Can someone please tell me what to use and what the best method is for removing a barrel lug and front sight from a traditional muzzleloader like a Hawkins or Renegade without beating up these parts or the barrel?

A piece of brass and tap that front sight out. Brass wont screw up your metal as much seeing its softer than steel.

The front site is normally on a dovetail wedge. A brass pin and hammer will drive them out. It's been a long time and I might be wrong, but I believe they drive out left to right.

The wedge barrel lug you need to examine close. Some of them have a small spot weld on them. If not, they too are in a dovetail of sorts. I normally do not mess with them. I let the factory play with them if there is a problem.

Thanks for the help guys but i went and finished around them as best i could. It doesn't look too bad.

You ask for the best way. The best way is to purchase the proper tool which looks like a C clamp on one end and has two bars sticking up on the other end you turn the handle and the screw forces the part with a dove tail out or in with out any pounding on any thing it is also very good for adjusting iron sights. I have had mine for many years but if I remember right I bought it at Midway.

Do you know what the name of the tool to remove the front sight is called?

Check here:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0...20sight%20tool

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=732798

There are a lot of them out there pluckit. Look here: http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Brow...ng=649***10398***

As you can see, they're not cheap. A simple brass rod and hammer to tap it gently will do the job just fine.

Here's a handy little set. http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...productId/5387

Thanks for the information. The cheapest one is %50 of the total I have invested in the rifle. I did manage to work around it.

A small hammer and a punch