remshooter
Member
painting front site white or orange ,which works better to see the site ?... model paint ,or finger nail polish
painting front site ,which works better?
- Thread starter remshooter
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For various reasons, I prefer a bright green front sight if I'm going to color it myself. Green contrasts well against just about any background and is easy to pick-up quickly. Other than that, I'd opt for white or yellow. I use paint pens that you can usually find in any arts/crafts department. They come in a package of several different colors (red/green/black/white/yellow/blue). I have used model paint and finger nail polish in the past. All seem to work equally as well.
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My preference is model paint. A base coat of white, then the Green fluorescent paint, or bright safety orange. From a quick draw point, I find the orange is faster to pick up, but bor better sighting I prefer the green.
I've used Testor's model paint for years, and it has held up fine for me. I'm sure fingernail polish would also work, but I wouldn't expect it to be as durable.
Testor's hobby enamel has always worked well for me. A base coat of matte white, followed by fluorescent green works well. The fastest sight picture may just be plain black rear sight with a bright dot of paint on the front sight.
I use my wife's nail polish-- orange on the top half and white on the bottom half. That way I can use the orange for close range and both the white and orange for longer shots. Works well. Red is equally good as orange.
I wanted to add some pictures. I put glow on paint covered with clear nail polish on all of my smith revolver front sights. During the day I get white on black and a quick 3 second hit with a flashlight and I get night sights.
Day
Night
Day
Night
Both work ok, just be sure to let them dry well before putting the gun away. I did a 1911 and that night put it back in its rug thinking it was dry. Next time I took it out I'm like, "Where is my sight paint?" as the front sight was completely back to stock.
The paint was stuck to the cloth the gun was wrapped in. Nothing on the gun at all.
The paint was stuck to the cloth the gun was wrapped in. Nothing on the gun at all.
I use either nail polish or model paint. I like Red for the front.
MTC(SS)Ret
US Veteran
RalphMP9FS
Member
Interesting, I never thought about yellow, but I must try it.
Green Frog
Member
When I needed to be able to see my Model 439's front sight better I went to Dollar Tree and bought a bottle each of white and orange/red fingernail polish. The white was used for a base coat and the "red" was the shade I could see the most easily. It seems to be staying on very well for at least a year or so.
Froggie
Froggie
Catwrangler
Member
I run fluro. Green on my 64-3 & 642. I'd like to have a gold bead installed in the Patridge sight on my 586 no dash. Millets on my 1911- all others stock.
Smithboomer
Member
One layer of white nail polish (or white-out) then two coats of the brightest orange that I can find.
I use white nail polish for under coat and bright red enamel model paint for top coat but have used green nail polish also. I apply with toothpick start with a small amount. Never used the nail polish brush you will apply WAY too much and get frustrated. I also wear my flea market headband magnifiers. I have not tried clear nail polish to finish as suggested in other posts
hyena
Member
I use three coats of Neon Pop orange nail polish I got at Wal Mart. Works well for me.
Befor I had my eye surgery, I could see the ripples in the front sight "Yellow".
One eye got messed up so no 20/20 any more and I need glasses to shoot
and choose best 2 out of 3 in the rear sight,front sight or target match up.
Enjoy it while you are young !!
One eye got messed up so no 20/20 any more and I need glasses to shoot
and choose best 2 out of 3 in the rear sight,front sight or target match up.
Enjoy it while you are young !!
scattershot
Member
I like white, and I use appliance touchup enamel.
OP
remshooter
Member
cool ,thanks for the tipI wanted to add some pictures. I put glow on paint covered with clear nail polish on all of my smith revolver front sights. During the day I get white on black and a quick 3 second hit with a flashlight and I get night sights.
Day
Night
gwpercle
Member
I painted my front sight with a Base Coat of flat white ...with a BIC White-Out Correction Pen lying on my wifes desk ... I was going to buy Day-Glo paints and try different colors ... went to several stores and couldn't find any ! Went shooting with flat white sight ... You Know what ... It works GREAT ! I said screw the Day-Glo colors and use white and if orange or green is any better... I Don't See It !!!
I like flat white and I like the BIC White- Out Correction Pen application .
It beats that wonky brush seven ways to Sunday and the Pen is Cheap and Easy to find ... I keep a couple in my shooting range bag .
Gary
I like flat white and I like the BIC White- Out Correction Pen application .
It beats that wonky brush seven ways to Sunday and the Pen is Cheap and Easy to find ... I keep a couple in my shooting range bag .
Gary
I prefer a Hi-viz yellow on mine. Works great outdoors and seems to work the best for me in low light as well. If I don't want to paint up a sight for some reason, I'll cut a strip out of one of those Shoot-N-C targets with the yellow backing color and stick it to my front sight.
Uhhhhhhhhmmmm... Ok, Cleveland. I suppose I should be glad that I added some... "excitement" to your day?And *BOOM* goes the dynamite.
Uhhhhhhhhmmmm... Ok, Cleveland. I suppose I should be glad that I added some... "excitement" to your day?
Lol. Not too exciting. Just agreeing with your blacked-out rear sight and bright front sight combination. Spot on.
Once every so often I have a couple of brain cells to fire and out comes a reasonably good idea or concept... doesn't happen often, so don't expect too much from me.
