A bit unorthodox...

[tsellati]

...and perhaps even sacrilegious, but, it works as a "poor man's" front sight blade insert -

Believe-it-or-not, instead of using plastic insert material you can purchase from Brownell's I made use of a short stretch of Q-tip stick. Cut to size a flattened just a bit with a pair of pliers it wedged into the blade cut-out quite nicely.

Next step is to take her to the range and see how the insert stands up to a few cylinders worth of shooting and a hot barrel .

I was thinking that if you wanted you could even paint the insert with a fluorescent color of your choice. And, of course, replacing the insert is simple and ridiculously inexpensive .

Does anyone else have some unorthodox materials they have used as front sight blade inserts?

Tim

 

[Dragon88]

I'll give the q-tip insert one cylinder, maybe two before it flies off. Good attempt though? Buy a front sight insert kit...

 

[beagleye]

remember...

not to clean your ear with it.

 

[Art Doc]

I see it being scraped off dragging out of the holster. It's also much wider than the blade ruining the sight picture. I'd rather paint the face of the blade with bright paint.

 

[clang444]

Try Nail Polish

 

[Joe in SC]

A piece of white clorox jug and super glue might last longer. Perhaps two cylinder full. Seriously, get the insert kit from Brownell's, the hard part is already done.

 

[tsellati]

A piece of white clorox jug and super glue might last longer. Perhaps two cylinder full. Seriously, get the insert kit from Brownell's, the hard part is already done.

I looked into it, but, I just cannot bring myself to spend $60+ not including shipping to place an insert on my front sight blade . I wish a less expensive alternative was out there. With what they are asking I can buy 150 rounds of .38 SPL ammunition!

Tim

 

[Muley Gil]

I have done quite a number of colored front sight inserts using plastic toothbrush handles. There are any number of colors available and you can still use the toothbrush to clean your guns.

By the way, the toothbrush was invented in West Virginia. If it had been invented anywhere else, it would have been called the teethbrush.

 

[kwill1911]

Tim,

Seriously? I guess as long as we're using bathroom products maybe a tampon string wrapped around and tied tight will keep it in place.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

 

[moosedog]

"I have done quite a number of colored front sight inserts using plastic toothbrush handles. There are any number of colors available and you can still use the toothbrush to clean your guns."

I used to do the same thing until the wife complained about her toothbrush being all chopped up.

 

[Shooting Padre]

W.V.

By the way, the toothbrush was invented in West Virginia. If it had been invented anywhere else, it would have been called the teethbrush. [/QUOTE]

That killed me.

 

[feralmerril]

Know what they call 32 guys sitting in a room in arkansas? A full set of teeth!

 

[hudsonvalley]

Tim,

... I guess as long as we're using bathroom products maybe a tampon string wrapped around and tied tight will keep it in place.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

Nah...you run the tampon through the barrel after the brush....

 

[tsellati]

"I have done quite a number of colored front sight inserts using plastic toothbrush handles. There are any number of colors available and you can still use the toothbrush to clean your guns."

I used to do the same thing until the wife complained about her toothbrush being all chopped up.

So if I wanted to try this, how do you go about whittling the tooth brush down to the correct size? Do you simply begin filing the handle end down to a size slightly larger than the cut-out for the insert?

Tim

 

[JSR III]

You can size the toothbrush piece of plastic using a dremel tool or you can try shaving it down slowly using a sharp utility knife. The second option is a little more dangerous and remember never cut towards yourself.

Mix up a little batch of 2 part epoxy, like JB weld, and cement the piece in place. Let it set overnight and you shouldn't have any problems with it coming out.

If you want to fine tune your work once it is in place, cover the metal of the front sight with two pieces of duct tape and touch it up with a small flat jewelers file.

 

[w10085]

Since I was the previous owner, the overhang gave a pretty good site pictures as-is. While I thought it looked bad, I didn't have any problems shooting it just as shown.

 

[Muley Gil]

"So if I wanted to try this, how do you go about whittling the tooth brush down to the correct size?"

I always cut a piece of plastic a little bigger than what was needed, usually with a jeweler's saw or a fine bladed hacksaw. I dressed down the plastic with files and polished with fine emory cloth.

A small set of parallel pliers work good at holding the insert.

Roger on using the duct tape to protect the finish of the front sight and barrel.