I'm a bit shocked/confused currently. Tonight I decided to finally drift off the front sight on my Browning Hi Power to measure the dovetail depth for a replacement front sight. I am using a Wheeler Engineering sight pusher that I've used a dozen or so times (see the pictures and here's a link https://www.amazon.com/Wheeler-Engi...smithing-Maintenance/dp/B07RKXWLHD?th=1&psc=1). I tightened the sight pusher just by hand, drifted the front sight off with not what I would call a lot of difficulty (more than some pistols but Hi Power dovetails are often tight), and measured the dovetail.
I went to put the barrel back in the slide and noticed it wouldn't seat without a bit of force, certainly more than normal. I inspected the slide to make sure some debris didn't get in and it seems fine. Then, with the barrel out of the slide, I tried running the slide on the frame. There was noticeable resistance. When I fully assembled the pistol I can actually get the slide to hang out of battery despite the recoil spring (again see pictures).
In looking it over the only conclusion I can reach is that the sight pusher actually bent the slide inward. I tightened it down firmly, but again only by my fingers and while I like to think I'm strong I'm not a brick layer, nor did I struggle to tighten down the clamps. Has anyone heard of this before? What are my options at this point?
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
I went to put the barrel back in the slide and noticed it wouldn't seat without a bit of force, certainly more than normal. I inspected the slide to make sure some debris didn't get in and it seems fine. Then, with the barrel out of the slide, I tried running the slide on the frame. There was noticeable resistance. When I fully assembled the pistol I can actually get the slide to hang out of battery despite the recoil spring (again see pictures).
In looking it over the only conclusion I can reach is that the sight pusher actually bent the slide inward. I tightened it down firmly, but again only by my fingers and while I like to think I'm strong I'm not a brick layer, nor did I struggle to tighten down the clamps. Has anyone heard of this before? What are my options at this point?
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Last edited: