Hey all, I know that some of you just groaned and I understand, but give me a chance to explain the intended use of this firearm and maybe you can give me some practical advice.

BTW, my background with S&W revolvers goes back to the early 80's and models 15, 36, 19 and most recently the 686+. (All with stock sights and carried on and off the job but for the 686+.)

Okay...when I purchased this firearm in December it was because shooting my buddy's GP100 made me nostalgic to own a revolver again.

I justified it as a recreational gun for myself which could do double duty as a home defense firearm for my wife and something I could wear during periods of high bear and coyote activity while out with the dog late at night in our somewhat rural area.

For recreational purposes, I seem to shoot the firearm fine from 15 yards and in, including head shots on "hostage taker" metal targets .

However, further out at 40 yards I was having a hard time picking up the stock front sight and my shots wandered all over the paper.

When I carry it at night with the pooch I have a headlamp on and a stronger light in pocket. (There are no lights along the rural gravel road.)

If my wife needs to use it for our HD scenarios, she would be in a lit area or at least have access to an LED flashlight.

I don't wear corrective lenses but at 63 I'm finding that the stock front sight just doesn't show up that well for me, especially if, like yesterday, the lighting is mottled with light and shadow.

So, I've read some comments on gold bead and fiber optic but would appreciate comments tailored to my usage...

Recreational during the day, HD (perhaps) at night, or SD at night along an unlit path. My primary desire is something that will show up during the day but is robust and not subject to easy breakage (even though I am careful with my guns).

The gun is the current version of the 686+

Thanks in advance for any info and indulging me.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

I am a confirmed revolver fan, and recently have put a 3" 686 into my carry rotation.

If the front sight is pinned, it is fairly easy to replace it with something more suitable. If not pinned, a slot will have to be milled into the ramp. Pinned sights are a tight fit. Keep the old roll pin (1/16") and drill the new sight half way from each side through the existing holes in the ramp. That way you don't drill through and enlarge the opposite ramp hole.

PC snubbies have a dovetailed front sight, easy to replace.

I recommend you replace it with a fiber optic (FO) sight. They're highly visible against all backgrounds, even in fairly dim room light. I prefer FO to tritium in revolvers, because tritium night sights are hard to find except as replacements for the red plastic insert (not the entire blade), and tend to snag in holsters.

A possible alternative is a gold (real gold, not brass) dot. They're great out of doors, and totally passive. However the reflections are very confusing in a shooting range. My groups suffer as a result. For best results, the rear blade should have a round, not square notch. They also collect lint, which renders them ineffective at the wrong time.

If you need low light visibility for self-defense, I highly recommend Crimson Trace laser grips. You can keep your groups in the black at 25 yards despite the short radius of iron sights. Don't forget to practice without the laser, but it's great to have when you need it. The laser is offset, but if you sight in at 50 feet or more, parallax is insignificant at all ranges, near or far. (If half an inch makes a difference, you are one dangerous dude.)

Thanks, Neumann. The sight does have a roll pin and I would not be doing the work. My neighbor is an FFL and also does some work on guns and he said he could do it for me if I pick out a sight.

Not interested in adding lasers or any doodads to the gun but for upgrading the front sight. I do find your comment about the gold bead reflections very interesting. I hadn't heard that criticism up to this point.

(I shoot outdoors for the most part but I have an indoor range about 15 minutes away I'm thinking of having my wife buy me a membership to for my birthday. )

Regarding FO, is there a particular brand, model and size you'd recommend?

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642-1, M&P15 TS

I've been looking at these.

Smith & Wesson Sights

Thanks, BWZ. That's useful info. Do you know which size (height/width) is the closest replacement to stock? (For the purposes of fitting the holsters we already own.)

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Just measure the height of the stock blade.

As for width, .125" is stock and is best for less speed/more precision. If rapid acquisition is your desire, use the .100" width blade - but you give up some precision.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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NRA Benefactor Member

Thanks, Bob.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Ended up ordering the Dawson Precision sight.

.270" Tall x .110 Wide (Ramped / Serrated)

Thanks for the help, folks. Should be a big help picking up that front sight.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

S&W front sights are measured from the top of the ramp to the top of the blade. It's typically 0.25", but more on pencil-barrels (e.g., Mountain Guns) and less with fixed rear sights.

The line of sight is always tilted upward from the bore, because the muzzle will rise (about 1/32") due to recoil before the bullet leaves the barrel.

My comment about lint refers to tritium sights, not gold dots. I inserted the statement in the wrong paragraph. (Gold stays bright forever. Brass turns brown on contact with most cleaning solvents, or tarnishes in air.)

I measured the height with my digital calipers and the height was confirmed by my neighbor, (FFL and hobbyist gunsmith), with his digital calipers. So I think we should be good to go. (And if not, he has fabricated and installed his own FO sights on his own guns so I should be relatively safe. )

I went over to his place just before dusk and checked the sight picture outdoors with one of his guns with a FO sight and it was a huge difference even in relatively low light. I went home and placed the order immediately afterward. I think I'm going to be a happy camper.

Appreciate the help and the suggestions.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Thanks for the link. That FO might be just what I need to replace that big honking black front sight on my 3" 629. The price isn't bad either.

Up till now, the only thing I found for it was those HiViz or whatever that Midway has. They are more expensive too.

Just got the Dawson Precision sight in and installed about 10 minutes later by my friend. All I can say is that it is a great upgrade from stock.

Nice that they also include a section of red and green FO for future usage as well.

Looking forward to putting some rounds down range this weekend.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

If you don't mind, I am fixing to work out two 2.5" and one 3" 686+s with a friend and the question of sights might come up and I need to be able to find this thread quickly so I am typing into it - this is useful stuff!!!

Don't mind at all, friend. And if you decide to go with Dawson Precision, they're located in TX so it should be a very quick turnaround.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Well, I just put 100 rounds down range at a variety of targets and I've got to say I just love this Dawson Precision FO sight. I literally didn't know what I was missing.

(And it's a lot easier hitting what I might have been missing now! )

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Glad to hear it worked out so well.

I need to replace the night sights on my 686. The problem is the front sight is mounted in a dovetail. All the sights I have found are pinned. Do you know any one making a dovetail front sight?

If your talking about a glow-in-the-dark, Tritium night sight, then it's possible that the original sight manufacturer will re-lamp it.

If you want another type, which one?