I *think* I want to paint my sights...

[ckpj99]

I have a model 10 and model 36. The 10 is blued, the 36 is nickel. They are both shooter grade. They are my primary handguns.

The sights work on both revolvers, but in certain light they are terrible and pretty much invisible.

What are the downside to painting sights? I know there's some specific products you can buy that don't easily come off with gun cleaner, and some that even glow.

I obviously don't want to ruin my guns, but I'd really like the sights to be more functional. I'd also prefer not to spend a fortune on having the sights permanently altered.

Looking forward to being talked out of it if it's a bad idea.

 

[HotRoderX]

I simply say this I have a Model 36 police trade in someone painted the front sight on. While they did a decent job it still don't look all that great. I have noticed the more I clean the gun the more it comes off but for a while there it looked very bubba gunned. Also as far as helping me acquire the front sight it has helped very little if any.

 

[Old cop]

I use white appliance touch-up paint on my blued revolvers using a very thin brush from an art supply store. My EDC is a satin nickle 442 & I use the appliance paint as a base then red model paint from Walmart. This helps me aquire a flash sight picture for self defense and gives the guns a professional look b/c I take my time and don't slop on the paint.

 

[Old cop]

I use white appliance touch-up paint on my blued revolvers using a very thin brush from an art supply store. My EDC is a satin nickle 442 & I use the appliance paint as a base then red model paint from Walmart. This helps me aquire a flash sight picture for self defense and gives the guns a professional look b/c I take my time and don't slop on the paint.

 

[old bear]

I know that lots of folks, for one reason or another, don't like to "paint" their front sights. I do it to all my guns. I currently using BRIGHT orange nail polish, it works well for me. If I change my mind it will come off with some nail polish remover and a little effort.

 

[Revolver-time]

A gun is to shoot. If a painted front sight helps to do that, well do it!

 

[ogilvyspecial]

I've painted about a dozen of mine and it's easy to remove
if you either, don't like the color, or the results.

Here is a previous thread on the subject:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/228720-fingernail-polish-rescue.html

In addition to the images in the other thread, here is one more.

 

[druryj]

I know that lots of folks, for one reason or another, don't like to "paint" their front sights. I do it to all my guns. I currently using BRIGHT orange nail polish, it works well for me. If I change my mind it will come off with some nail polish remover and a little effort.

I use white nail polish and hit it with a coat of clear for a second coat. As said above; easily removed. Works well for these old eyes.

 

[williamlayton]

Paint 'em red white and blue---er, matter of fact I have done just that---it'll come off.
Blessings

 

[Old Corp]

A number of times I've used blaze orange acrylic 'hobby' paint. (Do you know that Wally-World doesn't sell models anymore, thus, not the little bottles of Testor's model paint?)
Anyway, just use a piece of straightened paperclip and carefully dab on about 3-4 coats. Works great.
Yes, it DOES render the S&W 'incorrect'. LoL!

 

[SuperMan]

I usualy paint mine also... Krylon has I think a product called Bright Stick in the craft section at Walmart. The two colors I have been using are green and yellow.

One thing I do recommend is to only paint the part of the front blade you can see in the notch of the rear sight. If you paint the whole ramp under some light conditions you will the top of the ramp and actually hold high resulting in high hits. Also it is useful for long range shooting as on can use the bottom of the painted area as a reference point in the rear notch much like one can when using a factory inletted ramp like on the N-Frames...

Non-factory red on a Model 18

Aftermarket yellow on a 6" 57..

Custom Model 58 with painted ramp...

Notice that the paint isn't all the way down the ramp...I just kept paining little by little until the painted area filled the notch...Krylon yellow..

657 4" with Krylon green...

Red is the hardest color of the spectrul for the human eye to detect...have found that yellow and green or a mix of the two work best for my eyes...

Bob

 

[Art Doc]

I've never done it but I have bought guns with painted sights.

It doesn't hurt anything, it can be removed if you want it off later, and I think it does help in picking up the sights. If anyone else disapproves, invite them to take a hike, it's your gun.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I paint my front sights with chartruese(greenish yellow) paint

Google gun sight paint and you'll find several compaies that sell

glo in the dark paints for firearms.

 

[chuck8388]

Paint for fishing lures works very well Bass Pro sells small containers.

 

[ckpj99]

Thanks for the info, folks. Look like I have a new project.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

As has been said by others, painting the front sight isn't permanent, and can be a great help in field shooting--at least that's been my experiece.

I have had some success in adjusting the windage on fixed sight revolvers by leaving a fine line of unpainted sight on the side of the sight, to slightly offset the painted area to right or left as desired. I was told by a USAMTU coach that the human eye can detect up to 1/100" difference in sight alignment. Either a very steady hand, or better yet, masking the area to be left unpainted helps.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I got a little kit called Bright Sights that has 6 colors of paint for gun sights. I like the bright yellow-green on the front sights. On some guns I'll also put a bit of red on the rear sights. Helps me locate everything quickly and I like the contrast with the green front sight.

It stays on good but scrapes off with a pen knife if you change your mind.