Painting sights on my Super Blackhawk?

[MovedWest]

I'm having trouble at certain times about losing my sights against the color of some targets. I'm using a Ruger SBH with the factory iron sights. When I can see, I can ring consistent bullseyes past 25 yds.

I'm thinking about outlining the inside of my rear sight with hi-vis white and painting the trailing edge (the side facing me) of my front sight a bright red or orange. I figure the combination of the colors would stand out against anything under most lighting conditions.

My question to you all is what type of paint would be best for this? Looking for durability and longevity.

-MW

 

[Claymore1500]

I would have to say that the best might be some type of "urethane or epoxy" based paint, Pretty much any type of enamel will be dissolved by the gun solvents when you clean the gun

 

[Floppy_D]

For me, nail polish has worked quite well. I was going to do hi-viz green on the back, and hot orange on the front sight, but I found the front sight alone to be adequate. I've since done about 4 guns with a bright orange front ramp, I now find it more difficult to use anything else.

 

[ArmedBear]

If in doubt, try pastel, colored chalk or something first. Play around with it, and use good paint when you know what you want.

 

[MovedWest]

Thanks for your input guys! I value your info greatly.

-MW

 

[Hawaiian]

Many gun shops have paint specifically designed to paint gun sights.

 

[rcmodel]

Testers Model paint in the little glass bottles is enamel, and holds up very well if you de-grease the sights first. It is available in a wide array of colors for little cost.

With that said, maximum accuracy will be achieved with plain black sights.

Bright colored sights will reflect light differently at different sun angles, and cause your groups to wander one way or the other.

NRA Bullseye competitors smoked their sights with lamp-black to cut down sun induced glare and lower scores.

rc

 

[heron]

Nail polish, model paint, some spray-paint shot onto something and then dipped on with a toothpick or swab.

I tried some "BrightSights" paint -- can't recommend it; it took me three tries to get it to stick. It's water-soluble until dry, takes a long time to dry. I strongly suspect that it's exactly the same thing as fabric paint.

I like nail polish -- it comes with its own brush, dries in minutes, cheap, tough. I even found some in phosphorescent green, around Halloween time.

Even better, though, are the fiber-optic jobs. I got one for my GP 100 (front only), and I love it.

 

[MovedWest]

I thought about the Testors paint. I think I had more colors of that as a kid than I ever got in a box of crayons.

How would you smoke a front sight? This sounds like something that would interest me.

My big problem with the black metal sights is when shooting a black target. Black on black on black doesn't provide enough contrast for me to keep from completely losing the sights in my target. Ironically I notice it most with shoot-n-see's. I cover holes in the center of my target with the shoot-n-see and then take 20 shots to hit the shoot-n-see just once so I can find it to keep hitting it.

-MW

 

[HB]

NRA Bullseye competitors smoked their sights with lamp-black to cut down sun induced glare and lower scores.

I do this if there is adequate lighting (usually plenty indoors) and it makes a huge difference. Just taking a lighter or matches works too.
For a woods gun however, I like a little pink paint on the front sight. Makes it much easier to see the sights against a deer or squirrel. I usually try to make it as flat as possible to avoid glare.

HB

 

[BCRider]

MovedWest, you can blacken the sights with a regular lighter. Just hold the sight being blackened about a 1/4 inch higher than the tip of the flame. Practice on a bit of bright aluminium or steel first. A candle is quicker and sootier.

But that won't help on the issue of shooting black targets if your eyes can't differentiate. For that you'll want some contrasting colours just as you've mentioned already.

For now forget about permanency until you find colours that work well for your eyes and target situations. Play with some colors be they from a Testors or Floquil (check the model railroad hobby shops for this excellent quality model paint) until you get an option that contrasts well with the majority of your usual target situations. THEN look for something more permanent. But really I'll suggest you just stick with touching up the model paint here and there. It's tough enough that it'll withstand a lot over a long time period. When it chips just touch up the chips.

 

[rcmodel]

How would you smoke a front sight?

We used these when I shot for Army AMU years ago.
Screw the cap off and spit in them to activate the carbide granules.
http://www.ray-vin.com/gunsight/gunsmoke.htm

http://www.ray-vin.com/gunsight/smoker.htm

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=4964&title=SIGHT BLACK

rc

 

[DBR]

For me as my eyes age flat white seems to work best. It reduces the off angle lighting effects and at least I can see the edges of the furry sights.

I like the square edged white outline rear sights with a white dot front in a black, conventional, square front post. If lighting allows I can use the black front outline otherwise I can see the front dot in the white rear "U".

 

[CSA 357]

I am color blind, red sights dont work well for me. i like yellow, white, for target shooting black works, night sights are great too! gold bead sights also work for me, csa

 

[WardenWolf]

Paint the sight first in white primer paint. Most gun sight paints are semi-transparent, and unless you paint it white first it won't be as bright as it should be.