Thoughts on fiber optic front sights on revolvers?

I have two shooters I am considering swapping the front sight for a Dawson fiber optic sight.

Model 617-2 6 inch
Model 686-3 6 inch

Neither have a red ramp like some of my other smiths and given that they're both stainless steel variations and much more modern compared to my pre-80s revolvers I wouldn't feel bad making the change.

My questions to the forum are such:

1. Is there a negative in terms of function?
2. Can the swaps be made without any serious modification that would not allow for the old sights to be put back on in the future? (I've seen videos where some people drill through the pin hole to increase its size)
3. Dawson has what I believe is the largest range of heights and widths for revolver sights. I have a pair on my glock 34 and love them. Any other suggested brands?
4. Are you for fiber optics on revolvers? Against them? WHY?

Any other comments or pictures would be helpful and appreciated as always!

Mitchell

I had a 617 (forget the - number) that I put a FO sight on and it greatly improved my ability to see the front sight. It's been gone a while, but I recently put a Dawson FO front sight on my 610-3, for the same reason. It's an easy swap on the 610 (just a spring loaded transition), but the 617 required drilling, still a very easy swap.

Both worthwhile projects for my 64 year old eyes. Dawson makes some great replacement sights too.

1. Nope

2. Yup, with the proper tools. Do not drill the through-hole in the ramp oversize as there is no need and that's a permanent modification to the gun. I posted some details on how to go about properly installing a sight blade with a blank (undrilled) tenon here...

625-6 In for spa treatment


3. Dawson's are great and I have them on a couple carry guns. SDM fabricating makes a very nice f/o blade too.

4. Certainly in favor. much easier to pick up fast for my aging eyeballs.

This here is my "woods walkin" gun, a five inch 629-3, SDM green fiber out front and a Bowen adjustable in the back...



Perfect sight picture, I couldn't ask for better irons for field use.

Cheers
Bill

I bought a new manufacture S&W model 317 that came with a Fibre Optic front sight. It is great!!

A FO front sight is easy to see, especially against a dark background. However, the square profile can snag in an holster or on clothing. I keep the normal ramp sight, with or without a red insert, for EDC.

I like the increased visibility of FO sights. If there is a drawback, it is they are not as durable as a plain metal sight blade. I have had a couple FO front sights loose their FO insert while shooting.

Larry

While I find the fiber optic sights unattractive while admiring the lines of a SW revolver they work great compared to black on black, SS on SS, RR/ WO.

I've noticed the newer SW revolvers tend to have a fs pinned to the ramp making fs blade changes much easier than in the past when the blade was either integral to the ramp or pinned and polished flush making it near invisible.

My favorite design is the SW factory quick change front sight system where the fs blade has a bevel shaped base held in place by a spring and ball detent inside the ramp,
That system allows quick removal and changing by hand.
This has me wondering if the factory might modify a revolver without this option so it has it....there I go dreaming again.

BMCM said:

1. Nope

2. Yup, with the proper tools. Do not drill the through-hole in the ramp oversize as there is no need and that's a permanent modification to the gun. I posted some details on how to go about properly installing a sight blade with a blank (undrilled) tenon here...

625-6 In for spa treatment


3. Dawson's are great and I have them on a couple carry guns. SDM fabricating makes a very nice f/o blade too.

4. Certainly in favor. much easier to pick up fast for my aging eyeballs.

This here is my "woods walkin" gun, a five inch 629-3, SDM green fiber out front and a Bowen adjustable in the back...

Perfect sight picture, I couldn't ask for better irons for field use.

Cheers
Bill

Click to expand...

Bill,

This post gave me a lot to think about. I really like the length of the SDM FO compared to the length of Dawson's. Given your familiarity with SDM which btw is a company I had not previously heard about, I have some additional questions.

1. Would both of my models require the pinned versions not the classic/DX style?


2. If I had to consider the idea of vulnerability in a holster I would potentially be interested in the gold dot for the 686.

3. For the pinned version they discontinued the .300 gold bead. Obviously I need to measure the specific sight dimensions to understand if a .250 is simply compromising the rear sights ability to adjust to certain distances for a 25yard or 50yard zero etc. What is your thoughts on the gold dot versus a FO?

4. Are there any advantages to putting on a lower or higher front sight so long as you can ensure the rear is fully compatible?

Mitchell

The quick change front sight is an excellent feature on my Classic.

I think FO sights on revolvers are great and especially so when outdoors and you have failing light.

I really like fiber optic sights - especially as my eyes age and when the firearm is in shadows. Revolver, pistol, rifle all benefit.

Here is an SDM front sight on a 625-3 that I’ve shot a fair amount:


I do have to note that the fiber optic rods can be fragile. I’ve lost the rod off that gun several times. I would not use a fiber optic front sight from SDM on a carry revolver - the design leaves the rod too exposed. Even on a 1911 with the rod much better protected, I still have to replace the rod when it starts getting fuzzy from holster wear.

For a range gun like my 625 a fiber optic front sight is fantastic.

SDM or Dawson...

The SDM has a lot more fiber which is more exposed to ambient light so it's brighter in poor or fading light.

Dawson uses a shorter thinner fiber so not as bright but the thinner fiber yields a more refined dot.

