painting front site white or orange ,which works better to see the site ?... model paint ,or finger nail polish

For various reasons, I prefer a bright green front sight if I'm going to color it myself. Green contrasts well against just about any background and is easy to pick-up quickly. Other than that, I'd opt for white or yellow. I use paint pens that you can usually find in any arts/crafts department. They come in a package of several different colors (red/green/black/white/yellow/blue). I have used model paint and finger nail polish in the past. All seem to work equally as well.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

I use yellow fingernail polish. If you do a lot of target shooting you should consider what color the bullseye is. You want contrast.

My preference is model paint. A base coat of white, then the Green fluorescent paint, or bright safety orange. From a quick draw point, I find the orange is faster to pick up, but bor better sighting I prefer the green.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I've used Testor's model paint for years, and it has held up fine for me. I'm sure fingernail polish would also work, but I wouldn't expect it to be as durable.

Testor's hobby enamel has always worked well for me. A base coat of matte white, followed by fluorescent green works well. The fastest sight picture may just be plain black rear sight with a bright dot of paint on the front sight.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I use glow.on paint

And *BOOM* goes the dynamite.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

I use my wife's nail polish-- orange on the top half and white on the bottom half. That way I can use the orange for close range and both the white and orange for longer shots. Works well. Red is equally good as orange.

I wanted to add some pictures. I put glow on paint covered with clear nail polish on all of my smith revolver front sights. During the day I get white on black and a quick 3 second hit with a flashlight and I get night sights.




Day



Night

Both work ok, just be sure to let them dry well before putting the gun away. I did a 1911 and that night put it back in its rug thinking it was dry. Next time I took it out I'm like, "Where is my sight paint?" as the front sight was completely back to stock.

The paint was stuck to the cloth the gun was wrapped in. Nothing on the gun at all. :P

I use either nail polish or model paint. I like Red for the front.

I like the bright green on the front, especially on a pistol with a black notch rear sight. With 3 white dot sights I've tried green front and rear orange dots. I've been using the Birchwood Casey Super Bright sight paint pens.

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Interesting, I never thought about yellow, but I must try it.

When I needed to be able to see my Model 439’s front sight better I went to Dollar Tree and bought a bottle each of white and orange/red fingernail polish. The white was used for a base coat and the “red” was the shade I could see the most easily. It seems to be staying on very well for at least a year or so.

Froggie

I run fluro. Green on my 64-3 & 642. I'd like to have a gold bead installed in the Patridge sight on my 586 no dash. Millets on my 1911- all others stock.

One layer of white nail polish (or white-out) then two coats of the brightest orange that I can find.

Try & buy to find what color works best for use. I use orange nail polish, but some prefer other colors.

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Watch & Pray

I painted my model 58 with red Testors model paint in 1966. Carried the gun as a duty sidearm for 13 years.
Paint is still there.

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Eccentric old coot

I use white nail polish for under coat and bright red enamel model paint for top coat but have used green nail polish also. I apply with toothpick start with a small amount. Never used the nail polish brush you will apply WAY too much and get frustrated. I also wear my flea market headband magnifiers. I have not tried clear nail polish to finish as suggested in other posts

I use three coats of Neon Pop orange nail polish I got at Wal Mart. Works well for me.

Befor I had my eye surgery, I could see the ripples in the front sight "Yellow".

One eye got messed up so no 20/20 any more and I need glasses to shoot
and choose best 2 out of 3 in the rear sight,front sight or target match up.

Enjoy it while you are young !!

I like white, and I use appliance touchup enamel.

cool ,thanks for the tip

I painted my front sight with a Base Coat of flat white ...with a BIC White-Out Correction Pen lying on my wifes desk ... I was going to buy Day-Glo paints and try different colors ... went to several stores and couldn't find any ! Went shooting with flat white sight ... You Know what ... It works GREAT ! I said screw the Day-Glo colors and use white and if orange or green is any better... I Don't See It !!!
I like flat white and I like the BIC White- Out Correction Pen application .
It beats that wonky brush seven ways to Sunday and the Pen is Cheap and Easy to find ... I keep a couple in my shooting range bag .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Try this Stuff.
Works Great.....

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I prefer a Hi-viz yellow on mine. Works great outdoors and seems to work the best for me in low light as well. If I don't want to paint up a sight for some reason, I'll cut a strip out of one of those Shoot-N-C targets with the yellow backing color and stick it to my front sight.

Uhhhhhhhhmmmm... Ok, Cleveland. I suppose I should be glad that I added some... "excitement" to your day?

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Lol. Not too exciting. Just agreeing with your blacked-out rear sight and bright front sight combination. Spot on.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Once every so often I have a couple of brain cells to fire and out comes a reasonably good idea or concept... doesn't happen often, so don't expect too much from me.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

My preference is model paint. A base coat of white, then the Green fluorescent paint, or bright safety orange. From a quick draw point, I find the orange is faster to pick up, but bor better sighting I prefer the green.
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I have had good luck with red or copper.

Why copper?
Because it is a color not commonly found in nature that contrasts decently with black and white paper targets, animal skin and fur, and does not glare in bright sunlight like brass often does.
Orange shows up very well, but sometimes appears fuzzy around the edges to my eyes. Yellow is a little better

Experiment to your heart’s content in different light conditions. I costs almost nothing to change to another color.

I use high reflective tape. I was concerned that I might get a paint run if i didn’t mask off properly.

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