Questions about 43c (J frame .22)

BlackRhino · Apr 5, 2022

The 43c page on S&W’s site lists the front sight on the 43c as: XS Sights® White Dot. Is this a glow in the dark sight? XS Sights web page only seems to have tritium glowing revolver sights, but I don’t see one listed as “White Dot”. If you have the 43c, does your front sight glow in the dark?

The manual does not indicate if dry fire without a snap cap equivalent is safe or not. Ruger claims in their manual that dry fire on an empty chamber *is* safe. Any insights on this? My guess is it is best to presume using snap caps is best.

AppStFan · Apr 5, 2022

I am pretty sure the XS sight on the 43C is a white dot only and is not a glow in the dark sight. If you intend to dry fire the 43C you need to use snap caps. The yellow drywall anchors will work as well. Good luck and I hope this helps.

geokeg · Apr 5, 2022

My 43c is white dot only, no glow. Snap caps or spent casings is what I use. The yellow dry wall anchors work well too.
It is a neat little gun!

Loyaljeeper · Apr 5, 2022

It is only a white dot. It does not glow.

BlackRhino · Apr 5, 2022

Wow, thank you for such quick responses!

scruffy · Apr 5, 2022

Good size bright white convex dot that is easy to pick up. You'll like it.

SLCDW · Apr 5, 2022

Get one if you can. Not cheap, but makes a great trainer for 642.

hyena · Apr 5, 2022

SLCDW said:
Get one if you can. Not cheap, but makes a great trainer for 642.

Ditto that. It's why I bought mine. Icing on the cake is it's just plain fun to shoot. I just got mine recently. Still getting used to the white dot. I would have preferred a traditional ramp like my 642. I haven't decided whether to change it.

saemetric · Apr 5, 2022

Nice lightweight 22’s.

Lowa · Apr 6, 2022

I have. Ever found a better carry sight them a u notch gutter and white dot. Only time I ever found one, I loved it, but somebody had bought it online prior to my going into the store!

44 mag · Apr 6, 2022

The yellow dry wall anchors I picked up off amazon do not work in any of my 22lr revolvers.( S&W63,S&W 43c and Taurus 942). They do not eject, get stuck or fall deep in the cylinder. the rim is too thin.

Retired W4 · Apr 6, 2022

I do like XS sights. I had a 310 Night Guard with XS w/tritium front sight. Man, I wish I had that one back!

BlackRhino · Apr 6, 2022

Bought the drywall anchors from Amazon, too. Reviews praises them for this application. Also found rims not big enough for .22 chamber. Perhaps they changed since the reviews. Ordered Steelworx “snap caps.”

Bought a 43c. Very much looking forward to it.

Thank you for the quick and detailed responses!

Is anyone aware of speedloaders other than Speedbeez which work with the 43c?

Lobster Picnic · Apr 8, 2022

I think they call it the XS Big Dot. In any case, it works well even in very low light.

Exchipy · Apr 8, 2022

With the XS Big Dot, I couldn’t get the kind of precision I wanted. So, I replaced it with a low Baughman ramp off a 342:

hyena · Apr 8, 2022

Exchipy said:
With the XS Big Dot, I couldn’t get the kind of precision I wanted. So, I replaced it with a low Baughman ramp off a 342:

I believe that's what I would like on mine, for the same reason. I have a local gunsmith that could do the replacement for me. Any chance you'd know where I can get one like that? I just did an unsuccessful search on the internet.

BlackRhino · Apr 8, 2022

hyena said:
I believe that's what I would like on mine, for the same reason. I have a local gunsmith that could do the replacement for me. Any chance you'd know where I can get one like that? I just did an unsuccessful search on the internet.

Did you try Brownells?

3rdgeargrndrr · Apr 8, 2022

44 mag said:
The yellow dry wall anchors I picked up off amazon do not work in any of my 22lr revolvers.( S&W63,S&W 43c and Taurus 942). They do not eject, get stuck or fall deep in the cylinder. the rim is too thin.

I had the same issue. Those are the new Hillman design, they do not have the lip/flange and fall right into the cylinder.
You will need to go into the store and physically examine the yellow drywall anchors and make sure they have the rim on them to work

Edit: on amazon i just saw some generic yellow wall anchors that come with the screws for $9 and those are based on the old design. They will work.

Exchipy · Apr 8, 2022

BlackRhino said:
Did you try Brownells?

Also try Numrich Arms and Jack First Parts.

My Baughman ramp front sight came off a S&W 342 so I could I install a non-factory front sight on it. Rather than risking damage trying to align the cross pin holes on the soft aluminum barrel shroud of the 43C, I simply epoxied the Baughman ramp in place. Worked great, as you can see. Just understand that it will then take applied heat of 600+ degrees to remove it, if you change your mind.

153 · Apr 8, 2022

Exchipy,

What brand of epoxy did you use?

Thanks

Questions about 43c (J frame .22)

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