Model 617 Sights

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SemperFi1

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I'm not thrilled with the black sights on my Model 617 especially with my 63-year-old eyes. However, I really don't think I want to change them for fiber-optic sights or a red dot. Somehow I just don't think they would look right on that particular gun although I do have an Ultra Dot on my Browning Buckmark. But that gun has a completely different profile than a stainless steel revolver. I also don't think I would be comfortable installing Hi-Viz sights myself. Would some bright nail polish on the front sight make a significant difference? Some bright red or green day-glo like color? Or is there another alternative?
 
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It takes a few $$$ and some work (as I modified the front sight myself), but this is the sight setup on my 617. It's different, but something else to consider.

"McGivern" type, Gold Bead front sight:
S_W_617_sights_02_Medium_.jpg


Bowen Custom "Rough Country" Vee rear sight:
S_W_617_sights_01_Medium_.jpg


I really like the sight picture with these, and I've done the same on my models 686, 631 and 16.

The bead/vee combination is fast to acquire, visible in various lighting situations, accurate to align, and I can use a "6-o'clock" hold for close-in shots and a "cover-the-shot" hold for longer range. These sights work really well for me, but I know some folks just don't like 'em.

Tight groups.

Old No7
 
61 year old eyes here, and a happy 617 owner too. I used a tooth pick to paint a white three dot pattern on the sights. One on the front blade and two on the rear sight. Works very well for me. I agree with not spoiling the looks of the gun with a red dot or fiber optics.
I shoot using prescription shooting glasses, Rangers, or plain glasses with a Merit adjustable aperture on them. Both are good options for me.

Here is the site for the eye piece called the Optical Attachment. Looks a bit odd, but flips out of the way when not needed and works incredibly well.
VIA for AR-15/A2
 
Smoke52 said:
61 year old eyes here, and a happy 617 owner too. I used a tooth pick to paint a white three dot pattern on the sights. One on the front blade and two on the rear sight. Works very well for me. I agree with not spoiling the looks of the gun with a red dot or fiber optics.
I shoot using prescription shooting glasses, Rangers, or plain glasses with a Merit adjustable aperture on them. Both are good options for me.

Here is the site for the eye piece called the Optical Attachment. Looks a bit odd, but flips out of the way when not needed and works incredibly well.
VIA for AR-15/A2
Click to expand...

I don't know if I'm in the minority or not but I do like my guns to look good as well as shoot good. That's why I'm reluctant to install fiber optics or a red dot. Your solution is a very simple one and I didn't even think about painting the rear site too.
 
Like you I like the looks of the revolver without the fiber optic sights.

At 64 I am not yet having too much trouble with plain black S&W revolver sights for informal use. If I resume field pistol silhouette competition at some point it is likely I will make some sort of accommodation to age.

That said, I have seriously considered a gold bead front sight for my t1911, and as Old No7 has done above with his 617 may do the same with some of my Smiths. Gold beads are at once both traditional and functional.
 
There are lots of ways to accomplish what you need in a sight picture, but I have 10 years on you and the Red Dot is the only thing that has kept me in any kind of competition. With the right one it doesn't have that bad a profile. This one is a Burris Fastfire III over an Allchin mount. The Allchin
mount puts the dot the lowest related to the bore of any I have seen. It is rock solid.
 
H Richard said:
There are lots of ways to accomplish what you need in a sight picture, but I have 10 years on you and the Red Dot is the only thing that has kept me in any kind of competition. With the right one it doesn't have that bad a profile. This one is a Burris Fastfire III over an Allchin mount. The Allchin
mount puts the dot the lowest related to the bore of any I have seen. It is rock solid.
Click to expand...

That one actually looks pretty nice. I have an Ultra Dot Match Dot on my Buckmark which I love but that's an entirely different kind of gun.
 
This is the 617 I shoot for Steel Challenge in RFPI category. It is very easy to find the sights while trying to shoot fast.



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Any toy/hobby should will have paint or a drugstore for some fingernail polish. Try it first for the cheapest fix.
I wish I had that problem though - I bought a 617-2 with a mount already installed and the original was not in the box.
I put on my Ultra dot Pan A/V reflex redot (used to run on a Ruger MkII). It's actually not too bad.

12902486834_5447190d38_z.jpg


Though I do really like the look of the Burris Fastfire III over an Allchin mount shown by H Richard. Very nice.
I may go that route on a 686 6" that I just bought.
 
Would some bright nail polish on the front sight make a significant difference? Some bright red or green day-glo like color? Or is there another alternative?

I have difficulty seeing a plain black blade against a black target. I have found that very white nail polish put on in layers works well to allow me to get proper hits on a B-27 all the way out to 25 yds. Other colors may suit other folks better. I just like the white. YMMV.
 
H Richard said:
There are lots of ways to accomplish what you need in a sight picture, but I have 10 years on you and the Red Dot is the only thing that has kept me in any kind of competition. With the right one it doesn't have that bad a profile. This one is a Burris Fastfire III over an Allchin mount. The Allchin
mount puts the dot the lowest related to the bore of any I have seen. It is rock solid.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that timely post. Have an Allchin on a 657 based on your previous recommendations, but could not think of the maker's name now that I want another! The JP Enterprises mount is a little lower and maybe a little more elegantly done with the integral locating pins, but isn't suitable for other microreddots than the JPoint. That sight is OK, but overall I've found the Fastfire be be more suited for use in the woods.

The tiny reddots do have their place, but I also use the flourescent paint trick. As recently as last week on a 3" Model 65. Helped considerably, especially on the plate rack, which is usually "Lead Spatter" colored. A color remarkably similar to "bead blast stainless" which isnt a good thing... Definitely worth trying!
 
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I went to the range today and shot my 617 for the first time. I was fully expecting the trigger pull to be as heavy as my brother in laws 617 but I was pleasantly surprised that it was not. I would estimate it to be about 2 lbs lighter than the 18 lb spec. Totally unscientific I know but not as heavy as I thought it would be.
As far as the sights are concerned, although I shot fairly well, I had difficulty with the black on black picture. I was anxious to shoot the gun and hadn't gotten around to painting the sights yet. I'll get it done before the next trip to the range.
 
I painted the front sight with some bright orange model paint this made a big difference. It's worth a try as it cost next to nothing and can easily be removed if you don't like.
 
BuckeyeS&W said:
I painted the front sight with some bright orange model paint this made a big difference. It's worth a try as it cost next to nothing and can easily be removed if you don't like.
Click to expand...

I'll try that first but I may eventually go for a red dot sight.
 
Will the Allchin mount work with an Ultradot Pan A/V or L/T? I'm sort of partial to Ultradot, although the Burris Fastfire also looks like a great sight. I have an Ultradot Matchdot on my Buckmark and it's a terrific tube style red dot. I like the Allchin mount because it looks to have a smaller profile than the Weigand mount.
 
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