442/642 Front Sight Options?

[HarrishMasher]

I have a 442 coming next week and need to figure out what to do about the awful and basically useless front sight. It is useless at night, and useless against dark backgrounds.

I currently have an older 360PD and 642 Pro Series Power Port. Both have very usable front sights.

As you can see below my older 360PD has a pinned ramp sight with a red plastic insert. The contrast of the red and black works great for me. If I wanted I could even easily replace it with an XS Big Dot pinned sight.

And the 642 Pro Series is the best of all, it has a dovetail cut into the barrel. I replaced the factory big white dot sight with a Trijicon night sight which is excellent. The factory big white dot was nice to begin with, just wanted it to be useful at night/dark, hence the Trijicon replacement.

What are my options for a front sight replacement for the 442 that is on it's way? As you can see the sight is cast right into the barrel, so no dovetail or pin to work with. Suggestions and pictures would be appreciated

 

[ADP3]

I certainly wouldn't call the 442's front sight useless. I've worn glasses for 55 years and the lenses are thick enough to stop a .38 wadcutter at 15 feet (I was not wearing them just using an old pair for a target). I can hit playing cards with regularity at 50 feet and 5 gallon buckets at 100 yards using the stock sights. If you're determined to spend money on sights you have several options. Look at the XS Big Dot front (SW-0020N-3) or XS Standard Dot (SW-0020N-4). They are designed for S&W snubbies with integral front sights. Brownells sells a kit so that you can install a colored insert into the front ramp. I've even seen a S&W with a gold insert that a gun savvy jeweler installed. Crimson Trace laser grips work but they point both ways at night. Once upon a time gunsmiths ground the front sight off entirely, cut a dovetail in the little rib and drifted in a gold/brass bead front sight.

Best Wishes,
ADP3

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I don't actually get this question - I can hit reasonably well with my 642 or any J-frame and I don't carry them expecting to get into a shootout at 25 yards. Up close and personal is the purpose for these guns; sometimes the sights are irrelevant at such distances. At 25 yards I can probably run away from any perceived threat; at 7 yards I can destroy it with a J-frame, I don't care what color the background is.

Unless it's a big bear, and then you have to ask, what am I doing in bear woods with just a J-frame?

***GRJ***

 

[OKFC05]

Dab some paint on the sight and press on. Most defensive shooting is done at point shooting range, and I can shoot plates at 10 yds with my 442 and the aforementioned dab of paint. It is not a target gun.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I'm well aware the 442/642 it is not a target gun and that it is intended for very close encounters. I carry one of my J Frames every day. Nonetheless I find the sights, especially on the black 442, are very easy to lose as they blend in on dark backgrounds. I have a sight paint kit and I am considering using that. Just want to see what other options are out there.

 

[doc84]

A little white enamel on the front sight will help. More than a few folks, whose opinion I value, swear by the CT grips.

 

[M&P Freak]

Cheap solution from the hardware store. First white then orange applied with a toothpick. That's my EDC (642). It's been well over two years since and the paint job still looks the same.

 

[snowman.45]

I have put XS Bigdot sights on 442's for friends in the past. You have to cut off the sight blade, leaving only a small nub for the sight to fit over. Then I use JB Weld to epoxy the XS Bigdot over the nub. The only problem is that the Bigdot version is a little wider that the barrel rib in the front. I would use the smaller sight if it were my gun. Personally, I prefer M&P Freak's solution

 

[HarrishMasher]

Cheap solution from the hardware store. First white then orange applied with a toothpick. That's my EDC (642). It's been well over two years since and the paint job still looks the same.

Looks Good. Nice Job. Probably the route I will go.

 

[indiandave]

I use orange nail polish. Easy to put on, easy to take off. It lasts a long time too.

 

[Old cop]

I've been painting the front sight for years. Currently I use white appliance touch-up paint & sometimes put on a coat of orange.

 

[eveled]

Crimson trace grips are another solution.

 

[Edmo]

Concur with the painted front blade...

Technique: if using orange you can make it brighter and more vibrant by applying a white base coat first. This is especially true on blued guns.

Edmo

 

[Randall757]

XS Sight Systems, Inc. - Products - J-Frames Fixed Front Sight and here http://www.cylinder-slide.com/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=catshow&ref=CP119
Look here.

 

[HarrishMasher]

Cheap solution from the hardware store. First white then orange applied with a toothpick. That's my EDC (642). It's been well over two years since and the paint job still looks the same.

I went with your approach. Very happy with the results. I need to add another coat and sand it down.

 

[wrangler5]

Good choice on the paint. That's what I would have recommended, too. I've done my 442 front sight with nail polish, some garish orange over a white "primer" base.

Longer term, and especially if you're concerned about accurate sighting in low light conditions, consider a Crimson Trace laser grip. They're good to outstanding in all but bright sunlight, and let you make precise shots without even having to get the gun up to eye level.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Yeah, I like the Crimson Trace (CT) laser grips on my J-frames. I use the CT LG-405 on the Airweights (Model 642, Model 38-0, Model 638-1), and the LG-105 on the all (stainless) steel Model 649-0. The Model 432PD wears a set of Laser Max grips.

I paint the front sight a bright neon green to help pick it up from the background.

Regards,

Dave

 

[triumphmaster]

Painted sights

I have the 442 and I did paint the front sight with a white fingernail polish and topped it of with a bright red nail polish just like the other guys, it works rather well in poor lighting conditions. But its on a short range weapon, but every bit help in sighting counts when you need it , your life may depend on it one day, so take that into consideration.

 

[M&P Freak]

I went with your approach. Very happy with the results. I need to add another coat and sand it down.

Looks great, good job.

 

[DaGOOSExyz]

Thanks for the tip of a white base, then orange or red nail polish.
Intend to do just that. If I ever have to shoot in earnest I
think it will be a quick point and shoot up close situation. No real
time to look at a sight. Still it never hurts to be prepared for a further
distance so I am increasing my odds by painting the sight.You never
know what will happen.