Red ramp sight insert, where to get?

[otis24]

I just squired a S&W Model 66 no dash. The plastic insert is missing on the front sight. Where can I get a replacement? Do they come in different colors, like neon green?

[zipty6]

It's a pretty simple DIY and the materials are cheap. You can buy a kit from Midway, but you don't have to. This is what I used for a model 10 earlier this month.

Two part epoxy adhesive.
This time I used the $3.50 item from horrible freight.

Testors enamel model paint.
I'm partial to Fluorescent Green - 1174

Loosely follow these instructions from Smiling Larry:

Installing a Red Ramp Front Sight on a Smith and Wesson Model 15 (S&W) Revolver

Model 66-1 that I did using this method last year:




Model 10 that I did earlier this month:

[murphydog]

There are kits available to make your own:

BROWNELLS FRONT SIGHT INSERT KIT | Brownells

I have also seen them made from pieces of toothbrush handle.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

OR you can whittle one out of a red/yellow/orange/green tooth brush handle and glue it in....I did several that way.

[otis24]

I had seen something about mixing baking soda and super glue to make a resin. Wonder if that would work?

[Doc1500]

Originally Posted by otis24

I had seen something about mixing baking soda and super glue to make a resin. Wonder if that would work?

When you mix baking soda with super glue it hardens immediately , and I mean immediately, instantly.

[bigggbbruce]

My 29-2 with a repaired front sight..

Casting resin.

[Drm50]

I have used kids pencil boxes, rulers, ect made of Flo plastic. Same as tooth brush method but little less work on shaping. I use little drill bit in my fingers to clean out the holes in bottom of sight slot. Put a little clear epoxy in holes and slide in insert. Clean off any epoxy that may squeeze out and your done. Felt wheel on dremil with tooth pate paste will polish
.plastic. Guard blue with tape.

[JohnHL]

Yup!

The last insert I made came from the pocket clip of a promotional ball-point pen I got at a Honda Motorcycle "Ride Red" technical service update seminar.

Looked like the right color.

I think I used J-B Weld to secure it.

John

[Green Frog]

Zipty6, do you mix the Testor’s paint into the epoxy or paint it on? If the former, what proportions do you use?

TIA~Froggie

[zipty6]

Originally Posted by Green Frog

Zipty6, do you mix the Testor’s paint into the epoxy or paint it on? If the former, what proportions do you use?

TIA~Froggie

I mix the epoxy then add just enough paint to get the desired color. It takes very little paint. I usually use one toothpick to mix the epoxy and another to add the paint.

I've found that pieces cut from plastic milk jugs make great partitions. They peel off of the epoxy clean after it has cured. I don't worry about using too much. Excess can be trimmed with a razor blade after it has cured. The important points are to make sure that the epoxy gets all of the way to the bottom of the notch and that you give it plenty of time to cure before trimming.

[Bob L]

zipty6, I don't want to hijack the thread but can you tell us a little about your model 10? Nice looking revolver! Is it hard chromed?

[zipty6]

Originally Posted by Bob L

zipty6, I don't want to hijack the thread but can you tell us a little about your model 10? Nice looking revolver! Is it hard chromed?

Thanks for asking.

I call it the Frankensnub. I'll start a separate post on it this evening or tomorrow morning.

Sent from my LM-Q720 using Tapatalk

[JM4151]

I have used Brownells from sight kit and it works great. Easy to use, holds up well and I put a lot of them on friends and co workers guns, over the years.

[Bob L]

By the way ziper6, very nice DIY write-up on replacing the inserts.

[Green Frog]

Thanks, zipty6. That’s exactly what I needed. I’ve got a 29-2 that has totally lost its insert. I’ll try to make a replacement as close to the original as possible.

Froggie

[GunarSailors]

I wrote this a few years back, hopefully it helps someone.
Installing/Replacing a Front Sight Insert - Tips...

[Doc1500]

Originally Posted by zipty6

I mix the epoxy then add just enough paint to get the desired color. It takes very little paint. I usually use one toothpick to mix the epoxy and another to add the paint.

I've found that pieces cut from plastic milk jugs make great partitions. They peel off of the epoxy clean after it has cured. I don't worry about using too much. Excess can be trimmed with a razor blade after it has cured. The important points are to make sure that the epoxy gets all of the way to the bottom of the notch and that you give it plenty of time to cure before trimming.

Zipity6 , what a great DIY example, very effective very simple.

[drgbike]

zipy6 the first picture green filler, finally a front sight I can see.

[ordnanceguy]

Originally Posted by murphydog

There are kits available to make your own:

BROWNELLS FRONT SIGHT INSERT KIT | Brownells

I have also seen them made from pieces of toothbrush handle.

The Brownell's kit is presently shown as Out of Stock on the website. Argh. I may end up having to go with the old whittled down toothbrush method.

[bobby]

SW Mod 10 from dark red to yellow

[chief38]

As a person that years ago always preferred to cut the front sight to install a Red Ramp Insert, I have changed my ways to a much better method (at least to me).

I no longer dovetail the front sight - I simply use Testor's Model Paint sold in the 1 ounce bottles in any craft store. Let me explain my reasoning......

First of all and most important to me is there is no alteration (cutting) of the front sight. That allows me to restore the original Plain Jane front sight in minutes if so desired. While at the moment you might not think you would ever want to go back to the Factory sight - someday you just mIght and this gIves you the option. While colored ramps seem like a great idea for indoor shooting (and they are), they don't appear the same outdoors. Years ago I shot almost exclusively indoors and the colored inserts were helpful. Now days I shoot outdoors 90% of the time and to me the Red Ramp insert gets washed out and turns gray in the sunlight - the plain factory sights work better (for me).

Secondly the Testor's paint comes in a plethora of colors, glossy, flat, iridescent, etc. so there is a much much larger color choice and it also allows changing colors rapidly and easily. If and when you want the factory sights restored, simply take a new razor blade and carefully remove the paint following up with some paint thinner and viola - the paint is gone with no damage!

Believe it or not in the 30+ years I have been using the Testor's paint I know for a fact it stands up to every solvent and chemical I use on my guns just fine - it is one tough paint! Allow to dry 24 hours between coats.

Instead of using a brush and applying one thick coat, I apply the Testor's with a wooden toothpick making sure the guns sight is perfectly horizontal while drying. I apply it (exactly where an insert would be, not to the entire front sight) in 3 lighter coats and don't worry about any paint that gets where you don't want it - it can be cleaned up later after drying with a new razor blade. This method is super affordable, idiot proof, allows any color change you want any time you want it, it's durable, looks terrific and works as good or better than the actual Dovetailed Insert.

I would strongly suggest trying this method before cutting a dovetail into your front sight. Once the cut us there, it's there forever! Plus, you might want to experiment with different colors and guess what - you might not like the colored sight at all! What have you got to loose except $2 bucks for a bottle of Testor's!

PS: Before applying paint - clean surface with Alcohol to insure there is no oil on it.