Front sight...Brass or "Pearl" bead?

[WNC Seabee]

I picked up a Rossi lever gun last week and want to replace the blade front sight with a bead.

Which would you go with, a brass bead or a "pearl" colored one?

It's mostly for range use, a fair amount of that being indoors. Some very limited hunting.

 

[CraigC]

I prefer a brass bead or a black post. Actually ivory is what they used to use for sight inserts. I find it washes out the target if light is sufficient but not as bad as fiber optic beads.

 

[mshootnit]

I have been shooting shotguns competitively and hunting doves alot and I have had both types, (not on rifles though). But the best now is a small diameter Hi-Viz fiber optic. Your eye will never have to look for the bead again. They are really nice. I think they sell a small kit with several colors and diameters. I prefer the red small diameter rod.

 

[WNC Seabee]

I should add that I'm putting this on a lever gun that "may" see some cowboy style shooting, so an appropriate level of authenticity is key as well. So, I think that rules out fiber optics.

I have a brass bead on my old Remington 760 that has served me well but thought that a lighter color might be a good idea. Craig's post "washing out" the target is a good point.

 

[slush]

Brass would be my call.

 

[rcmodel]

A front sight blade made from a Liberty Head nickle (1883 until 1912) would be about period perfect!

I had one old Colt SAA someone had replaced the front sight with a silver nickle and it was pretty cool!
It also shined like a silver nickle in low light!

rc

 

[rbernie]

I prefer gold or brass.

 

[JEB]

if you want a bead i would go with brass but i prefer a black post or blued blade for more accurate shooting

 

[Dr.Rob]

Brass or gold bead. My Marlin 1894 is set up that way.

 

[TnBigBore]

Brass for cowboy shooting, white if you plant to hunt in woods or brush country with it. The brass bead will disappear faster in poor light than the white bead will.

 

[Onmilo]

What TnBigBore said.

"Ivory" beads are designed for shooting at dark targets in low light conditions, dense woods, early morning-late evening, aiming at squirrels in dense foliage, etc.

 

[rangerruck]

pearl, easy to see in all light conditions... no doubt about it.