Ruger LCP sghts

[Seanpcola]

Finally got to the range today with my new Ruger LCP. I know it's intended purpose is very close-in defense but..............

I'm trying to get familiar with it and shooting targets at 10 yards. I cannot see the front sight at all. Do you folks think it might be beneficial to paint the front sight with some of the available products? My instructor says it's no use since it'll wear off quickly during pocket carry but I just think it would help if I could the sight picture better in the beginning.

Thoughts?

 

[Frozen North]

Yes, do it. I painted mine and it made a world of difference. It will wear, but not as quickly as you think. Who cares if it needs to be retouched twice a year?

 

[loadedround]

I've used red and white nail polish for various front sights for many years now and it works perfectly for.me. Buy the cheapest nail polish you can find in your shade at the discount stores (Wally world).

 

[Seanpcola]

Ahhh, nail polish. There seems to be quite a plentiful stock of gun sight paint in the master bathroom here at the house. I'll dig through the wife's stash and see what I can come up with.

I appreciate the confirmation that it'll work. I think my instructor is trying to keep me from developing bad habits but I just need a little push for now on the LCP. My XD is a breeze to aim but the Ruger sight just disappears.

Thanks folks!

 

[huntsman]

the real beauty of the LCP is in not using the sights, I focus on the back of my hand(firing one handed) and let'er rip, good groups with speed.

 

[Frozen North]

In my experience, the size of the LCP (small enough to get lost in my grip) makes it very difficult and unnatural to point shoot with. Getting an eyeball on that front sight really helped me hit things.

 

[Seanpcola]

I'm a newbie to handguns but my shooting friends and my instructor have complimented me on my gun control and accuracy (for my experience) when using my new XD-9SC. Today I pulled out the LCP for the first time and it was sad. I'm sure I will get better with practice but at this point I cannot even see where to aim at all. I'm sure Huntsman is right but I need a reference until I get a feel for it.

Gonna paint the front sight tonight before I crash so it'll be dry in the morning. Heading to the range at 7:00 AM and will see what it does.

Again, thanks for the help gents.

Sean

 

[Bullet]

check this out -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kUY-LCdvLM

 

[Lawdawg45]

In regards to your sight question, I mentioned on another thread about using a nail polish by the name of OPI, it was recommended to me by my ex-daughter in law who is a Cosmetologist. OPI is like the most expensive auto paint you can find and 2 or 3 coates will last a life time. As far as the LCP accuracy range, my son carries one as his BUG on duty, so he was required to qualify with it as a duty weapon. He was consistently hitting center mass at 25 yards with no paint on the front sight.

LD45

 

[jon_in_wv]

I found a product at a local hobby craft store called ZIG Painty paint makers. They come in a lot of colors and they are very easy to apply. I paint the front sight of my LCP yellow and the rear notch white. I put one square on top of the other and "bang!". Its very durable too. I probably touch up the paint every 6 months or so. I use red on the front sight of my M&P and 380 Bodyguard.

 

[Seanpcola]

Thanks for the heads-up on the vids Bullet. After I watched the one you referenced I went to some of the others and learned a few new things about LCPs.

I have a varied assortment of paints since I do a lot of model building and such so I'll try different ones to see what holds up the best on the sights.

I did take it to the range today after painting the front one last night. It did help a lot but my accuracy still leaves a lot to be desired. Put 75 rounds through it and was marginally better at the end of the day. We'll see over the next few weeks whether I get good enough with it to actually hit something.

 

[Armybrat]

You're saying my Ruger LCP actually has some sights? Where?



To me, it's just a point & shoot belly gun.
I like it better than my KelTec P3AT.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Boy I wish the term "belly gun" would go the way of phrases like, "dum dums" and "Saturday night special".

Here is a Youtube video of my first range session with my LCP. You can see it is a lot more capable than a "belly gun".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Ybql8mDbs

BTW, I've gotten better with it since the video. At 7-10 yards I can draw and fire 6 shots as fast as I can pull the trigger on to a paper plate easily. Personally, I wouldn't wait until they are close enough to stick it in their "belly" when I could place well aimed shots into his heart and lungs, or head for that matter.

 

[Armybrat]

Mine rides under the right side of my belly.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A paint pen, available at any decent auto parts store, should also be an effective means of painting your sights.

