Model 29 front sight change considerations

[prairieviper]

Although I like my Model 29's looks the way it is, the red ramp is harder for my older eyes to pick up and focus on. As far as I can tell, the OEM sight is .278" tall and .125" wide. I am considering a Dawson fiber optic. The nearest they have to the OEM is .280"tall and .125" wide. I mainly use this gun for bowling pin shooting so I am thinking about going with the .100" wide for a little less precision but a faster pick up.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

 

[lefty_jake]

Sight picture is very personal, but what you are suggesting sounds reasonable to me.

As my eyes have aged, I prefer lots of light around the front sight. A narrower front sight, or a slightly wider rear notch, are both reasonable ways to get there. If you have not tried a narrower front sight, and you think you might like one, then I suggest trying it.

I do not think that more light around the front sight give up much in accuracy. Some people find that sight picture sloppy, and feel that the front sight should fit very tightly in the rear sight. This is a valid preference, but it is not the only way to go. Some people shoot very accurately with a narrow front sight. The human eye is very good at centering things, so a little bit of space is not necessarily a hindrance.

With all of that said, I should admit that as my eyes have aged, I have gone to red dots for all pistol work that requires precision. However, I can still shoot iron sights more than well enough for most practical uses of handguns, as long as the sights are set up so I can see them.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Pin shooting would be a good place for a .100 wide fiber optic sight. I have them, as well as rear fiber optics on all my iron sight guns, and don't lose much accuracy (if any) at 25 yards.

 

[ultraedge]

I have changed several of mine from red ramp to black Patridge blades and love them.

 

[Engine49guy]

You might consider picking up a 629 or 29 "Classic" series gun, they have the quick Interchangable front site system or "IFS"

 

[Patrick L]

Don't hate me for modifying my pre 29 front sight!

Not exactly what you are looking for, but this is what I did. I too found the red insert much too distracting, plus mine had a nice ding in it which reflected light all wrong.

 

[prairieviper]

I ended up ordering the Dawson .280" tall x .100" wide. I plan to use the green fiber optic light rod. Thanks all for your replies.

 

[sndbggr1484]

How do you put a .100 wide sight into a .125 slot? Does it use shims ?

 

[prairieviper]

How do you put a .100 wide sight into a .125 slot? Does it use shims ?

You are joking, aren't you?

 

[glenwolde]

I don't have a problem changing the front sight. I wouldn't do it on a rare gun but if you're shooting it and you need to do it I don't think it's an issue.

I put an aftermarket DX style sight base on my Model 66. I find them especially useful on .357's. There's a huge point of impact change between 200gr .38 Specials and 110 gr .357's. Sometimes you run out of sight adjustment. I can swap blades on the fly. Patridge, ramp, fiber optic, brass bead, different heights for different ranges.....

But they had to mill off the front sight and cut a slot for the base. But it's a 66. There's lots of them. When I got it the gun was a wreck anyway.

 

[Protocall_Design]

How do you put a .100 wide sight into a .125 slot? Does it use shims ?

The bottom half is .125, the top half is .100. That way it fits the slot correctly, the same as an original.

 

[GBertolet]

I had thought of changing my RR front sight to a patridge on my 29-2. Just can't find an outline of the sight pin to drive out. I wonder if the barrel and sight are all one piece on mine, or the ramp was finished that well, that the pin is invisible?

 

[ultraedge]

29-2

I have owned 20 model 29-2 revolvers. All but one had pinned front sights. The one with the red ramp integral with the rib was a 4" nickel.