Review: RST Rear Sight Tool

Each square is one inch.

    The RST Rear Sight Tool is an assembly that can be used to adjust dove-tailed sights on semi-auto handguns, or even to remove or install such sights. I purchased the RST off of Amazon for $105 or $110, if I remember correctly. It currently is $99.99. The set I purchased came with their "universal" adapter that works well with slab sided slides such as on the Glock or 1911. I believe that you can purchase whole sets with other adapters, but if not, replacement adapter sets run for $8 per set on Amazon. 

    The RST ships in a rather plain cardboard box with the parts shown above and an instruction manual. The parts are: (1) two tightening screws (the manual says that there is a short and a long one, but mine came with two of the same length); (2) a drift screw; (3) a guiding clip (plus an extra) which locks the push head onto the drift screw; (4) three push heads with different angles for different types of sights; (5) a plate; (6) a plate with a bolt for the drift screw; (7) an aluminum spacer block with magnet; and (8) two adapters that fit over the plate (5) and spacer block (7) to better hold the pistol slide and prevent marring. 

This photograph show the spacer block attached to plate with nut, the drift screw screwed into place, and the adapters put in place. The push head installs by being pushed over the nipple at the end of the drift screw, and then the guiding clip slides down through grooves in the push head to lock into place. Make sure that the guiding clip is fully pushed into place. The large hole on the guiding clip is to accommodate the upper tightening screw.

Push head and guide clip in place.

The fully assembled RST Rear Sight Tool.

Here is the RST in place and ready to push the rear sight on a Glock pistol.

    I've used the RST to adjust sights on the Glock handgun pictured above (yes, I had to move the sight over that far to get it zero'd correctly). I used it to replace and adjust the sight on another Glock handgun, and loaned it to a friend who used it to replace the rear sight on a used Glock that he had purchased. The "universal" adapters used above work perfectly for the Glock, and it makes removing and installing a rear sight very easy. More importantly, because you don't have to remove the slide from the handgun to use it--for instance, just locking the slide to the rear--it is very useful for adjusting sights while at the range. 

Replacement adapter set--this one is is the XD adapter set for use with Springfield Armory XD and Beretta m9/92 series. I bought them to use with the front sight on a Sig P220 handgun. Other adapters offered are the VP9 set (for H&K VP9, VP40, P30, P200 and HK45, and Sig Sauer Sp2022 and SP2340) and the XDM (for use with the Springfield Armory XD-M, XD-M Elite, XD-E, and Hellcat Series).

    But replacing the sights (front and rear) on a law enforcement trade-in Sig P220 proved more difficult. Essentially, I broke two of the guide clips and bent the nipple on the push screw trying to remove the rear sight (without success, I might add). Fortunately, I had also picked up a "repair kit" for $25 that had extras of the screws, clips, and push heads. 

    But I can't really blame the RST, though. I also bent a brass punch and broke a small diameter steel punch trying to remove the rear sight on the SIG before successfully using a thick steel punch and heavy ball peen hammer. I also had to remove the front sight in the same manner. My impression is that SIG must have used some glue in addition to the friction fit. 

    On the other hand, the RST did an admirable job in installing the new front and rear sights on the SIG. One extra thing I needed, because of the shape of the SIG slide, was to purchase the XD adapter set. It worked perfectly for the front sight, but required some stopping and readjustment for the rear sight. 

    So, is the tool worth its price? It's not perfect, but I believe it was worth it. All of the sights I was installing were tritium night sights, so using the RST made sure that I wasn't damaging the tritium vials. I also really appreciate how easy it is to use at the range to make small adjustments to the sights.