 

[GCBurner]

I used white auto touch-up paint. It seems to hold up to wear pretty well.

 

[PX15]

Um...

I thought all LCP's came with good external sights & Crimson Trace lasers?

Um..

Jesse

 

[Seanpcola]

OK, really dumb question but...........

I assume you (or a gunsmith) machined the dovetails in so that you were able to change the sites?

 

[PX15]

Seanpcola:

There are NO dumb questions... Just people too stupid to ASK questions..

The external sights on my LCP were done as a part of a package offered by Phillip and Jenny Woodell @ Innovative Arms. (www.innovativearms.com)

The rear sight is a standard sight, reversed ramp.. Reversed so that in a crisis where one hand might be incapacitated the slide can be pulled back (or cycled) using one hand and the friction of another object (say pants leg). The front is a Trijicon night sight.

The Innovative Arms package includes the external sights and slide refinish. Options (for $5.00 ea.) are a mirror polished feed ramp, and mirror polished barrel. When I had my work done several months ago I believe the price was $140 incld. return shipping plus the two extras if desired...

I carry my LCP daily and my slide needed refinishing badly, so I was going to have to get my slide refinished anyway. I am well pleased with the results, and I would recommend Phillip and Jenny's work without reservation.

FWIW a person on another firearms forum called IA a couple of days ago and they are so busy they are not accepting new orders until Sept.

If you would like to check you might call Phllip or Jenny @ 1-803-528-8709.

I would like to say that in a sub-compact firearm carried concealed for personal protection at close up and personal distance I would say no external sights, or laser is required..

I believe under such conditions you'll only have time to "point and shoot" to center mass of the threat..

The reason I have both the IA sights and the CT Laser on my personal LCP is just because I love the little sucker, and since I carry it daily ANY addition I can make that MIGHT enhance my chance of winning such a confrontation (and that I can afford) to it, is money well spent.

Or, I'm worth it.

But I think the LCP will do as good a job just as it comes from the factory as any mousegun of it's type without adding a thing to it.

All I require in my cc choice is: RELIABILITY..

Between my wife and myself we have three LCP's and all have been 100% reliable AND surprisingly self defense accurate right out of the box, that's why I don't mind spending a little more to make the one I carry every day in my back pocket just a bit "better"..

Hope this helps.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[Seanpcola]

Thanks Jesse for the info.

While at the LGS today I looked at the CT laser for the LCP and almost bought it. Gonna think it through some more. I do like yours a lot with those mods.

For my level of experience I'm probably better served spending my gun money on ammo and get more familiar with the LCP as it is. I do love to accessorize though.

 

[PX15]

Seanpcola:

Hey, sounds like a plan to me..

Practice, practice, practice....

After you build up your confidence in both YOUR skills, and the reliability of the weapon, THEN you can always start saving for any improvements you might desire, if any..

I love my LCP so much I bought a new LC9 (after shooting my Buddies) which I carry in an IWB when I can, using my LCP in my back pocket as my backup, (or spare magazine?).

The LC9 is too large for back pocket cc (for me), but it's just as nice as the LCP and comes with excellent sights..

FWIW I've owned one or more Rugers since 1970 and so far never had a bad one. (knock on wood)

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[Yahtzee4U]

Gosh between the two of you guys I learn all I need to about my LCP! I don't have too much of a problem picking up the front sight unless the target is very dark in color or it's dim out, but white paint could help. Accuracy is excellent with this gun when I'm trying for perfect groups, but my goal at the end of each shooting session has been to draw from my pocket and put 6 rounds into a paper plate (from 5 yards) as quickly as possible.

As a side note, does anybody else cringe every time they accidentally dry fire this gun because it doesn't have a slide stop mechanism when empty?

 

[Seanpcola]

I painted my front sight white and it really helped.

As for dry firing: I was at the range last weekend, one table over from a man that is regarded as quite the expert gunsmith and he advised me against dry firing mine. I assume he knows what he's talking about but either way I am going to refrain from doing it any more than necessary.

 

[Yahtzee4U]

I agree, I think most of the modern manufacturers all say you CAN dry fire their guns (ruger included), but I would still hesitated to do it, it's like taking a full kick at soccer ball and having it removed right before you hit it. That's the one thing that I don't like all that much about the LCP; the fact that it doesn't have a slide stop.