Fixed sight replacement/modification

GunGator · December 10, 2006, 12:07 PM

So I have a couple old wheelies that have fixed front sights. Anyone know of a product, or have a homemade solution as to how to illuminate (or maybe I should say make more visible) a front sight? Short of grinding of the sight and tapping a new one, I am out of ideas? In particular I am interested in a fiberoptic type set up so I can actually see whwere I'm aiming. The older I get the harder it is to use fixed metal sights on a dimly lit range. Any thoughts?

TIA
GG

hpg · December 10, 2006, 05:37 PM

I don't know of one.....hpg

Brian Williams · December 10, 2006, 06:08 PM

Day-glow Orange construction marking paint.

DWARREN123 · December 11, 2006, 10:09 PM

I have used white model paint mixed with a little epoxy glue, works well and lasts.

glockopop · December 12, 2006, 03:31 AM

clarkcustomguns.com can convert your front sight to take a pinned front sight, so you could use either a partridge sight with a bead or a fiber optic sight. It ain't exactly cheap, but it's a Clark job so surely it'll be worth it.

JN01 · December 12, 2006, 06:23 PM

I second the day-glo orange paint idea. I have the same problem that you have with aging eyes, and painting my front sights has worked well for me (plus it is cheap and easy). Make sure you degrease the sight first and put on a flat white primer coat. Without the primer underneath, the orange doesn't "pop" nearly as bright.

Try it out, if it doesn't work for you, you're not out much and you can try something else.

Tom2 · December 12, 2006, 07:02 PM

Follow that procedure above especially if the gun has the awful useless stainless steel sights that no one can see clearly. Well at least that is the cheap way. What I do anyway. Be sure to mask off the back edge faceing you of the front sight with scotch tape to make a neat job of it. I have seen front sights with red fingernail polish slathered all over and it looks cheesy. But you must degrease for the tape and paint to stick. If you use an enamel and not a water based acrylic paint, it will stand up reasonably well in normal use and is cheap to redo. Otherwise you are stuck getting a custom installation or one of the new guns that have fibre optics installed already at the factory. Or laser grips.

December 10, 2006, 12:07 PM	#1
GunGator Member Join Date: November 11, 2005 Posts: 25	Fixed sight replacement/modification So I have a couple old wheelies that have fixed front sights. Anyone know of a product, or have a homemade solution as to how to illuminate (or maybe I should say make more visible) a front sight? Short of grinding of the sight and tapping a new one, I am out of ideas? In particular I am interested in a fiberoptic type set up so I can actually see whwere I'm aiming. The older I get the harder it is to use fixed metal sights on a dimly lit range. Any thoughts? TIA GG

December 10, 2006, 05:37 PM	#2
hpg Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2002 Location: in the Bluegrass State Posts: 1,610	I don't know of one.....hpg __________________ NRA member Semper Paratus

December 10, 2006, 06:08 PM	#3
Brian Williams Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2001 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 1,288	Day-glow Orange construction marking paint. __________________ Brian <><

December 12, 2006, 03:31 AM	#5
glockopop Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 922	clarkcustomguns.com can convert your front sight to take a pinned front sight, so you could use either a partridge sight with a bead or a fiber optic sight. It ain't exactly cheap, but it's a Clark job so surely it'll be worth it. __________________ I've only got two hands, but I've been known to carry three Glocks. RZA

December 12, 2006, 07:02 PM	#7
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	Ditto Follow that procedure above especially if the gun has the awful useless stainless steel sights that no one can see clearly. Well at least that is the cheap way. What I do anyway. Be sure to mask off the back edge faceing you of the front sight with scotch tape to make a neat job of it. I have seen front sights with red fingernail polish slathered all over and it looks cheesy. But you must degrease for the tape and paint to stick. If you use an enamel and not a water based acrylic paint, it will stand up reasonably well in normal use and is cheap to redo. Otherwise you are stuck getting a custom installation or one of the new guns that have fibre optics installed already at the factory. Or laser grips.

December 11, 2006, 10:09 PM	#4
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	I have used white model paint mixed with a little epoxy glue, works well and lasts.

December 12, 2006, 06:23 PM	#6
JN01 Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2005 Location: E Tennessee Posts: 828	I second the day-glo orange paint idea. I have the same problem that you have with aging eyes, and painting my front sights has worked well for me (plus it is cheap and easy). Make sure you degrease the sight first and put on a flat white primer coat. Without the primer underneath, the orange doesn't "pop" nearly as bright. Try it out, if it doesn't work for you, you're not out much and you can try something else.