model 66

[ronaldharold]

i have 2 smiths- a model 17-4 and a 66-1. i take them both to the range, switching back and forth on the same target. my .22 shots form a 3 or 4 inch round group at 25 yds, my group with the 66 is 3 or 4 inches wide but 8 or so inches long. the range where i shoot is outdoor with a roof over top and 3 sides open. because of the roof preventing direct light shining on the red front sight, it appears a bright white instead of red. i am having a hard time getting a proper sight picture thus the vertical stringing. i tried coloring the front sight with a black marker but it shines on the plastic red piece. what have you done to make the s.s. front sight on the model 66 easier to use with the black rear sight. (i am looking for something more permanent than carbon} thanks

 

[Texas Star]

I just use bright orange fingernail polish on my sight and my .357 groups are about as small as most of my .22 groups, despite the difference in recoil.

Same story with the Ruger GP-100 as with the M-66-3, both four-inchers. But the heavier GP kicks less. The .22 is a Ruger bull-barrel MK II. All three are very accurate.

 

[dfariswheel]

Paint works well.
Buy a small bottle of flat black model paint and stir it well before applying.

Another option is to install a black front sight insert in place of the red insert.
I did this on my 2 1/2" and 3" S&W Model 66 revolvers.
I wanted a white dot front sight so I removed the red insert and installed a black insert.
I then made a shallow oval shaped hole in the insert and filled it with gloss white paint.
When viewed from the rear, the white oval appears to be a round white dot.

For inserts I used a black screwdriver handle sawed up and converted to thin strips.
You could do this easier by using epoxy colored black to cast an insert.

Easy method is the flat black paint, since it's easy, lasts well, and can be removed to put the gun back in factory condition.

 

[TAROMAN]

Back in the day, shooters who didn't or couldn't use blackening lamps carried little spray cans of
Birchwood Casey Sight Black to darken the front sight.
After fighting the RR sight back in my silhouette days, I finally solved things for good - installed a patridge sight: