617 rear sight problem

[one eye joe]

I have a 4" 617 with factory sights. I'm having a problem sighting because there is VERY LITTLE space between the sides of the front blade and the sides of the rear notch. I contacted Cust. Service @ S&W--they said that all rear sight blades for that gun have the same width notch. Does anyone out there in S&W Nation know where I could purchase a rear sight blade with a wider notch for this gun, or should I give it to my Smithy to file ? Thanks in advance....one eye joe

 

[one eye joe]

I have a 4" 617 with factory sights. I'm having a problem sighting because there is VERY LITTLE space between the sides of the front blade and the sides of the rear notch. I contacted Cust. Service @ S&W--they said that all rear sight blades for that gun have the same width notch. Does anyone out there in S&W Nation know where I could purchase a rear sight blade with a wider notch for this gun, or should I give it to my Smithy to file ? Thanks in advance....one eye joe

 

[pownal55]

sight leaf kits from brownells and midwayusa for that gun are fairly inexpensive. i would buy a couple, file them yourself and see how they work. a w/o rear leaf and red ramp in the front may also help. welcome to the forum.

 

[tomcatt51]

Originally posted by one eye joe:
I have a 4" 617 with factory sights. I'm having a problem sighting because there is VERY LITTLE space between the sides of the front blade and the sides of the rear notch. I contacted Cust. Service @ S&W--they said that all rear sight blades for that gun have the same width notch. Does anyone out there in S&W Nation know where I could purchase a rear sight blade with a wider notch for this gun, or should I give it to my Smithy to file ? Thanks in advance....one eye joe

Yes the have a narrow notch. They also have a very shallow notch. A .160 blade will allow a deeper wider notch. To run this height you need a .200" tall front sight vs the stock .167. Naturally you can't buy a .200 front, you have to cut down a .228 or .243. It's a can of worms but the .160 rear with a wider deeper notch with a .200 front makes for a really good sight picture.

 

[one eye joe]

Thanks for the help guys--esp you Tomcatt. Those were very detailed instructions on how to cure my problem. It's comforting to know that I'm not the 1st guy that's had this trouble shooting a 617, and it's not just 'cause I'm old and blind in one eye (although that might not help the situation--ha! ha!)........one eye joe

 

[Wayne M]

Try some color on your front sight blade first. You may be able to see more definition between the rear and front then, if no go you can always change something out. I think Brownell's sells some stuff to add color but to start out pick some nail polish or model paint.

 

[one eye joe]

Great idea, Wayne. I'm going to try some fluorescent green (the last color to disappear in low light) before I resort to a gunsmith cure Thanks...........one eye joe

 

[jrm53]

You might try a piece of black plastic electrical tap with a small hole punched in it about a 1/16 dia. place this over where your eye looks thru your shooting glasses if its in the right place it will act like a camera apeture, and front and rear sight will be in perfect focus that may be all you need they used to sell a clip on your glasses frame device that did the same thing and would fold out of the way some one on the forum will remember the brand name but a small piece of tape will tell you if its for you.

 

[one eye joe]

Hey jrm53, Thanks for the suggestion. I found the Hawkeye optic aid at Brownell's for $20. I'm going to give it a try. I remember the old geezers using them back in the day. Now I am one--who woulda thunkit ! !.........one eye joe

 

[Wayne M]

Joe, you may like that green. Someone put that on my 617-1 at some point in history and I have to admit liking it better(especially for hunting) than the hunter orange on my 10 shot. Keep us updated.