First off, I apologize if this is in the wrong sub-forum. I looked to post in the most appropriate and hope this is correct.
I recently took my Glock 43 in to one of my local guns shops to have them install my new sights. I have never used them for sight install, and by my own admission never asked them what they charged. I have had sights installed on several other handguns at various shops around town. Sometimes the gun was purchased from the particular shop, others weren’t. The sights have always been ordered online. Bottom line, I was charged $50.00 to install sights on my Glock. I am just looking to see if others find this extremely high, or have i just been lucky with my other shops charging a much more reasonable price (in my opinion). I don’t want to flame or badmouth this shop if their prices really are in line with the industry standard. Thanks in advance for the responses.
If only GT wasn’t so far away. Austin is the closest and they are 2.5 hours away. I know several shops will do free install if you buy the pistol or sights from them. Was just trying to spread my money around to some of the local shops and support them. Guess this one is off the list, unless I hear their prices are in line with the industry standard.
I thought Glock sights were some of the easiest to swap out…do you really need a sight pusher? OP, I would find someone with a vice and just do it yourself.
If you purchase sights from a local gun shop, the going rate around here is $20-$25. Some shops won’t install sights purchased elsewhere.
I just purchased a Fischer sight tool for $90. It is better built than the sight pusher I have been using over the past 17 years. The standard sight pusher is $60, but I wanted the larger one to install larger target sights on tall slides. With a little creative shimming I can use it on some of my 1040’s vintage rifles. If you have any mechanical ability and will be installing more than one sight set over the next few years, buying your on sight tool is worth the investment.
If you decide to install your own sights, buy a decent caliper and measure the distance of the sight from one side of the slide for reference. You can calculate sight adjustment in thousandths of an inch by using the formula POI Error in inches x Sight Radius in inches/Distance to Target in iinches. You can find the formula and a sight adjustment chart on the Brownell’s website.
Some people like the three dot system. Many prefer the bar dot or dot over dot, so replacing OEM nights sights on non-issue weapons is a common occurrence.
Thanks for the replies fellas. Interesting to see that what I thought was the going rate, is in fact the going rate.
I am a fan of the Ameriglo I Dot Pros, and haven’t found a dealer close to me that carries them, so I have always ordered. The I Dot Pros just came out for the 43 within the last week, so I wanted them NOW and ordered directly from Ameriglo ( kick ass factory direct service, by the way!!). After this I will strongly consider buying a sight pusher, as I think even I could handle the install.
Mods, my question has been answered feel free to close this thread.
Generally, I’d tend to agree that 50.00 is an absurd price to pay - especially if you (the consumer) have it done more than once.
A lot of variables can go into setting rates - is this a one-time customer or someone I see in the shop often? (although a lower price might mean that one-time customer becomes a regular) How much am I paying the guy who does the install? How many sights do we install - amortization of the tool cost as well as proficiency leading to quicker installs and less broken parts should be a consideration in cost. Did I sell you the sights? If so at retail or discounted? What will the market bear?
I go to a LGS quite often just to BS with the guys I know who work there and browse. I buy cleaning supplies, HD ammo and ammo for weapons I don’t shoot a bunch from them, practice ammo I order through other sources, buy they do all of my transfers. I can get my cleaning supplies, and ammo cheaper at a big box store, so why do I buy from them? 1) I like them; 2) When I needed something done requiring a reamer I didn’t have, I took it in and asked if they had the reamer, yep, shuddering that I was about to pay for the tool, I asked them to do it. Three minutes later it is done, when I asked how much, hand wave and ‘on the house.’
That is why unless it costs 15% more to buy a gun from them I don’t drive out of town or order online.
Seriously, glock sights are so simple. Its free where i am if you bought the gun or the sights from us. Usually $20 if you walk in with both.
Some guns are a bit more, maybe $30 or so. While everybody touts the pusher, they dont usually install front dovetailed sights.
I came up with a setup to push, so far every pistol sight i have come across, front and rear in and out. Takes a little time, but it always works, without damaging anything.
My LGS has installed sights onto Glocks for free if I bought the gun or the sights from them, otherwise I have been charged $20. Anything over $20-$25 for a simple install like that is simply unreasonable IMO.