Tricks to stop front sight wash out

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MidRoad

MidRoad

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Hey looking for tricks to help reduce front sight glare on my Blackhawk. Most lights it's ok but certain lights the ramp washes out pretty bad. It's plain black and silver soldered onto the barrel . The issue appears to be really shallow serations. Don't have this issue with my single six which or model 60 have slightly steeper ramps with much deeper serations. My eyes are ok and I don't usually have problems seeing iron sights. You can see In the picture how shallow the serations are.

I had work done to the gun recently and wanted to have the sight replaced at that time, but told the Smith to hold off on and the sight replacement just do the original agreed upon work for now. Didn't want to go over budget, especially with a little one just around the corner. But now I'm considering sending it back when taxes come in to have the sight done.

I set this gun up as a light weight hunting side arm, but haven't taken it in the woods yet on account that I haven't gotten it dialed in yet. I've taken to the range twice after work when I had time. Both times k had the same light and the sight would wash out when trying to dial in at 25 yards. I have it grouping very nice at 10 yards, but when I get out to 25 and the glare comes on its it's hard to be precise.
So I've been toting my gp100 in the mean time this deer season. Would really love to get this figured out.

Here's a pic of the front sight. The serations are very very shallow and you can barely feel them when running your fingers over them when compared to my single six. The blueing isn't worn on the sight, just a glare from the overhead light. KIMG1305.JPG
 
There are 3 things I have done to various Ruger front ramp-style sights.

Paint the front sight with nail polish. One layer of white, then two or three coats with a bright red. Sand down a little afterwards to give it a matte finish.

Black sight paint pen. Similar effect as the nail polish but easier to apply.

Oil the sight lightly, and then soot it over a lit match or lighter flame. This doesn't last too long but it easy to reapply at any time.

You could also use the black paint pen and the lighter trick together.
 
WrongHanded said:
There are 3 things I have done to various Ruger front ramp-style sights.

Paint the front sight with nail polish. One layer of white, then two or three coats with a bright red. Sand down a little afterwards to give it a matte finish.

Black sight paint pen. Similar effect as the nail polish but easier to apply.

Oil the sight lightly, and then soot it over a lit match or lighter flame. This doesn't last too long but it easy to reapply at any time.

You could also use the black paint pen and the lighter trick together.
Click to expand...
Maybe I'll attempt the red again. I'm a bit on the anal side so if it don't come out just right I removed it and start over again. I had testors red paint on my model 60 at one point ,but found it too shiny, maybe nail polish will be better.

The lighter idea would be fine on the range and may be just the thing I need to get is dialed in. Just would be worried if ill have glare issues in the field.
 
I do the fingernail polish thing on everything I cant get three dot night sights on.

I use gloss white as a base, and a coat of fluorescent orange as the finish. Works great.

You don't have to do the whole ramp/sight either, just usually about a 1/4" or so.

I shoot mostly outside, and in all light and weather, and never had any trouble with glare.
 
MidRoad said:
Maybe I'll attempt the red again. I'm a bit on the anal side so if it don't come out just right I removed it and start over again. I had testors red paint on my model 60 at one point ,but found it too shiny, maybe nail polish will be better.

The lighter idea would be fine on the range and may be just the thing I need to get is dialed in. Just would be worried if ill have glare issues in the field.
Click to expand...

I know exactly how you feel about getting the paint right.

The black paint pen is this:

IMG_20191119_201742208.jpg

It's hard getting a good picture but ....

IMG_20191119_201858673.jpg

That's my painted SBH extra tall front sight. Slightly chipped now, but still works better than without.
 
I used a Sight Black spray can of carbon black when shooting Bullseye Pistol. Others used a carbide lamp to blacken the front sight.

I see this is avaiable now- https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1014640266?pid=504999

A build up on the front sight may require sight adjustment. After applying, it will move bullet impack lower at 50 yards. Moving bullet impact out of the X ring.
20191120_083630.jpg
 
The paint on the front sights is nice but you can see there is definitely some serious shine going on. The exact thing I'm trying to avoid. The front sight just become almost white and undefined when in certain lights making it hard to be precise. My dad's got.some orange oil paint pens I may try but I got a feeling that the glare will still be there.
 
