Most visible paint for sight??

[rocinante]

Is there a red or orange or other vibrant glowing paint I could use to jazz up my front sights. My vision is not that good up close and I just can not see black on black.

Cheap and available retail would really help. I guess glow in the dark would be best I can find but I want freaking glow in the day too. Are there any always on leds or something small enough I could glue on as a dot?

Just thought I would ask the gurus.

 

[dfariswheel]

The two best colors are fluorescent Red and fluorescent Green.

Green is actually the most visible color in both bright light and dim light, where Red looks black under dim light.

A good type of paint to use is model airplane paint.
It comes in small bottles, it comes in a huge variety of colors, it's cheap, and works well. It's also easy to remove with Acetone if you want it off.

For Fluorescent Red, first coat the sight with a coat of White. This acts as a reflector base for the Fluorescent Red and makes it even brighter.
Just apply a coat of White with a small artist's brush then let dry until it's BONE dry.
Then apply a coat of the Red and let dry.
These model paints need to be thoroughly stirred to mix the paint or it won't work as well. Shaking isn't enough.

There is "glow in the dark" luminous paint, but save your money, it's a joke.
The paint will only glow faintly for a few minutes, and that only after you hold the sights under a bright light for a few minutes.
If you want night sights, buy real Tritium night sights.

 

[Leadhead]

Nail polish works too.

 

[1 old 0311]

Nail polish. Cheap. Easy to apply. Stays on pretty well.

 

[rocinante]

Thanks guys. I would love night sights but I do not think my S&W 915 will take them.

 

[GeorgeR]

Po' Boy Night Sights

Here's my experience: I've used paint from www.glowpaintpro.com that glows for 8+ hours. Dfariswheel is right in that green is by far the most visible and long lasting. I use a dab of white nail polish as an undercoat and be carefull not to stir the paint and crush the crystals. The thicker the better, so put on three or more coats. I bought 1/2 oz of The "Acrylic Polymer Emulsion Glow Paint" which is a lifetime supply and then some. For me, it is far superior to model paint, art store glow paint etc.

 

[Jim Watson]

Dfarriswheel is right as to method of application. I find, in fibre optic sights, that green can be TOO bright, so I use red. Guns without fibre optics get Model Master Fluorescent Red (which has an orangish cast and is brighter than Testor's) over a white base coat.

I might have to try the stuff GeorgeR is talking about.

Meprolight shows tritium night sights for S&W 908. Are the slides not similar to 915? I would call them or Brownell's up and see if they would suit.

 

[barefootbill]

I coat the paint with clear nail polish to keep the paint from wearing off.

 

[Shooter973]

Paint?

I bought a small bottle of Florescent orange paint from Wally World, in the real paint dept. About 2-3 oz. and very bright. Only a couple of $ and enough paint to do 100's of front sights. I use a tooth pick to apply the paint , and so far have had very good results with it. Done it to a lot of my handguns because my eyes don't pick up a dark front sight very well anymore. Even did it to an SKS, and a couple of rifles that have the open sights on them, works well on them also!!!

 

[lebshiff21]

I bought a small bottle of Florescent orange paint from Wally World, in the real paint dept. About 2-3 oz. and very bright. Only a couple of $ and enough paint to do 100's of front sights. I use a tooth pick to apply the paint , and so far have had very good results with it. Done it to a lot of my handguns because my eyes don't pick up a dark front sight very well anymore. Even did it to an SKS, and a couple of rifles that have the open sights on them, works well on them also!!!

I've got the same stuff... Testors makes it. It's usually near the model cars.

 

[HiWayMan]

Tequila sunrise by Rimmel

http://store.facevaluesonline.com/5012874103232.html

Brightest orange I've found in nailpolish. All my stainless and blued front sights wear it.

 

[Brian Williams]

I use Construction marking paint, it is flat orange and does not reflect any glare or highlights.

 

[Shipwreck]

To me - I find plain white the best - I have tried colors before.

 

[Grayrider]

Handy thread guys. I just got a new Witness with a different blade design on the front than past models, so was looking for a good paint to use to color it. I think I will try that glow in the dark paint referenced above. My only concern is how it will stick to the tennifer/wonder finish used on Witnesses. That stuff is pretty slick.

John

 

[jeepmor]

It's not a paint, but Bullfrog Ken has some images in here of his 1911's that employ a gold/brass bead. He said it's the true "old school" night site.

jeepmor

 

[AStone]

This is all useful advice. Thx.

Paying special attention to D'Wheel's ideas.

 

[Grayrider]

I want to thank GeorgeR for the tip about Ready Set Glo paint products. I bought a couple tubes from them and am amazed at how long it glows. After arriving to me via airmail from Canada in a heavy sealed envelope that surely let in no light, the two tubes still glowed in my dark bedroom closet well enough to easily be seen. I checked during the night perhaps 6 hours later and could still see them without difficulty. The tubes say 24 hours of glow, but I would bet that is an understatement. Of course small amounts on sights might be less visible over time. I plan to paint several gun sights and will see how it lasts. I bought both the green that is supposed to be longest lasting, and an aqua that is stated as second longest.

John

 

[Babarsac]

The gentleman I got my SKS from put whiteout on the front sight, and t's worked well for me. Might be cheaper then some of the other options out there.