Glock Rear Sight Screw Stripped? The Right Tool, the Fix, and What to Replace It With
The Glock factory adjustable rear sight is adjusted with a very small slotted screw, and the slot is shallow. Use a driver that is slightly too wide or too thick and it cams out and chews the slot; two tries later the screw is stripped and the sight will not adjust or come off. This is one of the most common Glock sight problems and it has a specific fix.
The tool that fits
Glock makes an OEM adjustable rear sight screwdriver whose blade matches the slot width and depth exactly. It is inexpensive and it is the reason the screw strips for people using a generic jeweler’s driver and not for people using the Glock tool. If you still have an intact screw, buy this before you touch it again.
Backing out a stripped screw
- Clear and field strip. Work on the bare slide.
- Try the OEM driver first with firm downward pressure. A partially stripped slot often still catches the correct blade.
- If not, a drop of penetrating oil on the screw, wait ten minutes, then press a flat blade into the slot while turning. Downward pressure matters more than torque.
- Still stuck: put a tiny cut across the screw head with a Dremel cutoff wheel to deepen the slot, protecting the sight with tape, then use a wider blade.
- Last resort: the whole sight comes out of the dovetail with a Glock sight pusher regardless of the screw, and you replace the sight.
Watch: “How To Install Glock Night Sights” by Iraqveteran8888 on YouTube.
Replace it with a fixed sight
Most Glock owners who strip the adjustable screw replace the sight with a fixed steel or tritium rear sight rather than another adjustable one. Fixed sights have no screw to strip, hold zero under recoil, and are what most carry and duty Glocks run. Pushing the old sight out and the new one in is a ten-minute job with the angled shoe; the procedure is in how to use a sight pusher and the night-sight options are in the Glock guide.
FAQ
What size screwdriver fits the Glock adjustable rear sight?
The Glock OEM adjustable rear sight tool. Generic small flat blades are usually too thick for the shallow slot and cam out.
Can I remove the Glock adjustable rear sight without the screw?
Yes. The sight body is dovetailed; a Glock sight pusher with the angled shoe pushes it out regardless of the screw.
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