M1A sights question

[azredhawk44]

So my vision isn't perfect, and I have the following problem with iron sights on an M1A.

The aperture ring is black. The front post is black. Most bullseyes are black. Most targets are dark colored (bear fur, animal hide, etc). Low light conditions make this even harder.

Since my vision isn't perfect, the front sight is hard to differentiate from the intended target.

Who sells JUST a tritium replacement front sight? Do tritium sights get so prohibitively thick that they completely cover a 6" target at 100 yards?

Or, alternatively, has anyone tried to put a light-gathering or reflective paint on the front sight of this type of rifle? Will the added contrast help? Any suggestions for a particular type of model paint if that is the way to go?

 

[hso]

Tritium won't help since it's only useful at night.

There are color contrast high viz "paints" that you can order that really make the front sight POP. http://www.brightsights.com/products.shtml

 

[30Cal]

I use Sight Black or candle soot. It makes the "front sight" look more like the "FRONT SIGHT"

 

[azredhawk44]

I found this at Fulton Armory's M14 parts page:

The outer edge of it is black, the bulk of it is white which contrasts really well with the black, and the core of it is tritium green, which will glow in low light conditions.

Only drawback I can see is that the post must be THICK. Probably twice as thick as a standard front sight blade.

Anyone have one? Measurements of it?

 

[AK103K]

I have that front sight on my SOCOM, and yes, its very fat. Its meant for close up, fast shooting. It is not meant for target shooting and will cover most of the width of a IPSC target at 100 yards. The tritium works in total darkness, but isnt real bright. Personally, I'd rather have the standard sight.

Have you considered a red dot sight? Very fast and easy to shoot with.

 

[azredhawk44]

Well, I think I'll do this...

I'm going to file down the thickness of the current sight up front. I don't know how thick it is (I'd guess it's about 0.050", but I haven't measured it yet), but I will probably take about 20% off of it, evenly from both sides.

I will touch up the bare steel with a black magic marker.

After that, I will get some highly reflective white paint and paint the upper half of the sight with it. I will also get some highly reflective green paint and get just the tip of the top, or maybe the upper 1/4 of the sight with it.

Anyone see any problems with this? Will I be able to compete with this type of setup?

 

[30Cal]

The rifle can have any type of finish that you want. You could hard chrome the entire thing if you wanted to.

 

[Bwana John]

If your vision is that bad I would suggest a forward mounted "scout" scope.

There is a NM front sight that is narrower.

Dont use a felt pen for darkening sights, it is way too shiny, and rubs off too easy. Have the sight reparked if nesisary.

Sight black is great for target shooting, but kind of silly for a SHTF situation.

The USGI sight picture has been the best there is for 90 or so years as far as Im concerned. Trying to "fake it" with day-glow paint and such are just crutches you dont really need, and will fail you at the worst possible time by flaking off, or being dirty.

Its not easy, and it takes time, effort, and practice to shoot open sights well. But in the end you will not be reliant on battries, or glass, or paint, or radioactive vials of hydrogen isotopes.