New Member - Hunting sight(s) Question for 586 Revolver

[NC452010]

I did some hunting a few years ago (actually, I shot at and killed ONE deer) with a 386 - 6" revolver. I was never in love with that gun. I owned a 4" 686 at the time (still do) and really LOVED shooting it (more than the 386).

I got the chance, recently, to purchase a 6" 586 from a friend for a great price. It's a BEAUTIFUL piece. I love shooting it, and I absolutely plan to hunt whitetails with it.

Finally, my question......Does S&W (or anyone) make a set of sights that are more hunter-friendly than the ones on the gun I have? The sights on my 586 are adjustable. The front sight has an orange/red section you see if you're sighting. I'm wondering if this is the best setup for open sight handgun hunting, though. If something else is available, how much trouble is it to switch them out......and how much money am I looking at?

I haven't looked to see the yr. model of my specific gun. It's a pre-lock model I'm guessing to be an early to mid-eighties production revolver.

Thanks for your help.

 

[dusty3030]

The small red dot type sights are the bees knees for a hunting handgun at mid to short range. Like a Jpoint , Burris Fastfire, or Trijicon RMR.

 

[dusty3030]

Here's one on my Glock 20

 

[revolver_ph]

The small red dot type sights are the bees knees for a hunting handgun at mid to short range. Like a Jpoint , Burris Fastfire, or Trijicon RMR.

Agreed, my revolvers with reflex sights are the cat's meow. Once I got used to them sight acquisition is as fast or faster than irons and my accuracy with old eyes is far better.

Here is a Burris on one of my revolvers:

 

[NC452010]

Thanks guys.

I'm wanting to stay with iron(ish?) type sights. I really appreciate your input, though.

 

[silverstateS&W]

586 sights

you might look at cylinder and slide co.
they made a great fixed sight S&W used on the nightguard series not sure of
what else they offer.
top notch stuff and services
Larry in Reno

 

[Bullet Bob]

I find the red insert front sights with a white outline the bees knees for woods hunting, although they're somewhat out of favor now. A lot of people prefer a fiber optic front sight today, and you can see them very well in the forest; I have them on the gun I walk around with out here in the middle of nowhere.

But for more precise sighting when hunting, I like the set up you already have.

 

[Rpg]

I'm a big fan of good old fashioned black iron sights for everything.

I have a few revolvers with colored inserts on front sights.

thankfully, black shoe polish corrects this fault.

I have no interest in white dots: slows everything and much less precise than plain black.

Once again, black shoe polish fixes the problem.

Some rear sights are too narrow. A little work with a file fixes this problem.

I want lots of light on each side of the front sight: much quicker when speed is important, much more precise on deliberate shots.

 

[NC452010]

Thanks, guys. Maybe I'll shoot...more...with what I've got, before making a move. My wallet would love that.

 

[NC452010]

Is there a way I can find out what year it was built? I know the serial number. Maybe that won't be needed. It's a 586-3 in 6" barrel.

Thanks.

I tried to post in what seemed like the appropriate forum to ask that question. It told me I didn't have sufficient privileges.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Between about 1988 -1992. Can get closer with a serial number, but probably not enough to matter.

Only other recommendation is to try the sights out where you're going to hunt, if possible. I like plain black for target shooting, but like the colored sights for quicker pick up in the woods. Of course, you don't list your state of residence, so maybe it's in a nice bright desert somewhere.

 

[NC452010]

lol...I haven't gotten around to filling out the personal data.

I'm from and live in NC.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

..... my question......Does S&W (or anyone) make a set of sights that are more hunter-friendly than the ones on the gun .....

Short answer: NO.

Years ago Millet made a replacement sight for your M586, but those are no longer in production. You could likely find one on the used market. They were fairly common, back in the day. In fact, I had one at some point.

The thing to know is your -3 had the "old style" rear sight assembly. The "new style" that was introduced with the -4, and is still used today, does not interchange.

What ever you buy, make sure it fits your old style gun. Don't assume it does. The old style sight assemblies have been out of production for 20 years and even S&W don't stock them anymore as replacement parts.

Same goes for scope bases -- there's an old and new style base. The makers aren't always real clear and forthcoming on what fits what. For example, the base shown in revolver_ph's post above won't fit your gun.

If would help to have a picture, but if your M586-3 is like most of them, the front sight is integral. Meaning it's part of the barrel itself. Replacing it requires gunsmithing, cutting off the old sight, milling a channel for the new one, drilling a thru hole, or taping for a screw, etc.

 

[Pizza Bob]

I believe that Bowen makes a Rough Country sight with a blank square tang for the guns with the old style rear sight. The tang is blank as the hole spacing varied. The new sight must be drilled to match the gun.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[wwingsong]

Agreed, my revolvers with reflex sights are the cat's meow. Once I got used to them sight acquisition is as fast or faster than irons and my accuracy with old eyes is far better.

Here is a Burris on one of my revolvers:

what brand optic mount is that in picture? love to find one you can just screw the burris 3 to without pic mount. thanks

 

[revolver_ph]

Raptor Engineering mount. PM sent.