Model 27 Front Sight - Can't See It

[Rolf]

Is this a vision problem? Do you wear reading glasses? I can't see very well up close so I wear reading glasses. The key is to have the distance you need for the distance to the front sight. For me I can see the front sight clearly with .75 non prescription glasses. I bought Elvex Safety glasses in .50 and .75. Ebay has them for $10.95. You might need more or less correction to see the front sight clearly. Coloring the front sight can help indoors but black may help outdoors. I remember soot cans to blacken the front sight when I shot outdoors in the Army. The target itself is a big blur for me but at least the front sight is clear. I am going to try a Merit Optical attachment (peep sight) on my Elvex glasses to see if that clears up the target. So...I'm using .75 for the front sight and hopefully the Merit will clear up the target (bullseye) a little bit.

It's a vision problem. I also use readers as well (150 - 175).
I use a progressive lens for my everyday glasses.
I don't use "shooters glasses" but rather my Vuarnet sunglasses. The outdoor range doesn't have a problem with me using them and I like the lenses much better than shooters glasses.
I'm far-sighted so the target is in focus but the sight is a big blur.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Try Modeler's paint.. Testors.. Apply a coat of white and then a coat of florescent red. It may help and is a cheap first attempt.

I put red paint on a model 58 in 1966 and it's still there.

Have done this with a number of carry guns..... including a 4" 28....... do not skip the base coat of white paint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also have 2 sets of "Eagle Eye" Shooting glasses...... which are ground with small inserts (near the bridge of the nose) to allow you to focus on the front sight............I need reading glasses ....... my eye post cataract surgery are 20/25 (shooting eye) and 20/15

 

[LAH]

Found I see my front sight much better now since I opened the rear sight to allow more light on each side the front.

 

[petermari]

Rolf. Sounds like the same vision issue I have. Take a look at the Elvex safety glasses on ebay. I think the .5 might be the ticket. I wear 2.0 for reading and the .75 puts the front sight in focus for me. They look like shooting glasses not readers.

 

[6518John]

Ophthalmologist/Optometrist

Progressive Tri-focals help too.

I can not second this more soundly. It sounds ridiculous and embarrassing but I was too hard-headed to get anything but distance correction no "bi-focals" for me like my grandfather.

Shooting was a nightmare. Go in for a visit and it turns out my Ophthalmologit's physician husband is also a shooter and having the same probelms as me--needing correction for distance and somewhat "fine" up close with a sliding scale in ability to see as distance increases, without corrective lenses.

She prescribed a special set of hunting/shooting glasses--per the traditional shooting style with yellow tint-- that are some sort of lined trifocal (where I can switch view as needed). The close in correction is lower in the lens too so I can shoot a shotgun/point-shoot with ease, but then focus in on sights as needed by looking through the lower lens.

Then no-lines for normal wearing.

Literally changed my life for the better. I can't recommend seeing an eye care professional about this more strongly and explain your problem. Wish I had done so 10 years ago--time I have been refusing bi-focals.

 

[Jamesatrange]

I use the wife's bright color nail polish. $2.00 done!

 

[petermari]

Nice posts. For those of us that are farsighted (we can't see clearly up close) the color of the front sight can be an issue but having a red, yellow, green or white front sight that is still blurry or fuzzy doesn't solve the whole problem. It's more distinct with the color but still very blurry. We need correction that makes the front sight clear. An optometrist can prescribe glasses that make the front sight clear at the exact distance from your eye to the front sight. Reading glasses work at the distance your are comfortable reading. Computer glasses do the same thing but at a distance that makes your computer screen clear. Shooting glasses with magnification are for the exact distance from your eye to the front sight.

 

[Rolf]

Well it sounds like I'll need to do both painting the front sight AND getting another pair of glasses.
Like I stated earlier, I wear progressive lenses which cover ALL the distances far and near. I think I'll have another pair made in some nice Ray Ban sunglasses since I currently use my sunglasses anyway.
Thanks for all the great posts!!!

 

[petermari]

Here is the way the front sight (a dab of white out) looks to me and to most other shooters who are far sighted. It's better than black but still blurry without the correct magnification. The rear sight can be a little out of focus but the front sight should be crystal clear.

 

[AveragEd]

If you get glasses made that permit you to see both your sights and target clearly you won't need paint and paint won't help you see anything clearly. You'll be able to see the sight but no more clearly than without the paint.

Why do people resist fixing a problem correctly? Remember the old adage about not being able to hit what you can't see?

Ed

 

[BAM-BAM]

If you get glasses made that permit you to see both your sights and target clearly you won't need paint and paint won't help you see anything clearly. You'll be able to see the sight but no more clearly than without the paint.

Why do people resist fixing a problem correctly? Remember the old adage about not being able to hit what you can't see?

Ed

We get old and the eyes go.............................

The paint will help with quick; snap,close, defensive shots.......

the right glasses will be good at the range or when you have them on......but most of us don't/can't wear the right glasses all the time!

