Painting my sights

[Bigdog357]

Decided to paint the sights on a bunch of revolvers due to poor eyesight. Here is the first batch in orange, the next batch I am going to use yellow paint to see which one I like best. 

 

[Bazoo]

Sweet. I paint my sights black to compensate for hoster wear. I spray spraypaint on a board, dab a q-tip into it, and darken my sights with it.

 

[GRIZ22]

Some black. Some red. Whatever works for you.

 

[CajunBass]

I've been doing it for years. I use orange nail polish, but first I put down a base coat of white (nail polish). Makes that orange really "pop."

No need for anything fancy. I got both bottles of nail polish at the dollar store for about a buck each. I'm sure they'll last me the rest of my life.

I started off using "White Out" correction fluid. That worked, but had to be replaced fairly quickly, and was only available in white. Nail polish seems to last a long time. I'm not even sure I've ever had to replace it.

 

[SterlingBullet]

Your photograph looks like horses in their starting gates just raring to go when the starter pistol goes off.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Dittohead self, but I use Testor's enamel; white base coat under fluorescent orange. Howsomever I've found the glare objectionable under the overhead lights at my club's indoor range.

 

[doubleh]

I could always make out yellow better than orange but I am somewhat tone blind. Now if I can't have day-glo sights I prefer just solid dull black.

 

[Riomouse911]

White-then-blaze orange Testors paints for me, too. All of my stainless guns that don’t have black sights get painted, as do most of my small frame revolvers, Ruger LCP’s, etc.

I tried day-glo green over white paint, but it didn’t help me too much so I stick with orange.

I do have issues with the orange sight paint and using orange stickers or orange-centered targets like these (Ruger .41 mag, front sight is not painted). Sometimes the orange color bleeds together for me and my shots are off a bit.



Other colors give me fewer issues, this is a 4” Model 65. 357 Mag with the front sight painted orange. (These targets are not great for red-ramp guns as those blend in for me, too. Damn I hate getting older! )



Love the horse race quote above about your guns all lined up.

Stay safe.

 

[shoobe01]

+1000 to the last two posts. Do not use nail polish etc but use: paint.

What with many other great paint brands dying in the last decades, the Testors Model Master (in stubby round containers) is the way to go. Thin, very opaque, etc. Prep carefully (clean, degrease) and use some good small brushes or if not into this the tiny disposables that come in a 10 pack at the same place you get the paints.

Their flat black is very very very black. Very good for matte touchups and so much more black than anything from the factory that I always black out the bits of the sights that aren't bright with this when buying new guns. Even the inside of the rear sight, for example.

For bright colors, start with a white undercoat. Then when that's dry, bright red, yellow, etc. Colors vary not just on your eyes but your environment. Indoor range lighting esp really is different from outside, but also target types etc. Best probably is to try it.

I don't have a great source for fluorescent paints. Most consistent is probably the Testors not-Model Master ones (the old school small square bottles). They even have a 6 pack or so of them. These are somewhat thicker paints so apply carefully so you don't get a weirdly rounded surface that ruins the sighting plane. DO note that these Da-Glow like paints are literally fluorescent; they glow under UV light so really glow under sunlight, which is esp useful at dusk and dawn, and would under fluorescent lights as they have spare UV but today with everyone going to LEDs they aren't so useful indoors anywhere anymore.

 

[trackskippy]

I used Testors early on and didnt have very good results. Solvents will usually quickly degrade them and take them off.

A good grade of nail polish, on the other hand, is basically impervious to most all of the gun solvents and lasts a lot longer.

Same deal with the nail polish as with the paints, a gloss white under the color of your choice. I use fluorescent orange.

Ive also come to painting over the red/orange inserts on my S&W's too, as the nail polish is a lot brighter and easier to pick up.

A big advantage to that bright color out there on the front sight is, when youre shooting quickly, over top of the gun, all you need do, is put that orange "spot" on the target and shoot. Its almost like cheatin'.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I just did the red testors on my 686. It was a metal tritium sight insert I ground down so it was bare aluminum. No white. Just red. Looks good to me it is not “track tested” yet

 

[doubleh]

Damn I hate getting older! )

Consider the alternative before getting too carried away. I miss the skills that have deminished or gone completely away but still appreciate every new day I wake up to.

