Should I paint my front sight?

I think SDM also makes them for it as well? (I can't link from this P/C)
It's a matter of drifting out the pin, pulling the blade, replacing the blade, then if the sight is pre-drilled, reinstall the cross pin. On some, you may need to drill the hole for the pin through the blade yourself.
 
I painted my sights tonight with the wife's nail polish. It look like crap, like a 3 year old did it. I took it off and will just deal with black sights. Guess I'm not a sight artist. lol
 
BlackSky said:
I painted my sights tonight with the wife's nail polish. It look like crap, like a 3 year old did it. I took it off and will just deal with black sights. Guess I'm not a sight artist. lol
Click to expand...

... or, you could do what I'm probably going to do ... let her do the painting.

:D
 
reerc said:
Yet more good replies, thanks all.

Sip: I've noticed that fiber optic on your gun when you've posted pics before (I like it a lot), but figured it was a one-of-a-kind that Gemini Customs did for you. Their web page says that the user can install it themselves - and the price doesn't look too bad. Did you install yours yourself, Sip? Was it difficult?
Click to expand...

I had it done while it was there for his basic package...but Marc told me it's easy...just knock out the pin, replace the sight and knock it back in...what's nice about it is that you still get a square front to line up for pin point shooting but the bright red fiber really stands out in the light....I need reading glasses to see my sights, but the fiber optic I can see pretty well without them....:)
 
Painting the front sight...

I am color blind, on 10 of 12 colors on the eye doctor's chart.
Yellow is my dominant color.
I use FINGERNAIL POLISH to cover the front sight. It comes off with acetone or Hoppe's #9.
 
I use fishing lure paint and put a base of white on first and then a layer of red or green. The white base seems to increase the visibility of the top layer. I also like fiber optic sights for competition but have been reluctant to put them on a carry gun. The fiber optic sight that I like the best is the Firesight by Williams Gunsight. Durable and the red fiber looks as big as a stop light. Good for old eyes.
 
I received this from Marc:

Hello Dave

The installation is easy and requires tools that most have easy access to or own, i.e. 1/16 pin punch 1/16 drill bit and small power drill, padded vise, small hammer. I wrote the instructions, so you know it is pretty simple. I have sold hundreds and installed hundreds, and so far no problems or complaints about hard to install.

Of course the best way to have them installed is to get it done for free when they send in their SP101 for a custom upgrade in my shop! Just like you did.

Marc

BTW, h sent along a few pics of work on Smiths....sweet!

DSC_0125.jpg


DSC_0118.jpg
 
I asked Marc whey they don't come pre drilled...

To allow for any tolerance differences on the location of the retention pin hole in the barrel as drilled during manufacture. Only a few thousandths of an inch i.e. .001-.003, or the thickness of a sheet of paper will keep the new sight from fitting it's best. It is a pretty anal detail, but a detail nonetheless.

I will predrill if a customer feels like all thumbs and can not do it him/herself, but I charge an additional $5.00 and do not/cannot guarantee a great fit (although they are very close/good)

Marc
 
Thanks for checking on that for us Sip!
That's why I said earlier, it's a mid 2 or low 3 for difficulty. Made easier by the fact that the Ruger is made of stainless steel rather than aluminum like an alloy J frame. And appears to have a LOT of meat in that area. I'm always a little nervous drilling on those alloy guns my self!
 
I tried several things on my stainless guns, as a matte stainless front sight doesn't stand out well against anything. First tried blaze orange Testors model airplane dope. It went black when in the shade and didn't stand out against a dark target. Tried white nail polish, and found it worked the best. It shows up against practically anything regardless of the lignting conditions on the front sight. Comes off easily if you want, but stays on well, even when holstered.

When I approached the cosmetic counter with my little bottle of fancy white nailpolish, the girl gave me an odd look. I'm male, 76, 6'3", not your usual cosmetics customer. I told her it was for the sight of my quick-draw pistol and got an even odder look.
 
Spotteddog said:
Thanks for checking on that for us Sip!
That's why I said earlier, it's a mid 2 or low 3 for difficulty. Made easier by the fact that the Ruger is made of stainless steel rather than aluminum like an alloy J frame. And appears to have a LOT of meat in that area. I'm always a little nervous drilling on those alloy guns my self!
Click to expand...

You are welcome..but I don't think you have to drill the the gun, only the sight...
 
I chose to go the nail polish route, instead of paint. It is much more durable, and stays on much longer. Bob
 
I used car paint. You know those little bottles of touch up paint. I had one laying around for my white corolla, and put some on my front sight. It has stayed on with no problems for over a 1000 rounds now. It will get drity after a range trip, but I just wipe it off with some hoppes #9 and its good to go.
 
Cyrano said:
I tried several things on my stainless guns, as a matte stainless front sight doesn't stand out well against anything. First tried blaze orange Testors model airplane dope. It went black when in the shade and didn't stand out against a dark target. Tried white nail polish, and found it worked the best. It shows up against practically anything regardless of the lignting conditions on the front sight.
Click to expand...
I have a similar situation. While my gun club is an outdoor range, the firing line and target stands are covered with heavy baffling between the two. Couple that with heavy tree surroundings, a requirement to use nra black center bullseye targets, and the frequent dark days here make for not so much light.

I have stainless smith revolvers with red ramp, white ramp, and plain ramp sights and the white ramp seems to show up the best but the stock s&w 'white' is pretty weak, not very bright at all. Maybe I'll try some of the appliance white or the fiber optic as it sure would be nice to see the front sight. Black guns are similarly useless in this situation unless they have a white dot or ramp front sight.

It's no wonder I like the CT laser grips so much.
 
BlackSky said:
I painted my sights tonight with the wife's nail polish. It look like crap, like a 3 year old did it. I took it off and will just deal with black sights. Guess I'm not a sight artist. lol
Click to expand...

Don't use a paint brush, use a thoothpick. Testors paint is best IMO.
 
Yeah Sip,
I was talking about the initial "whiff cut" where you install the front sight into it's slot, then use a light touch from both sides with a drill bit through the retainer pin aperture in the barrel. To mark where the hole is to be drilled in the blade when removed from the gun. When doing that on the aluminum alloy guns, even barely touching the soft metal on the sides of the pin I.D. will egg shape the hole from the drill bit's flutes. What I have done is to dedicate the drill bit's for this application. Using a bit that has been modified to have virtually no twist length on the shank of the bit. Since I only use those bits to "pre-mark", it doesn't matter that they don't have the material carry off groove. Once marked, I complete the drilling with a standard bit after the blade has been removed from the gun.
 
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