SP101 - front sight recommendations

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Waveski

Waveski

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This has probably been kicked around before , but here goes...

I recently came to the conclusion that the reason I haven't shot my Ruger SP101 in quite awhile is because of the poor front sight. My eyes are not what they used to be , and the brick-like front sight is not providing the info I need. my first thought is Hi-Vis fiber optic , but I would like to carry the SP occasionally , and the fiber optic sight looks kind of snag prone.

All suggestions for a front sight which would be good on the range and carry well will be appreciated!

'Ski
 
The hi-viz works for me for carry. For range use (bulls eye stuff) it isn't the right height. But for defensive purposes I find it fast and instinctive to use.
I probably have a thousand or more draw/fire from concealment cycles on mine and no problems with the FO sight.
 
Had the same problem here. Went with the XS-Big Dot front sight. Helped a lot but probably not the best choice. To hit with it requires a very non-standard sight picture. Real precision is not easy. The front sight DOES get your attention right quick, though.

If I had it to do over again, I'd try the XS-Small Dot sight. Same idea, just not as big.

Secondary sighting system is a CT laser grip. When you get old, you do what you gotta do.
 
I put the XS Standard Dot on mine. Nice white circle by day, bright green light at night. I also put one on my LCR357.
 
XS big dot on mine. Pistol is mostly used for speed practice and holster work. I like this type of sight on a gun with minimal rear sights, like the grooves we have on the small revolvers. Real rear sights get a more normal front sight in my book.

158 class bullets tend to go right where they should with my sight, though I do not usually use hot 357s. FWIW any 158ish hot 38 special load has gone where I expected it to. I center the dot in the rear grooves and shoot. Plenty accurate for any practical use of my Sp101.

Aimed single action or double action shots are very doable out to 50 yards for me, mind you this is not shooting quarters lol. Oranges and potatoes are very splattered out to 25 yards. Coffee cans get perforated very easy out to 50 yards with the big dot and slow fire hot 38 specials.
 
I currently have a XS Standard Dot tritium on mine. Originally, the stock sight had orange paint on it and was a bit better than stock. Tried the Big Dot and it covered up too much for my purposes so have the Standard on it now. Standard, for me, is plenty big to find quickly day or night.
 
Disliked the standard dot and the hi viz fiber optic. Both sacrificed precision (and not for speed) across the board and also skewed ranged fire.

Not acceptable. My LCRs both sport a factory site painted orange over a white basecoat. One has CT laser grips which I do recommend. Both are among the most visible of all my front sights.
 
Meprolight tritium worked for me. Stock sight was useless with aging eyes.
 

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For my SP101s (357mag/3 inch) went to the local beauty supply store. Found a bottle of high vis orange. Small bottle cost about a dollar. Works fine for my old eyes.
 
I second what Wolfe2701 just mentioned! My daughter carelessly left a bottle of fluorescent orange nail polish in the living room... I have now painted several of my gun sights with it... including some rifles. It works so well I even painted the front sight on my new LCR so now the sight doesn't get lost on a white target. Paint it on, let it dry, touch-up and you're good to go. Try it before you knock it. I've also had people look at my SP101 and mention that they like the front sight, (not realizing it was done at home)! I have old eyes too and this works for me. If you don't like the look, it's easily un-done!

I do have a Hi-Viz sight on my S&W329PD. I have a holster for that gun that is not a full length holster, (the front of the barrel is exposed when the gun is seated & snapped into place), so when I draw the gun, the Hi-Viz sight has to come back into the holster and back out again. I have never had the front sight snag on a draw... ever.
 
I just paint my front sights. I used to use the fluorescent orange but the last several sights have been fluorescent green. It really shows up. Also put a base of white paint on first. It helps reflect the light through the top coat of paint.
 
I have painted the front sight on my SP , and that did not satisfy my needs.

I have looked at the HiViz and it is much cleaner in appearance than I thought. Does not look like it will snag. A bit neater in appearance than the Small Wonder. I think that I am between the XS Standard Dot and the HiViz. I have no experience with tritium. That is a material with a finite working life , correct?
 
Ratshooter said:
I just paint my front sights. I used to use the fluorescent orange but the last several sights have been fluorescent green. It really shows up. Also put a base of white paint on first. It helps reflect the light through the top coat of paint.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea about the base white paint. I used green and it dried a little darker than I wanted. It still works fine, but a white base might have helped a bit.
 
"The hi-viz works for me for carry. For range use (bulls eye stuff) it isn't the right height."

SHOWMEBOB --- Not the right height - high or low?
 
Ratshooter said:
I Also put a base of white paint on first. It helps reflect the light through the top coat of paint.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I did for my SP101's front sight. Ive tried different colors against different sight pictures on other guns too. Neon green isn't so great against the Appalachian woods in the summer sun.

That Gemini Customs front sight sure looks nice too.
 
For my daughter's 3rd birthday, we went to a local soap shop and had a princess themed party where the little girls made lip gloss and nail polish and the guys made shaving cream.

The girls were encouraged to make any color polish they wanted. My daughter came up with this weird goldish orange that is utterly obnoxious. However it catches the light like crazy and contrasts against most things. I've painted my sp101 with it and it's held up well over the last 7 months.
 
Here is where I am at: ... I started out wanting a brass bead. The bead front sight on my Marlin 30/30 goes on target beautifully. Various individuals pointed me in various directions , none favoring my idea. I lost focus as to what to do , so I came here for advice. After a lot of helpful input on this forum - for which I am grateful - I nearly pushed the button on a HiViz. I ran that past #2 son , and he said "Dad , you have a polished stainless steel with checkered walnut grips. Are you really gonna put a day-glo green piece of plastic on it?" He is right. I can't do it. I am back to the brass bead - that would look classy , I think. The only source I know of for that item is Gemini , but their gold bead costs $110 (!) , more than I care to spend. In addition to the price , I am hesitant because the aforementioned son bought the Gemini sight for his Ruger , and had to spend hours filing it to fit.

My idea : tomorrow I pay a visit to a local smith , for the purpose of looking at his stash of shotgun brass bead sights. I think I can find one with a small enough post so that I can mill the stock sight to make it flush with the barrel , then drill and tap it to accept the brass bead sight.

A custom brass bead front sight. How's that for an idea?
 
A gunsmith should be able to fashion a patridge style sight blade and drill and insert a brass screw(bead) in the rear or gold. I have had both in the past and the brass tarnished on me rather quickly. The gold is brighter.
 
Rev - That is an idea worth considering. As to brass tarnishing , I have found that to be easy to deal with. A cue tip and Brasso does the job.
 
The Wiley Clapp SP-101 has a gold bead front sight. It's a really nice gun and that front sight can't be beat. Maybe Ruger can help you out with one?
 
OR ...

I have a friend who is a jeweler , and has a safe full of guns in the back of his shop. I think I should pay him a visit ... see what he has in gold beads.
 
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