Should I paint my front sight?

reerc

reerc

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This is the sight picture for my Ruger SP101.

P1120898.jpg


I'm wondering about painting the front ramp with some red or orange fingernail polish to make it a little easier to see.

I just tested it out by painting a dab on some scrap, then after it dried, tried to rub it off with Hoppes numba nine, and it stayed put.

Opinions pro/con?

Thanks all.

;)
 
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I paint my front sights with an acrylic paint that Wal-Mart sells in their crafts dept. Brand name is Apple Barrel. It comes in 2 0z. plastic bottles & is easily removed. I put on a coat of white followed by a coat of orange. This stuff drys very quickly & lasts for a few range trips, then I redo it as needed. I think when I first bought it a couple years ago it was 35 cents a bottle, but now I think it is about a buck a bottle. It is available in many colors. One bottle of color will last you many lifetimes. FWIW
 
Good answers, thanks.

So, what about fingernail polish? It looks like it would be more permanent that these options, but can still be removed with acetone.
 
If you can live with white?
I highly recommend appliance touch up paint. It has a hard enough compound to resist a few cleaning cycles. I've used it on a couple of 3 dot sets that were damaged by brake cleaner or some other solvent.
 
Why not, give it a try and you can use finger nail polish remover (acetone) to remove the paint if needed.
 
I have used a red/orange model paint. I first read this in "Copper on Handguns" back in the 70's. It still works.
The stuff is still on my sights. I like it a lot better than an installed Red Ramp... if you don't like the shade, you can easily try another.
Russ
 
I use White Appliance Paint, show up real well and in the dark it picks up and reflects ambient light real well. Plus its hard and will not wear off.

Rule 303
 
I did the front sight of my Winchester using crazy glue and glow powder. It keeps a nice visible glow for 8-12 hours after being exposed to a light source. I originally got the powder to re-lume watch hand and dials and works as well as any non radioactive lume. It also comes in red and orange though the lume does not last as long in the colors.

Glow in the dark powder

I mixed up a bit of glue and powder into a paste then put a dab on my front sight then sprinkeld dry powder over it to cover it as much as possible. I also cut a triangle of paper soked it in glue then put it on the rear sight and sprinkled it with lots of glow powder.
I have taken the rifle on two hunting trips and to the range many times and the crazy glue has held up better than i expected.

IMG_4662.jpg


IMG_4663.jpg


IMG_4664.jpg
 
I have a SP101 also and used orange nail polish on my front sight. It is my everyday carry gun and I have shot about 300 rounds and cleaned it several times and it looks like it did the day I put it on there.


snakeman
 
Thanks to the OP for asking this question, and for the replies. I have the exact same model and have known for some time that it needed something on that front sight. A nighttime confrontation would not be good with the way it currently is.

Andy
 
I did it on my 36. Old eyes and black sights didn't work for me. I used Testors day-glo yellow. Now I can immediately pick up the front sight.
 
Yet more good replies, thanks all.

Sip: I've noticed that fiber optic on your gun when you've posted pics before (I like it a lot), but figured it was a one-of-a-kind that Gemini Customs did for you. Their web page says that the user can install it themselves - and the price doesn't look too bad. Did you install yours yourself, Sip? Was it difficult?
 
I think SDM also makes them for it as well? (I can't link from this P/C)
It's a matter of drifting out the pin, pulling the blade, replacing the blade, then if the sight is pre-drilled, reinstall the cross pin. On some, you may need to drill the hole for the pin through the blade yourself.
 
I painted my sights tonight with the wife's nail polish. It look like crap, like a 3 year old did it. I took it off and will just deal with black sights. Guess I'm not a sight artist. lol
 
BlackSky said:
I painted my sights tonight with the wife's nail polish. It look like crap, like a 3 year old did it. I took it off and will just deal with black sights. Guess I'm not a sight artist. lol
Click to expand...

... or, you could do what I'm probably going to do ... let her do the painting.

:D
 
reerc said:
Yet more good replies, thanks all.

Sip: I've noticed that fiber optic on your gun when you've posted pics before (I like it a lot), but figured it was a one-of-a-kind that Gemini Customs did for you. Their web page says that the user can install it themselves - and the price doesn't look too bad. Did you install yours yourself, Sip? Was it difficult?
Click to expand...

I had it done while it was there for his basic package...but Marc told me it's easy...just knock out the pin, replace the sight and knock it back in...what's nice about it is that you still get a square front to line up for pin point shooting but the bright red fiber really stands out in the light....I need reading glasses to see my sights, but the fiber optic I can see pretty well without them....:)
 
Painting the front sight...

I am color blind, on 10 of 12 colors on the eye doctor's chart.
Yellow is my dominant color.
I use FINGERNAIL POLISH to cover the front sight. It comes off with acetone or Hoppe's #9.
 
I use fishing lure paint and put a base of white on first and then a layer of red or green. The white base seems to increase the visibility of the top layer. I also like fiber optic sights for competition but have been reluctant to put them on a carry gun. The fiber optic sight that I like the best is the Firesight by Williams Gunsight. Durable and the red fiber looks as big as a stop light. Good for old eyes.
 
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