 

[Abbynormal]

I've had the same problem for the past few years. I didn't want to modify my classic Smiths, so I painted the fronts and had White outline rear sights put on. I also bought extra sets of rear sight screws and kept the old solid black sights.

I've found for painting front sights:

Use acetone and a toothbrush to deeply clean the serrations of the blade

Use blue 3M painters tape on the side of the sights and to limit the area you paint

I use white fingernail polish (2 coats) drying 2 hours between coats

Then I use Testers Fluorescent red paint (keep applying coats until completely covers blade serrations

Lastly, after letting the Testers dry 24 hours, I put 2 or 3 coats of clear nail polish.

This lasts for 2-3 years for me without having to touch up

Just be careful in keeping solvent off the front sight blade when cleaning

 

[AveragEd]

We get old and the eyes go.............................

I get that. I'm 68 but I don't blame my inability to see my sights, computer monitors and printed material well on the item - the problem is in my eyes so that's where I address my efforts to repair the problem. I have reading glasses for my desktop and ones for my laptops (those monitors wind up being different distances from my eyes), my reading Rx in my "regular wear" bifocals and the shooting glasses Dr. Morgan made for me. Why paint front sights and modify rear sights when they aren't the problem??? Fix that problem the same way you fixed the problem you have reading and using your computers - with the correct glasses.

Ed

 

[BAM-BAM]

I get that. I'm 68 but I don't blame my inability to see my sights, computer monitors and printed material well on the item - the problem is in my eyes so that's where I address my efforts to repair the problem. I have reading glasses for my desktop and ones for my laptops (those monitors wind up being different distances from my eyes), my reading Rx in my "regular wear" bifocals and the shooting glasses Dr. Morgan made for me. Why paint front sights and modify rear sights when they aren't the problem??? Fix that problem the same way you fixed the problem you have reading and using your computers - with the correct glasses.

Ed

If you read all of my post I do say that the proper glasses are the best solution ........ but.... recognizing that we don't/can't wear the right glasses 24/7/365 ...... painting the front sight can help you get a "better/faster" flash sight picture in a defensive shooting situation!

The 'Eagle Eye" glasses I mention in my first post are what I would wear if I was a "officer" on duty......... as they allow me to focus on my sights when shooting but do not interfere with my normal; slightly far sighted, vision!

 

[drummer007]

I am nearly 67. My eyesight started to change for the worse over 20 years ago. Since then, I have tried painting front sights, using green fiber optic front sights (they help), prescription glasses and scopes and dot sights. Scopes and dot sights turn lithe and finely balanced handguns into top heavy 2x4's. And holsters for scoped handguns - forget it. No more fast work.

Best thing I ever did was going to see an Ophthalmologist at the beginning of this year. I said an Ophthalmologist, not an Optometrist. An Ophthalmologist is a physician (MD/MBBS or D.O., not OD or BOptom) who has completed a college degree, medical school, and residency in ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists are both surgical and medical specialists. An Ophthalmologist can treat/cure all kinds of eye problems. Cataracts are fixable, Lasik can perform wonders and surgery can be miraculous.

13 years ago I was told I had a fairly rare eye disease (called Salzmann's) that was basically untreatable and would probably get worse. So I forgot about it. In desperation, in January of this year I went to see the Ophthalmologist who cured my wife's eye problems 20 years ago with Lasik. After my eye exam, she tells me that my Salzmann's can now be treated through surgery.

Had surgery done on my left eye in February (2015) and it is like going back 30 years. I can now see the handgun's front sight (and target) clearly out of my left eye !! Since I was always right handed but left eye dominate, I can again shoot handguns like I did up until my left eye started going bad 25 years ago. I am having my right eye done 6/18/15. When it heals, I expect to be able to accurately shoot iron sighted rifles again !!

I cannot stress too much - GO SEE AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST. Ask around for references. If you find one that is booked 3 to 6 months into the future - THAT IS THE ONE YOU WANT. The good ones are heavily booked. It may take 3 to 6 months to get an appointment with them.

Yes, Ophthalmologists can cost more than nail polish or fiber optic front sights, but having your vision fixed - being able to see as well or better than you did 20 to 30 years ago - is priceless.

And a miracle.

 

[6518John]

^^^100 Likes.

After seeing the Ophthalmologit I feel like my eyes are 18 years old again. I only wish I could say the same for the rest of me!

 

[AveragEd]

I couldn't agree more. I went to seven ophthalmologists in search of a cure for a vision problem before I found doctor number eight, who determined my eye problem actually was a sinus problem. He also gives me an eye exam every year which my health insurance carrier (Aetna Medicare) covers and those exams are THE most thorough eye exam I've ever had. They take an hour instead of the 10 minutes to which I was accustomed. With optometrists, my distance Rx has been +1.50 for several years but his Rx reads something like +1.75-.25 plus more numerics I don't recall or understand. Bottom line - I can see better!

Ed