Hi. I have a mini-14 stainless ranch with synthetic stock and I am trying to remove the front sight to replace it with a flash hider/front sight combination. I removed the roll pin from the front sight but CANNOT get the sight to budge. I have tried using a little heat on it as well, but simply cannot get the thing to move. I have tried to bring it to a local gun shop, but they won't touch it for some reason, couldn't explain except that their gunsmith "didn't want to." Any ideas to help remove the thing would be greatly appreciated.
Phil

I ran into the same problem when removing the front sight on my 181 mini. if you twist the sight, it comes off MUCH easier than trying to hit it straight off (with a punch, etc). after it spins freely, you should be able to get it off with no problem. hope this helps!

what do you intend on replacing it with?

Will try that, of course, I was just trying to hammer it straight off. Twisting makes sense. Can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks much.
Phil

I hope that solves it for you. All I used was a long wrench. To state the obvious, if you want to keep the sight you should pad it somehow before you proceed. best of luck!

When I remove a front sight I strip the rifle down to receiver and barrel, drive the pin out and clamp the lower receiver legs in my bench vice. The with a large brass drift and hammer I drive the sight off. The brass comes off stainless well, and can a little cold blue hides any brass smears on blued rifles. Every now and again one is super tight and requires a little heat, very careful twisting, or in extreme cases - cutting. The drift and hammer almost always do the job. Once it starts moving it'll come off.

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Thanks for the information. I clamped the rifle down and used a wrench and hammer to twist the sight loose first, then used drift and hammer to push sight off barrel. Man, it was tight. Have the new Masen front sight/muzzle brake in place. Now will go shoot and see what I have. Will do bedding if not quite enough, hoping to get 2 inch or less groups at 100 yds, good enough for anything I'll be doing with the Mini. Thanks again to all.
Phil

Glad you were able to get it off! now go post some pics of the new brake!

Terry G has personally worked on a few of my guns.  He and Impact are highly recommended!!!

This worked on my 581 Mini30 Ranch:

-Removed stock from rifle.
-Put muzzle on a piece of 2x4
-Spray a piece of scrap 2x4 with WD-40 to oil it up so it doesn't scratch the barrel. Spray the barrel as well to help prevent scratching.
-Rest the 2" edge of the 2x4 on the base of the sight after removing the roll pin.
-While holding the board and receiver in the same hand, hit the board with swift raps from a steel hammer. (Deadblow never worked for me)

Two whacks got it off.

Not one scratch or scuff on the sight or barrel when finished. I also did it by myself, no spare hands required.

Pictures of the results over here..