I recently purchased a used 229 with dim factory night sights. I had noticed that the dovetails were slightly flaired taking the old sights out. When I put the new sights in, it just got worse. The old sights were removed and new sights installed with a sight pusher. The were removed right to left and installed left to right. I've changed a few sights on some P226 stainless slides without this happening. Has anyone seen this before? I don't think they will fall out, but I definitely haven't seen it before.

Yes, pretty much everytime sights are changed to some degree.

Did you fit the sights or just push them in?

Bob

From what I've encountered, the sights should be drifted out to the right (ejection port side) and reinstalled from the right pushing left. The dovetails are made with a bit of taper, causing them to get tighter as they seat deeper. If drifted out from the ejection port side to the left, it will deform the dovetail at the narrow left side.

The dovetails are not flared out. That is just an illusion caused by the curve of the slide and the angle of the dovetail cutter. Your slide is fine.

You can see in both pics a little raised metal but, as GaryBF posted, the dovetail cuts are fine.

Thanks guys. I didn't need to file the new sights as they seemed to go in smooth, but I've just never seen this before.