I have tried red, white, and orange before settling on fluorescent orange Testor's model paint.

I don't use a paint brush, but instead use the tip of a toothpick as it gives me finer control to get the paint exactly where I want it. Only a very little on the end of the toothpick at a time so that I can fill in only the serrations or dots that I want to without any slop to clean off (or at least very little).

Two coats of white Testor's allowing it to dry fully between applications then a coat of the orange, maybe two if the first doesn't satisfy.

Mine and my wife's eyes aren't what they used to be so this has greatly improved our ability to see the sights. If the finished job is too shiny then lightly buff with a bit of very fine steel wool to take the shine off.
 
I use the neon orange nail polish over a coat of white on my EDC front sight. Even with daily carry and biweekly range time it lasts for months.
ETA it does look a bit shiny until I am looking through the rear sight. Much more defined than the bare serrated ramp.
 
I keep a small aerosol can of Sight Black spray in my range bag. For the air rifles and pistols I shoot in the back yard, I keep a plastic spoon and a lighter. A burning plastic spoon/fork/knife gives off some great soot for blackening sights.
 
MidRoad said:
The paint on the front sights is nice but you can see there is definitely some serious shine going on. The exact thing I'm trying to avoid. The front sight just become almost white and undefined when in certain lights making it hard to be precise. My dad's got.some orange oil paint pens I may try but I got a feeling that the glare will still be there.
Click to expand...
This is the reason I used the construction marking paint, it is flat and has no shine.
 
I keep cheap butane lighters in my range boxes and bags in order to soot front sights. On occasion an onlooker will wonder why I appear to be trying to set my gun on fire, but otherwise it does the job.
 
Put the last coat on my Blackhawk tonight. Liked the way it came out so painting the sights of my model 60 and my single six. Used two base coats of testors white, than two coats from a bright orange oil based paint marker. The orange is more "orange" the pictures, looks almost peach in the pic. Excuse the bench ,it needs to be cleaned up a bit.
KIMG1308.JPG KIMG1307~2.JPG
 
Around here the lobster fishermen use flat florescent orange paint on their buoys. I will just stop by and borrow a small bit when needed. It is quite durable as well. I also put down a base coat of white first. The orange marker paint also looks good for this use. You could use some steel wool or scotch brite pad to dull down the gloss on regular paint after it has dried well.
 
"Sight Black", or smoking, works great in the moment, and as long as youre careful handling the gun. Wont work very well for holstering and any kind of routine handling, as it comes right off and gets on everything, and generally becomes a mess if youre not careful.
 
FROGO207 said:
Around here the lobster fishermen use flat florescent orange paint on their buoys. I will just stop by and borrow a small bit when needed. It is quite durable as well. I also put down a base coat of white first. The orange marker paint also looks good for this use. You could use some steel wool or scotch brite pad to dull down the gloss on regular paint after it has dried well.
Click to expand...

Yep I messed up the other night. I thought it was dry enough ,went to full the finish and it started coming off. A little rubbing alcohol took it right off. I think it's because I didn't let the base coats of white dry long enough before applying the orange.

Needless to say I re did the base coats. So now I have 4 guns with 2 base coats of white on them. Waiting a few days and will grab up some more model paint for the top coat. The testors seems to adhere and stay out much better than the market. Deciding on the color yet. Looking at florescent orange, green or a flat red. I'm wondering if flat red would be the best all around. Should wash out the least in direct light, but still provide plenty of contrast to the rear sight. Wash out is my biggest concern.
 
This might be another alternative for you..... Mag na Port.

It makes your gun "self smoking", even if you dont want it. :cool:

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Thats 50 rounds of 44SPL LSWC's, and actually, its more like 10 rounds, as I had to keep wiping it off every other cylinder or so. If you look close, youll see there's an orange insert in the ramp. Did I mention, Mag na Port sucks!? :p
 
AK103K said:
This might be another alternative for you..... Mag na Port.

It makes your gun "self smoking", even if you dont want it.
Click to expand...

My .500 behaves the same way. Frankly, I think it is a feature rather than a bug. I detest red inserts but I never have to smoke that one!
 
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