converting integral front sights

magnumb · May 6, 2020

I have a model 19 and a 642, both have integral ramp front sights (not pinned). Both have red laser grips which is great indoors or at night, love these. Green laser if available for J frame (not K/L/N) but really is not very good in daylight. Having a green fiber optic front sight would be much better (glows like crazy in daylight. Even my eyes can't miss that front sight.
I'm looking for suggestions. I assume a gun smith could mill down the old sight and even better cut a groove for a pinned front sight. This would essentially convert the old style integral sight into a pinned type that can used other aftermarket items (fiber optic, tritium, big dot, etc.).

Is this feasible and how much (approximately) might a smith charge?

colt_saa · May 6, 2020

Absolutly feasible

Cost will be between $100 and $200 depending on exactly what needs to be done

For example, you might just want the mill and groove job on the J-frame to make it a pined sight

On the K-frame, you might want the interchangeable sight base

What finish is the K-frame? If it is nickel, the job is different than if it is blue

BC38 · May 6, 2020

A good gunsmith should be able to mill the original sight off, cut a slot in the barrel rib, and then pin a new sight into the slot. No idea what to expect it to cost, but it likely won't be real cheap.

magnumb · May 6, 2020

Thanks for your post.
K frame is blue (model 19-2, 2.5 inch). J-Frame (642 is silver aluminum).
I cringe at cutting into my beloved model 19, very accurate (with my laser), but alas with aging eyes that ramp site sucks! A little bit of paint helped a little, but a fiber optic would be massively better. I have used gold bead sights before in a partridge type and liked that a lot. I'm guessing the modern fiber optic green sight would blow that away. Do you have a recommendation for the model 19?

The sight on the 642 is even worse (IMHO). The laser makes the 642 easy to get accurate placement in the range (indoors) even at 25 yards. I want a carry piece to be able to make precise shots in daylight too!. A good fiberoptic sight might make a big difference. Any recommendations for the 642.
You help is greatly appreciated.

stu1ritter · May 7, 2020

I have shortened several S&W barrels and used the Weigand front sight with interchangeable inserts, just like the original S&W interchangeable. It does call for milling the slot for the sight to be set into after milling off the original sight. The Weigand base is now provided by Bowen and it uses all of the S&W interchangeable front sight inserts. Photo's are a 629 and a 686 using that base. The 686 is cut to a 3" barrel so that should give you some idea of the fit on the model 19.

Stu

needsmostuff · May 7, 2020

Not an attractive option for some and freaky fugley to others BUT, with some hand work at home you can do it yourself.
Faced with a badly Bubbaed mod 28 front on a gun with little collectability left in it I went the dovetail route.

Looks a little strange but coupled with the round bottom V rear it is crazy shootable especially at longer distances.

GBertolet · May 7, 2020

A keyway cutter 1/2" diameter, and 1/8" wide, is what is needed to cut the slot for the pinned in sight blade. My greatest concern in cutting the slot, even if done by a professional gunsmith, is getting the cut exactly straight, or even getting a sight base installed straight. I bought a 25-2 that had the barrel shortened to 4" for IDPA, and a new front sight installed. The sight was on crooked. Just a little, but bothered me so much, I bought another barrel for it. I was lucky to find a NOS 6.5" pinned barrel. Anyhow this was done by a professional pistolsmith.

magnumb · May 7, 2020

The dovetail approach seems fairly low risk, if done by a gunsmith. I can do general mechanical and handy work, but precision, forgetaboutit. Someone with real skills could probably do it all with files, but not me.

There is an approach I saw here the ramp is cut into a smaller rectangle, and the new front sight epoxied into place. I can't believe something like JB Weld would hold up over time given vibration and heat.

I want to have it look professional and hold up over time. It would also be nice to have options after the machining is done where I could easily switch between fiber, gold bead, Tritium etc.

Since I have red laser grips on these guns, I am pretty well set for near or complete darkness. For that condition only tritium front and rear would work. I don't see the point given the laser grips. A better front sight would help in bright to dim situations, and allow me to continue building my skills without the laser. For example if I had to shoot and aggressive animal or snake in bright daylight my red laser is useless, and I'm not very good with that old black ramp past maybe 5 yards, and even then placement could be greatly improved with a better sight

Dave.357 · May 8, 2020

I bought this 19 cheap ,someone filed the front sight
To a point. Milled sight off and slotted ramp made my
Own sight blade but S&W will fit.. Was working in factory
At the time and did it after hours. Total time less than
3 hours someone else may do it faster.
I like Stu’s better than mine his will cost a little more
But worth it .

mikerjf · May 8, 2020

I have a 60 that someone filed a notch in the front sight to take a red plastic block. I think there are even kits to do this, where you make a recess and fill it with colored epoxy.

