Nail Polish Gun Sights

[azhunter122]

I am thinking about puting some nail polish on my 1911 to make the sights more visable, what's your opinion of this? Also how can you make them look good and make a perfect circle for the sights, does it matter?


Thanks

 

[ambidextrous1]

For the front sight, painting the whole sight to form a solid white (or orange, or red, etc.) post is a good solution.

You can form a good circular blob by using the desired diameter wire, bending it at right angle, and filing it as flat and 'true' as possible.

Dip the end of the wire in the paint and touch the surface to be "dotted" with the paint only. I rest the heel of my hand on the surface to be "dotted" and roll my wrist to place the dot; it's okay to practice this before you do the real job.

 

[donato]

Not going to address the how, but a couple years ago I picked up a tip from another forum on paint. The recommendation was to use Testors flourescent paint. It worked great for my case.

 

[TIMC]

You might try a fine tip paint pen, I get them from Hobby Lobby.

 

[Superlite27]

Testors flourescent paint.

+1 Before tritium was even heard of, I used to paint all the front sights of my pistols with Testors' gloss white. It never came off, and really made my front sights more visible.

Then they started offering this "newfangled" tritium stuff. WOW!

If you have ever fired in low light conditions, (Why wouldn't you? Or are you just training for daylight because that's always when bad things happen?) you will find that tritium sights will make life much easier. If you don't aim, it's merely luck. If you can't see the sights, you can't aim. I don't know about you, but I'm not going to trust my life to luck.

If you're serious about self defense, I'd honestly get some tritium sights. They're expensive, but they work. If you're just target shooting, or not going to fork over a wad of cash for something so small (It's your perogative) the Testors will suffice. The white paint doesn't show up in the dark, though. But it is more visible than nothing.

 

[tjj]

+1 ambidextrous1

I just use white out and paint the back of the post. Works fine for me. I prefer a straight edge to a dot anyhow. When it get boogered up I just re-paint. Prep the surface with degreaser first to make it stick better. I have also use white spray enamel by spraying a little on a rolled up piece of tissue paper and brushing it on. Some of my paint jobs have lasted for years.

 

[digdeep74]

hobby stores

hobby stores sell glow in the dark paint that can be effective as well!

 

[geronimo509]

This place seems pretty good. I bought some of the brightest stuff. with a white base coat, and the glow in the dark paint over it. during the day they look white. When it gets dark, they glow. They need to be exposed to light first, but then glow for at least 8 hours I think... here is the link http://glowinc.com/glow-in-the-dark/gun-sights.aspx
Oh, and they support gun owners using this.

+1 on to real night sights, I have them on all of my handguns except my Mak.

 

[flyingdeserteagle]

I've used these stick on glow sights before.
nitesiters

Although, I had a gf who had WHITE polish once. I painted the frt sights of my range 1911s with it. White worked really well.

 

[moewadle]

I paint the front blade sight

on my Model 10 and Ruger New Vaquero to assist my 66 year old eyes. Helps a lot. I go to Hobby Lobby and like a bright yellow, water soluble paint that cost like 88 cents a bottle. I keep it in my shooting box that always goes to the range. My 92FS already has white dot sights so don't need it there.

 

[ThomasT]

Like the other poster said use a base of white before the floresent. Also use a round toothpick to apply the paint. After a little practice you will be surprised how precisely you can paint with a toothpick. And clean up is a snap. Just throw it away. Or wipe it off and put it back in the box if your cheap.LOL.

 

[BlindJustice]

Brownells has a sight paint kit. It comes with the two parts of
epoxy, 6 different color dyes or paint, and 6 little dishes to
mix the epoxy, add a color and apply with a paint brush. I got a set
of brushes - el cheap at Shopko. Colors include White,
Off WHite, 2 reds, orange and yellow. I added some bright blue and
llike it as well as the yellow. I use it on the patridge post front
sight on a 617 and 615, and the smallest brush for a stripe across
the small ramp front on a Model 60. I don't have a problem with the
3-dot White sights on my S&W 1911 or CZ 75B. I might use it if I
ever get around to breaking in an NIB Marlin 1894 with it's
buckhorn? open sights.

Also used the kit to fill in the vertical lines on the black blued CZ 75B
slide & frame of with white so it's easier for my 58 year old eyes to line up
for takedown/Assembly.

Seems to last after some cleanings.

R-

 

[kyo]

I did all 3 of my dots red at first. And I felt it made a great difference. I did a red nail polish followed by a clear coat. Then I took it off. I decided 1 red in the center, and a lime green for the back dots. clear coat on both afterward. toothpick does the trick just fine. tested in "low light" and I like it. in daylight it is just better as well.

 

[seanie!]

I used some cheap florescent orange paint that I paid around a dollar or two for at Wal-Mart. It went on the front post of my Saiga. Great stuff so far. I had to do a total of four or five coats with it, and if it rubs off it's no big deal, as I've got a ton of it.

 

[NotSoFast]

I've used white nail polish on the front sight of my M1 Garand. It definitely helped, especially in low light conditions.

 

[ejfalvo]

I used Testor's glow in the dark paint for my LCP (didnt want to spend $ for the CT). Is it the best, nope, but it certainly makes those little black sights lite up at nite much better.

I thought about nail polish but believed model paint would be more durable.

 

[Flame Red]

I have tried just about everything and found that good old nail polish works the best. It stays on, but can be easily removed later if you want to. Seems to hold up to most gun cleaners too as long as you don't go crazy and soak it or brush it. Toothpick is a great method to apply it but I just use the brush and cover a square area instead. I am not very artistic.

Only problem is getting strange looks from customers and employees while you are looking at colors and cashing out! My wife refused to buy some of my colors I tried. But I have not told her that the color I like best is what she has in her drawer.

 

[vicdotcom]

I used white-out myself.

 

[cavman]

trick: score the front sight

I picked up a trick the other day from a shooter to make the eye focus on the front sight. It really becomes obvious if you are focusing on the front sight or not.

Basically take out your pocket knife and make a single score across the front sight of your 1911 (or what ever). That little scratch will become really obvious when you are truly focusing on that front sight.

If you ever can't "see" your scratch, you are not really looking at the front sight; you are looking at the target or somewhere in between, basically not where you should be looking.

It will make you really aware when you are looking at the front sight or not.

Glow in the Dark:I don't know if glow in the dark paint would be able to be reversed. If you could see the little "non-glow scratch", I don't see why not. Anything to make sure you are focused on the front sight

 

[weisse52]

I use to use white-out years ago. For me it was ok, but not great.
I like the bright white Testor's applied with a toothpick as well
As far as "real" night sights go I am still not sold. I can see having one in the front sight, but a gold dot would be as useful.
I am going to add CT grips to one of my 1911's to become primary HD. That is the only way I will know I can align the aim in darkness.

 

[markallen]

I use fishing lure paint. Comes in bright flourescent colors. Most sporting goods stores will have it. And it is tough.
Clean, and rough up your sights with a nail file ( emery board), paint an undercoat of white, I prefer flat white because it will dry flat.
The lure paint is thick, and when it's applied, it will create bead. To my eyes it gathers the light better.
With my budget I had to choose between a good Surefire flashlight, or the night sights. With the Surefire I feel I have the best of both worlds. I need the flashlight anyway, and man do they light up the my sights.

 

[Eagles6]

Flyingdeserteagle,
I had been trying various glow paints for years until I found nitesiters. Best thing next to tritium and the guy is good to deal with.