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View Full Version : Front sight...departure?


JDM
03-23-2011, 06:28 PM
This afternoon I was Shooting the new M&P 9f I bought last week and something rather odd took place. The white dot in the front sight disappeared around round 300. At first I thought it was just carbon buildup, however upon closer inspection I saw that the actual dot flew out- There is a vacant hole where it used to reside.

I already spoke with S&W customer service and a new front sight is on the way, which is cool.

I'm really curious if this has happened with any regularity among new manufacture M&P's? I noticed Smith is no longer installing genuine Novak sights like they used to. Are the current sights supposed to be a durable, equivalent replacement,
or a cost saving measure taken without regard to quality? (I have an M&P357f I purchased in 2007 with Novaks and ~ 10,000 rounds through it without parts falling off.)

Should I expect the new front sight to last more then 6 boxes of FMJ's or spring for some aftermarket sights? I actually like the stock 3 dots a lot, so this wasn't in the works. . .
JV_
03-23-2011, 06:31 PM
It's pretty common with the newer factory 3 dot sights.
JDM
03-23-2011, 06:32 PM
It's pretty common with the newer factory 3 dot sights.


Lovely.
JV_
03-23-2011, 06:36 PM
Send me a pic of the older style that you like, I'll dig through my parts bin and see what I have laying around.
JDM
03-23-2011, 06:47 PM
Send me a pic of the older style that you like, I'll dig through my parts bin and see what I have laying around.

The fronts look identical aside from a small "s" on the right side of the newer front sight. The rear on the .357 is the real Novak I referenced.

New front:http://184.72.239.143/mu/a6cd0b7b-85d5-52c4.jpg

Old front:http://184.72.239.143/mu/a6cd0b7b-860c-1e12.jpg

Rears-New non Novak at right http://184.72.239.143/mu/a6cd0b7b-864c-f3ab.jpg

http://184.72.239.143/mu/a6cd0b7b-868a-d5ff.jpg

I much prefer the old ones.
JV_
03-23-2011, 06:52 PM
Sorry, all of my extras are the Ledge style rear with an "s" front.
JDM
03-23-2011, 07:02 PM
Sorry, all of my extras are the Ledge style rear with an "s" front.

Thank you for looking anyway.
dookie1481
03-24-2011, 01:56 AM
I have one, PM me your address and I will send it out tomorrow.

Jay
Creeper9
03-24-2011, 09:21 PM
Be glad it's just the dot.....My front sight has a bad habit of "exiting stage left" (M&P9L)

I've lost it off the slide 3x in approx 1000rds. Slide is going back to Smith next week.
simonsez
03-24-2011, 10:14 PM
I bought a M&P9c back in September and 70 rounds into the guns life, (during a class) the white dot fell out of the front sight. It made finishing the class somewhat challenging. S/W sent me a new one and so far no problems.:)
JV_
03-25-2011, 05:48 AM
If my front dot fell out, I'd just cover my entire front sight in orange or red paint.

I normally color it anyway, but I just avoid the dot, or tritium in my case. I keep the paint pen in my range bag.