Essentially does the same thing as bright paint or tape on your ramp, but I like it and I suppose with the right material light might enter the plastic block from the sides and make it a little brighter. Anyway, I have others with paint and like the plastic block just as well.

Dave.357 · May 8, 2020

Sight kit

mikerjf said:
I have a 60 that someone filed a notch in the front sight to take a red plastic block. I think there are even kits to do this, where you make a recess and fill it with colored epoxy.

Essentially does the same thing as bright paint or tape on your ramp, but I like it and I suppose with the right material light might enter the plastic block from the sides and make it a little brighter. Anyway, I have others with paint and like the plastic block just as well.

Midway use to sell a kit.
I checked a while back and
Was told it is no longer available.

squidsix · May 8, 2020

I hand cut a dovetail in a model 10 and installed a tritium front of the correct height, trimmed the sight to fit, and had very good results, all in my kitchen with hand tools. Its not hard

colt_saa · May 8, 2020

mikerjf said:
I have a 60 that someone filed a notch in the front sight to take a red plastic block. I think there are even kits to do this, where you make a recess and fill it with colored epoxy.

Essentially does the same thing as bright paint or tape on your ramp, but I like it and I suppose with the right material light might enter the plastic block from the sides and make it a little brighter. Anyway, I have others with paint and like the plastic block just as well.

This was a very common Gun Smith service in the 80s and 90s. Most good Gun Smiths had several colors for you to choose from beyond the Standard Smith & Wesson red.

My 559 ramp was done in yellow, the carved Ivory grips were just put on for show, these were not the grips from when I carried the firearm

Here you can see my unfired Model 60 Chiefs Special Target along with the Model 60 Chiefs Special Target I carried. As you can see, my carry gun's insert is done in standard Smith & Wesson Red

It was not uncommon for folks that had the red ramp installed also have a white outline rear sight blade added at the same time

dustinoif3 · May 9, 2020

Did one the other day. A good set up is a must!

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

magnumb · May 13, 2020

For J frames with integral front sights there is a solution from XS big dot sights where the front sight is milled to a shortened rectangle and the XS Big Dot is Epoxyed onto the new sight stub.
Does anyone know if this will hold up? Seems like a pretty tall order given the vibration and heat during range sessions, and also wear and tear in a pocket holster or other.

I would hate to cut up my 642 and end up with an unreliable new front sight.
That little short narrow existing front sight is really hard to see quickly even painted bright orange. If I crane my neck way back to get to the most out of my progressive lenses it's better, but that's pretty counterproductive in a self defense scenario. The Big Dot would be a lot easier to pick up if it can be installed realiably on a gun with a fixed integral front sight.

Opinions, and experiences welcome.

magnumb · May 14, 2020

would feel more confident with a dovetail or pinned big dot, have never seen a sight glued on from the factory on any brand

Protocall_Design · May 14, 2020

magnumb said:
For J frames with integral front sights there is a solution from XS big dot sights where the front sight is milled to a shortened rectangle and the XS Big Dot is Epoxyed onto the new sight stub.
Does anyone know if this will hold up? Seems like a pretty tall order given the vibration and heat during range sessions, and also wear and tear in a pocket holster or other.

I would hate to cut up my 642 and end up with an unreliable new front sight.
That little short narrow existing front sight is really hard to see quickly even painted bright orange. If I crane my neck way back to get to the most out of my progressive lenses it's better, but that's pretty counterproductive in a self defense scenario. The Big Dot would be a lot easier to pick up if it can be installed realiably on a gun with a fixed integral front sight.

Opinions, and experiences welcome.

I've seen that setup on a couple of guns and didn't like it. Not a good way to do this job in my opinion.

converting integral front sights

magnumb

Member

colt_saa

Member

BC38

Member

magnumb

Member

stu1ritter

US Veteran

Attachments

needsmostuff

Member

GBertolet

Member

magnumb

Member

Dave.357

Member

Attachments

mikerjf

Member

Dave.357

Member

squidsix

Member

colt_saa

Member

dustinoif3

Member

magnumb

Member

magnumb

Member

Protocall_Design

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts