd or aft dovetail in the slide to tighten/shrink it for sight installation.(sight press may be required)

2.A brass punch to lightly peen the 4 corners of the slide's rear sight dovetail will hold the sight in the dovetail./slide.
Click to expand...
I will try peening the dovetail if I have to, but do you think it is possible to find another factory rear sight which might fit better? I just dont understand how this sight could be so loose.
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SlideLock
A couple of years ago, I got a new MK25 that came with the Romeo1 and a loose rear sight. I could’ve sent the gun back to Sig for the rear sight. Instead I used some Loctite 290. I have not had a problem since. YMMV, so good luck!
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M
229MIT said:
I will try peening the dovetail if I have to . . .
Click to expand...
I respectfully disagree; the slide is not where you want to be peening. If you end up peening, I suggest you peen the sight edges. But, if it were mine, I would clean all the Loctite from both the rear sight and the dovetail using a strong cleaner, such as acetone. Once clean and dry, apply liberal amounts of red Loctite to the slide dovetail and rear sight. You want to do this at a spot you can zero the sights by firing. Once you have the rear sight zeroed, let the Loctite dry. You may need to repeat, but don't go banging on the dovetail of the slide. You will regret that.

ETA: I just looked at Numrich, my go-to for parts such as this. They are not in stock, but the price is listed at about $65! Pretty steep for a rear sight. Good luck with your quest!
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RickT
I totally agree - I'd never take a hammer & punch to my 230.. ( sight yeah_
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I do not plan on peening the slide - I actually just found a used, original sig rear sight on ebay for $25 and bought it. Hopefully the tolerance issue is with the sight and not the slide, and so the new sight will fit tight.

If that doesn't work, I guess I'll locktite it. It's a shame though - that gun shoots very nicely!.
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Willard
Here's an older chart, that dealt with the P230 Rear sight...

Rectangle Font Parallel Pattern Number


Now how the original P230 rear sights coincided with the later numbering system, I cannot say. but Chapter 11 in the P230 Armorers Manual (downloadable in Gunsmithing Sticky Section), states elevation increments are in 0.012" steps, while the "numbering increments" are 0.010" steps.
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A
I wonder which sights Sigs installed on P230s that are sent in for the Service Package?
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D
Ask a Professional that is capable of manufacturing any & all parts involved - a Model Maker or Tool&Die Maker how they would permanately fix the issue.
No jack hammers involved
No glue products discussed

Once the sight is slip fit into the slide the professional will back light the installation to witness the clearances involved & act accordingly by raising or shrink material to fix the issue.


At the opposite end of the slide,how many tenoned 1911 front sights would stay attached, if/when a glue product was used? NONE.
(hint- they are STAKED to the slide)
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F
If you have to modify a part, always modify the cheapest part.
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S
Why futz around with it and possibly screw it up beyond salvageable? I like the tip about asking a Professional. Send it to SIG. You only need to send the slide unless you want them to zero the gun. They will fix it right. Otherwise, don't whine about the outcome.
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Willard said:
Here's an older chart, that dealt with the P230 Rear sight...

View attachment 461803

Now how the original P230 rear sights coincided with the later numbering system, I cannot say. but Chapter 11 in the P230 Armorers Manual (downloadable in Gunsmithing Sticky Section), states elevation increments are in 0.012" steps, while the "numbering increments" are 0.010" steps.
Click to expand...
I just got the replacement sight I found on ebay, and it actually fits quite tightly in the slide's dovetail - so this confirms that my old rear sight was undersized and the slide was fine.

The pistol does shoot high with the new sight though. Aiming the front sight dot on the target yields groups about 2 or three inches high at 10 yards. This new sight as well as my old sight have no markings on them. Your chart indicates that to lower the group, I should hunt for a sight with a "+" mark or a "+ dot" mark - where would this be stamped on the sight, and how common is it to find these sights?
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Willard
From the P230 Armorers Manual, I'm guessing from their drawing the front of the sight...

Gesture Font Pattern Drawing Writing
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