@Vince
Thanks for the tip. Bigger tip on iron + more heat and the holes cleared fine

. Well mostly fine, there was one on each side that was a holdout and took a few goes, but got there in the end. New sticks are in.
Before I calibrate (assuming everything is working), this controller is not going back together yet (want to put a backpaddle kit on as well once sticks were done), when I calibrate, I assume I need the black trim piece on the front half of the controller? The sticks rest against that, so I assume that's what sets the range and doing without will break the calibration?
Also not that I was planning to get one, but that's Ayaneo on my list of "don't buy from".