 

[shoebox1.1]

White-then-blaze orange Testors paints for me, too. All of my stainless guns that don’t have black sights get painted, as do most of my small frame revolvers, Ruger LCP’s, etc.

I tried day-glo green over white paint, but it didn’t help me too much so I stick with orange.

I do have issues with the orange sight paint and using orange stickers or orange-centered targets like these (Ruger .41 mag, front sight is not painted). Sometimes the orange color bleeds together for me and my shots are off a bit.

View attachment 1153885

Other colors give me fewer issues, this is a 4” Model 65. 357 Mag with the front sight painted orange. (These targets are not great for red-ramp guns as those blend in for me, too. Damn I hate getting older! )

View attachment 1153886

Love the horse race quote above about your guns all lined up.

Stay safe.

Tinsy bit off topic but are those the late model “classic” new production stocks seen here? Pretty!

 

[Riomouse911]

Tinsy bit off topic but are those the late model “classic” new production stocks seen here? Pretty!

They are the new “retro” factory grips. .I took out my new-production Model 48 .22 WMR to compare, and other than the medallion color the two sets of grips are identical.



I realized that when I took the range photo the grips were on the 4” Model 65 .357. I have since moved them to the 4” Model 64 .38 Spl., and put Hogues on the 65. (Other than the cylinder length, these guns are almost identical side by side.)



The white-then-orange model paints really pop.

Stay safe.

 

[Tilos]

They are the new “retro” factory grips. .I took out my new-production Model 48 .22 WMR to compare, and other than the medallion color the two sets of grips are identical.

View attachment 1154083 View attachment 1154084

I realized that when I took the range photo the grips were on the 4” Model 65 .357. I have since moved them to the 4” Model 64 .38 Spl., and put Hogues on the 65. (Other than the cylinder length, these guns are almost identical side by side.)

View attachment 1154085 View attachment 1154086

The white-then-orange model paints really pop.

Stay safe.

Yes white model paint and then red or orange, but I use the brightest/sparkly NAIL POLISH I can find, or sometimes I leave them white.


I dab the paint/nail polish on the sight with a common pin.
jmo,
.

 

[V-fib]

basically same as others, white base coat followed by blaze orange nail polish. blacken the fixed rear sight with a magic marker and your good to go.

 

[stonebuster]

I put a base coat of clear nail polish followed by fluorescent orange water base hobby paint topped off with a coat of clear nail polish to protect the paint. The base coat of nail polish gives the paint something to adhere to and the water base paint is makes for easy clean up after or if you goof.

 

[dfariswheel]

Another good option is Fluorescent Green. That's a rather obnoxiously brilliant Green that really stands out.
That's the most visible color under most lighting conditions.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I ride motorcycles and wear all the safety gear.. my jacket is hi-viz. I think I read that’s the only color NOT in nature so your eyes are drawn to it. Green might be a great option

 

[Speedo66]

Before all the cool kids were painting their sights, I used to rub a red China marker over the front sight of my duty revolvers.

They stick surprisingly well, if they start to fade from wear, just rub it again.

Used to keep one in my desk at work just for this purpose. Also, come off easily if you change your mind.

 

[film495]

floureacent orange nail polish from a haloween store. I just dampen the surface I want to color, and then put as big a drip as I can while the surface tension holds it in place. Dries flat, and the thick application prevents the need for a base coat or multiple coats.

 

[.38 Special]

Fellow geezers will appreciate this, anyway.

 

[trackskippy]

LOL. Yea, but it was always messy and didnt last long.

Hoppes has/had a spray on sight black that worked better, but was even messier.

 

[Riomouse911]

LOL. Yea, but it was always messy and didnt last long.

Hoppes has/had a spray on sight black that worked better, but was even messier.

Get that oily spot on your fingers unknowingly, and before you know it you start look like you belong in Bob and Doug’s booking photo from Strange Brew.




Take off, eh!

Stay safe.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Another good option is Fluorescent Green. That's a rather obnoxiously brilliant Green that really stands out.
That's the most visible color under most lighting conditions.

This works the best for me. I use it on virtually all my iron sighted guns. I put a white base coat on first which IMO helps the green pop a little more.