Either choice or any other f/o with exposed fiber can be damaged but even if the fiber is gone you still have a functional sight on the gun and it's quite easy to install a new fiber. To that point, Dawsons come with enough fiber red & green to replace the element four or five times.

1. The quick change DX ramp is easy to ID...There's a hole in the front of the ramp right above the bore when looking at the muzzle and you can see the tiny pin in there. A simple pinned on replaceable blade ramp won't have that hole and that pin will be further to the rear centered under the sight blade.



I would expect both your guns to take the standard pinned on blade.

2. Any sight with a near vertical flat serrated rear face or an undercut partridge blade will be more snaggy than the standard shape revolver ramp. From my perspective the holster wear here is the sight wearing on the holster not the holster damaging the sight. That being said, a good quality rigid holster boned with a proper sight channel, the sight and the leather will never touch. Not a concern in my view.

3 & 4. Well the first order of business is measure the blade height of the current sights then see what's available in that height. Gold beads have their own set of issues. With a domed bead facing you ( the shooter) your point of impact can vary depending on where the light in comming from. For example if the sun is directly over head your point of impact will differ if the sun were behind you off your right shoulder and differ yet again if it were off your left shoulder.

Shorter front blade does the same thing as raising the rear sight leaf. Angles the barrel upward a bit more. So unless you're doing some serious long range shooting like Elmer Keith long range, best to stay with or as close as possible to the factory blade heights. Note however you can replace the slide in the rear sight with a taller or shorter one or a "V" notch slide or with a clean slide without the dots.

Bowen has a useful chart of sight heights for S&W revolvers here...
+ Bowen Classic Arms + Parts Store

Cheers
Bill

Mitch95 said:

Bill,

This post gave me a lot to think about. I really like the length of the SDM FO compared to the length of Dawson's. Given your familiarity with SDM which btw is a company I had not previously heard about, I have some additional questions.

1. Would both of my models require the pinned versions not the classic/DX style?


2. If I had to consider the idea of vulnerability in a holster I would potentially be interested in the gold dot for the 686.

3. For the pinned version they discontinued the .300 gold bead. Obviously I need to measure the specific sight dimensions to understand if a .250 is simply compromising the rear sights ability to adjust to certain distances for a 25yard or 50yard zero etc. What is your thoughts on the gold dot versus a FO?

4. Are there any advantages to putting on a lower or higher front sight so long as you can ensure the rear is fully compatible?

Mitchell

Click to expand...

I am a big fan of Hiviz FO sights and have been putting them on all the handguns I can.

Allow me to be yet another who favors a fiber optic sight on their revolver. The only drawback I can foresee might be some issues with drawing from a holster because these "flat face" sights are known to catch a bit from time to time. But since I don't use a holster to keep my pistol in I don't have that problem.

I have the HiViz on my 625 and 617 and love them. The 625 had a very low/shallow rear sight, so I changed out the blade for a little taller one, to get the fiber optic entirely in the notch. On the 617, I filed the bottom of the rear notch with a round file to accomplish the same. My eye is drawn to the fiber optic, and if it is partially occluded by the rear notch, I don't get proper sight alignment.

I had a DX front sight base installed on my 66 so swapping front sight blades is simple. I tend to like the fiber optic for indoor ranges where it's a bit darker. I find them unnecessary on outdoor ranges. I do use the Dawson.

Engine49guy said:

My favorite design is the SW factory quick change front sight system where the fs blade has a bevel shaped base held in place by a spring and ball detent inside the ramp,
That system allows quick removal and changing by hand.
This has me wondering if the factory might modify a revolver without this option so it has it....there I go dreaming again.

Click to expand...

Fulfill that dream! I had a Weigand DX front sight base installed on my 66. It requires milling off the front sight and cutting a slot in the rib for the base. Plus drill and tap a hole for the mounting screw. Weigand doesn't make them anymore but I think Bowen has them. Not a difficult job for gunsmith worth his salt.

Edit: Yup, Bowen.
Re-Edit: Dang it, Sold Out.

DX Front Sight Bases : +Parts Store+, Bowen Classic Arms

Another vote for fiber optic sights. I’ve put them on several of my Colts and plan to put them on my Pythons.

I like the green FO as it shows up better against a red bullseye.

Put a Dawson on my 4" 686 and love it! Won't go down that road with my 4"617 because I still prefer a Patridge on paper.
The aforementioned drawback of snagging when drawing from some holsters if very real! My 3" 686 still has the factory sight on it, and I've waffled over that for years. It's the gun I carry, and I know I'd have just a tiny bit of an edge with the Dawson, but I also know that I have a snag-free draw from just about any holster, pants, drawer, there's just nothing to snag on!
So there's 3 different applications. I have several other revolvers, and also love gold beads, but find that I get just a bit more performance out of the Dawsons.
I strongly disliked the one Hi-Viz I owned, for the corners of the sight were rounded, and the sight "glowed" in a way that made it quite difficult for me to focus on. Dawson got it right in my book, and I have them on a couple of rifles as well.
Best of luck in your quest!

I'm not a fan of fiber optic front sights. They work well for quick acquisition of a target, but for precision shooting I prefer a Patridge sight and prefer a red dot over FO's if trying to hit a target as quickly as possible. I replace the sight or cover the fiber optic rods on my guns.