Which night sights?

iamfuego · Nov 27, 2012

The gun: 629-6, 4" barrel, red plastic insert on the front sight blade.

What I ordered: Meprolight ML22770 ("Meprolight Smith and Wesson Tru-Dot Night Sight for K,L and N Revolvers with Red Insert Front - Adjustable Set")

What I received: Meprolight ML22771 ("Meprolight Smith and Wesson Tru-Dot Night Sight for K,L and N Revolvers with Pin insert on Front Sight - Adjustable Set"

I got these "used" from Amazon (open box someone returned), for only $30, and it looks like the blade width is the same. So, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with these Meprolight sites, and if there's any downside to just swapping out the entire front sight blade vs. swapping out the insert on the blade?

The gun is going in to S&W for repair anyway, and they said they'd install the sites along with the other service I'm getting... I just want to make sure there's no technical problem installing the ML22771 on a revolver which comes stock with the front sight blade with the red insert.

Any opinions, experiences, words of wisdom? Or, any other brands I should be looking at?

Thanks,
-C

Packard · Nov 28, 2012

I have a 640 Pro. It has the best sights I've ever used on a revolver. Non-snag, low profile,easy target acquisition, and excellent visibility day or night. If you can fit those sights on your gun you won't be disappointed.

Infidel · Nov 28, 2012

There aren't really any other brands for a full set of front and rear night sights for a S&W revolver. I have the version that replaces the red insert on one of my guns and it works well.

I would say the version you received should work fine since that is what it was made for. As long as it can be fit to the barrel nicely and you don't have any problems adjusting your elevation to match the new site you should be good.

iamfuego · Nov 29, 2012

I talked to the product manager for Meprolight at Kimber (importer/agent for Meprolight in the US) today, and he confirmed the only difference should be ease of fitment to the gun - the ML22771 pretty much requires a gunsmith (or at least someone competent with a drill press), whereas the ML22770 is a much easier DIY type operation. Functionally, they should be equivalent. With the price I got on the ML22771 and S&W doing the install, it made the decision to stay with that set easy.

The sights and gun are off to S&W now, so we'll see how it all looks when it comes back.

Kehinnc · Sep 16, 2015

Picture of Meprolight front sight

Hello Infidel,
Can you provide a photo of the your revolver's front sight? I'm looking to add the same to my Model 657 and am curious as to it looks and how difficult is was to install. Thanks

Infidel said:
There aren't really any other brands for a full set of front and rear night sights for a S&W revolver. I have the version that replaces the red insert on one of my guns and it works well.

I would say the version you received should work fine since that is what it was made for. As long as it can be fit to the barrel nicely and you don't have any problems adjusting your elevation to match the new site you should be good.

dwever · Sep 16, 2015

I'd think about XS sights. Reviews:

Massad Ayoob: A look at handgun sights | The Daily Caller
Have a look: XS Sight System's 24/7 Big Dot | Officer.com

The first reviewer gives a general discussion of sights. Massad Ayoob is a famous NYPD detective who was in a number of gun fights as a member of the NYPD Stakeout Squad with his partner Jim Cirillo. The second review is about the XS sights specifically. Other reviews can be Googled.

The big dot verses regular dot discussion is about the fact that you choose the size of tritium dot you'd like with this site system.

I have regular size XS System night sights on a S&W PC 586 L-Comp and I am very pleased not only with their low-light performance, but the genius of the blade and dot system which keeps you from burying your front sight behind a back sight or needing to discern which is the front sight in low light. Installation is easy, but get a smith to do it.

Here is my installed XS next to the original S&W sight.

Kehinnc · Sep 17, 2015

Model 657 Front Red Ramp

Thanks for the suggestion. However my Model 657 has a dovetail front red ramp sight. Near impossible to find anything to replace the red ramp but Meprolight appears to be the closest solution without getting into a bunch of gunsmith filing and milling effort.

dwever said:
I'd think about XS sights. Reviews:

Massad Ayoob: A look at handgun sights | The Daily Caller
Have a look: XS Sight System's 24/7 Big Dot | Officer.com

The first reviewer gives a general discussion of sights. Massad Ayoob is a famous NYPD detective who was in a number of gun fights as a member of the NYPD Stakeout Squad with his partner Jim Cirillo. The second review is about the XS sights specifically. Other reviews can be Googled.

The big dot verses regular dot discussion is about the fact that you choose the size of tritium dot you'd like with this site system.

I have regular size XS System night sights on a S&W PC 586 L-Comp and I am very pleased not only with their low-light performance, but the genius of the blade and dot system which keeps you from burying your front sight behind a back sight or needing to discern which is the front sight in low light. Installation is easy, but get a smith to do it.

Here is my installed XS next to the original S&W sight.

Printrep · Sep 17, 2015

Kehinnc said:
Thanks for the suggestion. However my Model 657 has a dovetail front red ramp sight. Near impossible to find anything to replace the red ramp but Meprolight appears to be the closest solution without getting into a bunch of gunsmith filing and milling effort.

Please let us know if you find anything. I'm also looking for a front only night sight replacement for a 686 2.5" PC that has the front factory dovetailed sight.

Does anyone here happen to know what that dovetail size is? Perhaps Novak can make a front?

Thanks

CelticSire · Apr 29, 2019

dwever said:
Massad Ayoob is a famous NYPD detective who was in a number of gun fights as a member of the NYPD Stakeout Squad with his partner Jim Cirillo.

Massad Ayoob was NEVER employed by NYPD in any capacity, was never Jim Cirillo's partner, nor was he on the Stakeout Squad. He was a part time police officer in New Hampshire before retiring in 2017 from the Grantham, NH PD.

ultratec00 · Apr 30, 2019

S&W makes various rear sight blade heights for different applications/barrel lengths. You don't have that with the meprolight. The rear sight blade height is what it is. There is obvious vertical adjustment for height but that may/may not be enough for your specific application.

I believe there's some front sight height difference depending on whether you use the replacement blade or insert. You may have to match accordingly depending on your application. A number of factors apply: barrel length, bullet weight, etc. I ended up changing from one to the other and was able to sight in for the distance desired (25 yards). I believe the revolver was my 3" 686 3-5-7. Didn't have enough vertical rear adjustment w/o swapping out the front sight.

Over all I like the sights and have them mounted to a number of my revolvers.

biku324 · Apr 30, 2019

Kehinnc said:
Hello Infidel,

That's kinda dangerous.... Hello Infidel Free Ringtone download - Download Free Hello Infidel Ringtone to your mobile phone

Which night sights?

iamfuego

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