Fiiber Optic Front Ramp Sight on N-Frame?

[anmut]

Can anyone recommend a brand and how easy are they to install? Would I be better of handing it over to a gun smith or is this something I could tackle by myself?

Thank you in advance!

 

[handgunner356]

I've never seen a ramped fiber optic, the ones I see are all patridge style. A couple I've used are SDM or HiViz. The pinned fronts aren't bad to replace as long as you have the right sized punch and drill bits. They usually aren't drilled and reguire you to mark them, then remove them to be drilled. If yours is a early gun without the pinned front sight you'll need to send it off to have the sight milled off and replaced with a different base. Weigand gun sights also does work like this.

 

[Leonard]

The LPA fiber optics are my favorite sight good quality a very easy to see

 

[David Sinko]

I'm no fan of a thin, flimsy rod hanging on the end of a barrel so I always preferred the Hi-Viz encapsulated version. Unfortunately, most if not all of these sold now have the round top and not the squared off flat top. I find that holding elevation at longer range is very difficult with the round top.

As for installing them, some choose to drill through the sight while it is held in the base. Whichever way you choose, it's a good idea to have whatever you're drilling secured in a drill press. You can do it yourself but you need to be careful and patient.

Dave Sinko

 

[stevieboy]

This thread is a coincidence for me because a couple of hours ago I called Cylinder and Slide and ordered a fiber optic front sight for my 27-3. The factory sight on that gun (ramp, plastic insert) is an integral part of the barrel rib so C & S is going to remove it and then cut a dovetail into the rib so that a fiber optic sight can be pinned into place. I'd previously called Smith about ordering the work from them and the person I spoke to there said that they no longer did that work on older revolvers because they could not guarantee that the barrel wouldn't be damaged in the process and that they had no replacement barrels for the 27s. However, I have a friend who spoke with someone else at Smith who told him that they would do the work. Go figure. In any event, Cylinder and Slide has my order.

I'm going to have the ramp sight replaced with a Patridge-style fiber optic sight. For an additional small fee C & S will regulate the gun for me with the ammo of my choice. I'm also ordering an action job from them while I'm at it. I'm pretty excited about this project. My favorite shooter is another N-frame, my 625JM, and I have installed a fiber optic front sight on that one with great success.