S&W 442 with Big Dots

[semperfi.45]

This S&W 442 Airweight was featured in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of American Cop.

I am trying to find out who did or who does the dovetailing for the front sight. I contacted the magazine and they were no help whatsoever.

I don't want to paint my sights or get a red ramp insert, I want XS Dots on my Airweight.

Anyone know any gunsmiths that are doing this conversion?

 

[aterry33]

It's hard to find a gunsmith who can fit a tritium sight onto a 442/642. The ramp is just so narrow. Hopefully someone on here has had more luck than I have.

Keep in mind that the big dots are BIG. They hurt my ability to shoot precisely at targets more than a few yards away. People will say that with a gun like this, you're not going to be shooting at 15-25 yards. But you would be surprised with a lot of practice how accurate you can get with these little guns. I carry my 642 all the time, so I try to put 50-100 yards through it every week or two. Obviously you are going to feel that in your hand when you're done, but it's worth it. I have gotten to the point where I can put all 5 rounds onto the bowling pin of a Q target at 25 yards. Now, that's not necessary for me, but if you're an LEO, accurate hits at 15-25 yards could be critical.

I remember reading a story by Massad Ayoob about an LEO who faced off against a bad guy at 25 yards or so. Bad guy had some sort of full-size pistol, shot, and missed. LEO returned fire with his snub and put the bad guy down at 25 yards. So you really can shoot these things accurately at distance. Ayoob talks about being able to make 5 consecutive headshots with his snub at 25 yards, which is way beyond most people's abilities, including mine.

So my recommendation is to see if you can try out a big dot on a snub before you make that decision. I was all set to get one and then I tried it out and found out it was just too big for anything but point-blank shooting (for me at least).

 

[RightWinger]

I have a big dot on my 342 and the only real advantage I have found about it is the fact I can see it on the nightstand easily at night. The dot is too big and I am probably going to replace it with a meprolight tritium blade. My 342 has a pinned front sight, however if you really were dead set on having a tritium sight I wonder if you could not just order a barrel to a 340PD or a 342 and have it put on your gun, now you would have the ability to have a interchangeable front sight.....this might still end up cheaper than the smithing fee of having one attempt to cut a dovetail and less chance of screwing your gun up.

 

[sar4937]

A while back we used to have a thread showing an install. I thought it was in the FAQ's. So much is missing still, but I haven't looked through everything. The rear sight is not wide enough and must be widened up.

 

[Rugerrev]

Try this site:

XS Sight Systems - Handgun Sights - 24/7 Express

BTW, I qualify with my 642 as a backup gun. Part of that course is at 25 yards.

Since the big dots don't seem to be usable, is there any tritium or larger sight that can be retro-fitted?

JLJ

 

[aterry33]

Rugerrev: Keep in mind, the Big Dots don't work for me at distance, but they may work for you. I put this disclaimer out there because for people with Massad Ayoob-like abilit with a J-Frame, it may not matter.

I would suggest calling Novak Sights: http://www.novaksights.com/

They know just about everything about sights, and if anyone can put an approptiate sight on a J-Frame, they will know how to, or know someone who can.

 

[Rugerrev]

aterry33:

Thanks for the link and suggestion. Do you use these? My 642-2 will have to be milled--past my ability. So is shooting like Ayoob!

Jess

 

[aterry33]

Jess, I have Novaks sights on many of my autoloaders. Haven't used them for revolvers yet, but there is no one I'd trust more with my gun than the folks at that shop.