Paint front sight?
- Thread starter creekman
- Start date
custer1876
Member
I ve done my front sight bright orange (nail polish) rear sight flat Blk.. Model 642 helps a lot !!!!!
Here's my 64 with an orange front sight I painted:
It is frankly FANTASTIC and makes the front sight pop. Much better than the stock silver on silver. I used a coat or two of Testor's flat white enamel followed by a coat or two of Testor's fluorescent orange enamel. Has held up swell and makes a night and day difference in front sight acquisition in low light and with different backgrounds or just during the day. Highly recommended little mod, many people do this and for good reason. Easily removable with paint thinner and a toothbrush if you don't like it or want to sell the gun.
Ensure a good dry time between coats, make sure you degrease the sight before painting, allow a good dry time (a few days ideally) between coats. Really no downsides, I'd do it. In fact I've a 67 that might get painted tonight...
It is frankly FANTASTIC and makes the front sight pop. Much better than the stock silver on silver. I used a coat or two of Testor's flat white enamel followed by a coat or two of Testor's fluorescent orange enamel. Has held up swell and makes a night and day difference in front sight acquisition in low light and with different backgrounds or just during the day. Highly recommended little mod, many people do this and for good reason. Easily removable with paint thinner and a toothbrush if you don't like it or want to sell the gun.
Ensure a good dry time between coats, make sure you degrease the sight before painting, allow a good dry time (a few days ideally) between coats. Really no downsides, I'd do it. In fact I've a 67 that might get painted tonight...
Abbynormal
Member
I clean with acetone, use 2 coats of white fingernail polish. 2 coats yellow/red/flour. etc, followed by 2 coats of clear.
Did my M-28 10 years ago and haven't had to redo it yet.
Did my M-28 10 years ago and haven't had to redo it yet.
I'm another one. Two bottles of nail polish from the dollar store. They come with their own applicator brush. About a buck each. One white, one orange.
Enough to last me the rest of my life I'm sure.
Enough to last me the rest of my life I'm sure.
bananaman
Member
That color looks good on you BRUCE! Bob
Here's my 64 with an orange front sight I painted:
It is frankly FANTASTIC and makes the front sight pop. Much better than the stock silver on silver. I used a coat or two of Testor's flat white enamel followed by a coat or two of Testor's fluorescent orange enamel. Has held up swell and makes a night and day difference in front sight acquisition in low light and with different backgrounds or just during the day. Highly recommended little mod, many people do this and for good reason. Easily removable with paint thinner and a toothbrush if you don't like it or want to sell the gun.
Ensure a good dry time between coats, make sure you degrease the sight before painting, allow a good dry time (a few days ideally) between coats. Really no downsides, I'd do it. In fact I've a 67 that might get painted tonight...
I did the exact same thing to my 64 but first covered it in white and then only painted the top half red. The division gives me a clear option on my sight picture when using those gutter style sights.
iPac
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I've found Testors enamel works good for just painting. Use a coat of white first then pick a fluorescent.
That's what I did initially, but if you carry your gun and have a holster that puts pressure against the sight, it may damage the paint and ruin what you did. My holster did that. I found that layers of paint then an overcoat just wouldn't fully cure hard.
I ended up getting a front sight that already had a red insert, for which I removed and created a new, more vibrant orange colored insert. Used Easy Cast epoxy kit and Testors enamel fluorescent paint dried and pulverized to a powder for dying. Doesn't work well with liquid Testors, too dull of a color from dilution. The powder worked well.
Now it is a strong colored insert in the same shape as the original sight and doesn't get smashed or deformed when in my holster.
That's what I did initially, but if you carry your gun and have a holster that puts pressure against the sight, it may damage the paint and ruin what you did. My holster did that. I found that layers of paint then an overcoat just wouldn't fully cure hard.
I ended up getting a front sight that already had a red insert, for which I removed and created a new, more vibrant orange colored insert. Used Easy Cast epoxy kit and Testors enamel fluorescent paint dried and pulverized to a powder for dying. Doesn't work well with liquid Testors, too dull of a color from dilution. The powder worked well.
Now it is a strong colored insert in the same shape as the original sight and doesn't get smashed or deformed when in my holster.
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I agree. And my hat's off to you for not being afraid to be your true self!
VaTom
Member
Do it. Back in the 1970s we were issued nickel Model 10s. Painted front sight red with nail polish. Lots of officers did it back then.
bigggbbruce
Member
C Islander
Member
Not as good as your favorite....pink.
I've been known to paint sites on revolvers I shoot.
After cleaning the site, I lay on a coat or two of white model car paint, then cover than with whatever trips my trigger that day. They make that Testors brand model car paint now in neon colors like red, orange and green. I've used all three but seems like orange suits me best.
After cleaning the site, I lay on a coat or two of white model car paint, then cover than with whatever trips my trigger that day. They make that Testors brand model car paint now in neon colors like red, orange and green. I've used all three but seems like orange suits me best.
Gaschiermeyer
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Gun sight tape on ebay. I can cut it very precise.
Amp
Member
You have good replies here.
Just wanted to add that I painted my sights 20 years ago and still like em.
Just wanted to add that I painted my sights 20 years ago and still like em.
Bill In Texas
Member
I also use the same system as Armorer951. I use nail polish though, and I see green really well, so that's what the front sights' color is. I've tried a few different colors, red, orange, etc, but bright green really stands out for me! My wife jokes that I've got more nail polish colors than she does!
I also use a black sharpie to blacken the rear sight deck (?), not sure of the proper term on a fixed sight revolver. The blackened rear helps make the front sight color stand out.
I also use a black sharpie to blacken the rear sight deck (?), not sure of the proper term on a fixed sight revolver. The blackened rear helps make the front sight color stand out.
cahotshoe
US Veteran
My club has a steel challenge once a month in the summer. The RO's like to mess with us by painting the steel different colors so your sights just disappear. Many a frustrated shooter that has blaze orange sight on a blaze orange target. Where hundredths of seconds count, my bubble gum pink sight stands out. I am confident that nobody is going to paint a target pink. I use nail polish, and its easy to change and touch up.
Not Getting Any Younger
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Another vote for fluorescent orange nail polish (from Walmart).
I also bought fluorescent green and yellow, but the orange is what's on my 638 and LCP II.
I also bought fluorescent green and yellow, but the orange is what's on my 638 and LCP II.
