So the front sight on my 586 L Comp is fairly useless. As you can see above it is a pinned black blade with the absolutely tinyest tritium dot embedded deep in the blade. You can barely ever see the tritium vial even when it is cleaned and brand new.

I was shooting at a black target yesterday and it completely blended in. Yes we often have this problem with the all black S&W revolver sights.

I want to replace the sight. As you can see it is the pinned variety, so I have many options: Fiber Optic, Gold Bead, XS Big Dot, Red Ramp etc. I know for sure I have no interest in the original sight, even a brand new one.

I really like the lines of the gun. So the shape of the sight is important. I don't think the square fiber optic sight, or square gold bead sight would look good and it would ruin the lines of the gun. But i can't find any pics of a 586 L Comp with any of these sights.

The only sight that would keep the original lines I think would be a red ramp one.

Am I correct? Any other options I am overlooking? Thanks!

XSights makes two types of tritium front sights for this gun, the Big Dot and the Standard. They are not the same height. The original is .250" tall, the Standard Dot by XSight is .280" tall and the Big Dot is .330" tall, both with a rounded top, not square. I mounted the Big Dot on my SP101 and like it a lot.




However, the sight picture for the big dot is not the normal sight picture. The factory recommends the following when used with a standard rear notch:



Just cover what you want to hit with the dot and pull the trigger.

I have quite a few revolvers with the XS Big Dots, at least 6 that come to mind. As I stated in my post, I don't want XS big dots for the 586. They are square and would ruin the lines of the current set up. When I say square I don't mean the rounded top of the sight, I mean the profile of the sight. I am looking for a sight with the same shape as the original. Thanks.

Reach out to Dave Lauck at D&L Sports (Smith and Wesson K, L, and N Frame Sights, (928) 636-1726). He replaces tritium vials with white outline tritium sights. I have a K-Comp with a dead vial and I'm having him do that one so I can keep the original front sight. I also have an L-Comp with a dead vial and plan on sending that to him for the same treatment. I too want to keep the original front sight profile. The front sight insert would look like a smaller version of the XSight Big Dot.

Keith

Great to know. Thanks. I actually ordered an SDM red fiber optic front sight that showed up today. I am going to install that first and see how I like it. If not, I will definitely try the D&L route you suggested here.

I figured for $28 it was worth a shot. Just don't know if I can live with the square profile of the sight. We'll see.

Here is how it turned out:

Well that looks like it would give you a better site picture.
But it does change the look of the gun. For better or worse, that's up to you.
Honestly I have always felt the L Comp looks a little odd with the front site back to make room of the comp. However, I am more in favor of utility than looks when it comes to tools.

At the range I have experienced the problem you mentioned of black site on black target. I usually cheat right to the white to acquire the front site and then move it to the black bullseye during the trigger pull. Probably a less than ideal method for a SD situation.

Where are all the guys who will tell you to paint the original front site ramp? I have to try that one of these days.

I am actually going to send the factory front sight off to D&L Sports as suggested above, this will work pretty well in the meantime.

Looking forward to your update after the D&L fix. Many of us need our tritium replaced on our L comps.

Next week after the holiday I am going to reach out and see what he charges and if I can just send the front sight blade in. Keep you posted.

Dawson Precision has S&W revolver fiber sights, I have used them on several of my semis and they are tip top. Going to swap the front sight on my 586 L Comp out to a Dawson red fiber.

Gun Sights - Smith & Wesson - Dawson Front Sights - Dawson Precision, Inc.

Sight Calculator

Brownells has front gold dots available too if the fiber front doesn't work out for me.

SDM FABRICATING S&W REVOLVER GOLD BEAD FRONT SIGHT | Brownells

I'll let you know how it works out.

586LComp_12.jpg

586LComp_14.jpg
For this older thread, here are a couple of photos of my 586LComp with the SDM gold-colored bead front sight. I didn't spend the time to fit the front sight's front edge to be even with the front sight base (I was too lazy and just didn't mind the slight overlap).

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Although I have a few guns with them, I have a strong dislike for fiber optics. The gold bead may be the best overall option for a front sight. Had one on a 625 and it was perfect.
I agree, the factory front night sight on the L-comp is a joke. I used some Birchwood Casey sight paint and applied white first topped with red. Your gold bead looks better.