Hi folks, I'm new to this Forum but a member of others.

Anyway, I just purchased a Model 69 (44 Mag on a J Frame).

Great pistol for a back up in the woods where I plan on carrying a lot and shooting a little. ---AND without my pants falling down while walking! Perfect size for what I need.

What I don't like are those cheap, terrible rear sights. Thinking about ordering a rear sight fro Hamilton Bowen. Nice flat sight board. Strong and robust with positive movement.

Any thoughts on other brands that would work?

Thanks!

The Model 69 is built on an L frame not a J frame.

Have you seen the Bowen sight in person on a Model 69 or are you just wanting to change for the sake of change or the seller's hype?

There's nothing wrong with the sights that are on the gun and they perform as intended.

Aftermarket items are available for almost any type of modification you wish to make.

My suggestion is to shoot the gun a lot and become proficient with it before you change anything.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Congratulations on your M69!!!

If it's just going to be a back up gun, why not leave the sights alone? Hey, I understand if you just want to pimp it out a bit.

Sorry I can't help out with that. Mine is stock and the only thing I may change are the grips.

Thanks StakeOut, I meant L Frame, not J frame. (Too many pistols in my head).

I know it sounds crazy to change the sight, but with my older eyes, a flat board with a square notch is easier for me to see without all that blur that I get with the rounded over/ridges in the stock rear sight. I don't want to go nuts, I'd just like to get a nice clean flat board without all those lines. I'm sure there's companies that have them, I just don't know who besides H. Bowen. Tried MidwayUSA, but all they have are what I have already.

I'm 74 and wear +1.75 glasses for reading and have prescription shooting glasses for focus on front sight.

All my S&W revolvers and autos have unaltered original factory adjustable sights.

What rounded over ridges?

Do you need the square notch in the rear sight blade opened up for a clearer view of the front sight?

Is your rear sight different shape than the image I attached?

Attached Images

s-l225.jpg (27.8 KB, 49 views)

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I put night sights on my M 69. easier to line up the 3 dots and easier to see in the shade in the woods. The red ramp front disappears, for me, without bright light or sun. {old eyes}

If you get on Hamlton Bowen's site, you'll see what he has to offer, and you'll get a better idea what I mean. I have his sight on a 1911, and they work the nuts for me. ----I don't know what I'll do, we'll see.

'Great pistol for a back up in the woods where I plan on carrying a lot'

A back up to what?For what?

What do you think you will encounter in the woods that a short barrel revolver will be useful?Two legged critters or four?

If something pops out of the bushes quickly and you barely have time to get it out of the holster the sights won't make a difference because you won't get the chance to find them, line them up and squeeze the trigger.

It will be more like quickly pointing it,look over the sights and barrel and mash the trigger back repeatedly until the gun is empty.

In the woods I'd carry it in an across the chest holster outside of clothing.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

"What I don't like are those cheap, terrible rear sights."

Really??? The current S&W Micrometer sight design has been giving adequate service for all purposes since 1946! That is over 70 years! What makes you qualified to call it cheap????

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I’m not a big fan of the stock S&W rears, either - mechanically they are fine, but I find them visually to be very “busy” - and the older my eyes get, the worse it is.

I have a new 69, too. I replaced the rear sight with a Bowen Rough Country to gain a flat, serrated blade which is a lot easier on my eyes. I just heard my custom Partridge front with a gold bead is shipping, that will complete the change for me.

Like I said, I’m new to this forum, but by no means new to the shooting sports. I’ve shot and owned my share of handguns through the years and I never said I was qualified at anything. BUT I do know quality or lack of , when I see it. And yes I stand my OPINION that the factory rear sights are cheap! Just because something has been made for years doesn’t mean they are of good quality. It’s usually to keep the cost down, and easy to manufacture. I under stand that. All I did was ask the question ...if anyone knew of a better replacement rear sight. -that’s all. I didn’t think I was going to get a lecture.

Are you committed to an adjustable rear? If not, there’s the Cylinder and Slide fixed rear replacement. I considered one but I wanted to be able to switch between Magnum and Special level loads, so an adjustable made more sense for me.

The Op didn't mention whether he has the 2-3/4" or 4-1/4" barrel M69.

I have the 2-3/4" M69 & I really like it. My one complaint, that I haven't taken the time to address, is that rear sight's blade is very short, ~.108". The shorter blades, up to .126" tall, have a small ~.060" deep notch/window in the blade. These make it harder to acquire the front sight, for me anyway.

Going to a .146" or .160" rear blade helps as they have a larger notch, ~.080". A taller rear blade would require a proportionally taller front blade, which is already ~.283" tall.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

[QUOTE=

Any thoughts on other brands that would work?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

I once had a set of Bomar sights on my 629-3 5" Classic DX.
I would think they would also work on my Mdl 69, but so far I'm really happy with the Patridge front sight I installed, and the stock rear sight.
If you are an old phart like me, with eyes to match, you may wanna try a Merit optical device applied to your shooting glasses. I've used one for about 30 years now, and I can't shoot open sights of any brand with out it. I have a "young" 62 year old friend who just bought one, and he loves it.
If I was a "computer whiz", I'd give you a link to Merit, but since I'm not, you'll have to settle for Google. Hope this helps!--Shuz