I've called Ruger and posted on the Gunsmithing thread but have not found a solution to my problem and thought someone here might have some advice.

The front sight on the RSM is a POS small brass piece. I want to replace it with a large white bead. In order to remove the front sight a push button must be depressed and the sight then driven out forward. This is a very poorly designed/engineered mechanism that requires more than one person and is even then difficult to place a punch around the depressed button.

So far I've been unable to get it out. I have applied Kroil and let it sit and have tried using a punch to no avail. Ruger says they "destroy" the front sight to remove it??!!

Ideas/Experience?

push in with a toothpick, and tap out with a brass drift

Jeffeosso is correct..

NECG makes several nice sights for the RSM.

Guys,

I've tried pushing it down and tapping (hard) but you cannot get a straight shot at it since the push button is on the breech side of the sight, not the muzzle side. My replacement is a NECG. THE FRONT SIGHT IS NOW WASTED BUT STILL IN PLACE!

Anything else??? Please!

The frount sight on my 375 rsm got dinged somehow, I tired and eventually gave up or got nervous I was going to do some serious damage, took it to a local gunsmith to finish the job, It seems to be a simple setup but I didn't have any luck with mine, hope you fair better,

I was able to replace mine on a .416 Rigby RSM, with the NECG red fiber optic which I promptly melted with an accidental spray of GunScrubber.
I then got the NECG big white bead.
Getting it out the second time was easier than the first.
IIRC, I had to use a jewler's file on the male dovetail of the NECG to make it fit properly into the female dovetail of the Ruger to slide in easily and get the plunger to pop back into place.
The Ruger dovetail may need some light filing or smoothing/polishing when you do get the sight blade out.
Maybe there was a metal burr on yours, wedged tight/poorly fit at the factory.
Finish destroying it, try more Kroil soaking, a bit of torch heat to the base to breakdown any organic gunk/adhesive, pliers on the blade, plunger depressed ... gunsmith before destruction of remainder ...

Lion Hunter,

Just a suggestion for you.
I had this problem on my Ruger #1H, similar sight.

You will destroy the sight doing this but it
comes out.

Grip the front sight blade tightly with a vice grip. Push down on the detent and use a dead blow hammer or mallet on the side of the vice grip. If it slips off, you don't have it clamped tight enough. The flat side of the vice grip will give you something larger to whack on. Possibly the sight was never fitted correctly from Ruger.

Then get one of the fine NECG sights and fit it
so it works in and out with only a light tap.

Good shooting and Good Luck with the project.

Tetonka
DRSS
Big Bore Trash
Band of Bubbas etc.

Be careful how hard you whack it or the entire sight band and all can move. I'm sure you all can surmise how I know this.

Thanks for all the ideas and advice. I did try pulling with pliers, to no avail. Will try applying some heat and continue banging away at it.

Keep the ideas and advice coming please. I really can't believe the engineering - or lack thereof - in designing this set-up and Ruger's shit response to the problem.

You might say the RSM front sight arrangement is a "crew served" firearm! Asked friend to push down plunger, used piece of Plexiglass and small hammer and while he pushed down from slight angle, tapped it out forward. Once I got it out, found that the blade/bead insert was rough on the bottom and had burrs on the edges.
Lightly stoned those away, put some grease in the slot, and replaced w/ NECG insert.