SP101 Sight Modification Idea...

[Ghost Tracker]

Since there seems to be several SP101 fans around here, I have an idea for SP101 sight mods & would surely appreciate y'alls opinions.

I've looked at the three styles of "Small Wonder" sights from Gemini Customs, I've read-up on Triijicon & Meprolight front sight replacement (night sights) and the XS 24/7 "Big Dot" style replacements. So I'm reasonably familiar with the available options.

But recently I thought about an AMAZING SP101 sight set-up (if it works!). The XS 24/7 front sight replacement is available in 2 sizes; the "Big Dot" & the Standard. The difference between them is only the size of the white ring surrounding the tritium insert (the tritium insert is the same size on both styles).

I want to install the Standard Dot XS 24/7 front night sight. But THEN...I want to extend the "U" shaped channel at the top of the frame rearward by milling AWAY the square notch that serves as the factory rear sight. The channel will be the same size all the way across as it exits the rear of the frame. So, when aligning the sights, you're now putting a round (dot) front sight into the bottom of a "U" shaped channel (But wait, it gets BETTER). THEN I'll polish the stainless inside of the "U" shaped channel to a mirror finish. If this idea works like my prototype has, the green glow from the tritium insert (when correctly aligned with the target) will reflect along both sides of the channel equally around the dot in a green "halo sffect". So, you have the effect of a REAR tritium night sight on an SP101 only because the the front tritium night sight reflects equally around the dot on the sides of the polished "U" shaped channel. In poor lighting, if you don't see the reflection, or the reflection isn't equal on both sides of the halo, then your sights AREN'T aligned. In good lighting, the dot & "U" channel should provide a fine sight picture.

What do y'all think?

 

[rdaines]

With a snubby the idea is that it is a close range gun, arm's length to maybe 14 yards. Just focus on the front sight and put it on the center of mass. Nothing fancy, no head shots just COM. For me I just added a little red paint to the front sight to make it more visible for me. That said, it sound like a cool project.

 

[DrDanke]

I'm hearing you Ghost Tracker. I can picture exactly what you mean and I like the idea. I found myself doing the exact same thing with the standard Trijicon front sight on the SP101. In the dark, you can see a slight reflection in the rear sight channel. I found myself wondering if the little reflection could be used as a kind of simulated rear night sight. It's too small to focus on in my setup, but I could imagine if the square channel was rounded and mirror polished. I wonder if the standard square channel was mirror polished with a standard square post night sight up front if it would help produce the same effect.

I'd say it's worth a try. If you already got the XS sight up front, go ahead and polish the factory square channel rear sight, and see if it helps.. If not, well you are a brave man if you hack away and round out your channel. Personally, I would simulate the setup first with a round ball mill cut out of some aluminum then mirror polish the channel and placing the night sight at the front and see what kind of reflection you can get while looking through the other end.

 

[Imaginos]

You are describing a very old sight set up called a "hog wallow" that was used on black powder revolvers like the Remington 1858 New Army and others that had a top strap.

One of the problems with the old hog wallow sight channels was sunlight creating glare on one side of the sight channel and causing the shooter to misinterpret his sight picture and shoot "away" from the glare. At night, this might not be a problem, but I would not want to have to compensate for a 150 year old design flaw in a daytime emergency.

The fixed notch rear sight evolved because the older sighting methods were not working well. Otherwise we would still have sight notches in the hammer noses of our pistols.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Thanks Guys...

rdaines, I don't know if you've ever shot a 3.06" SP101...but the heavy little SOB thinks it's a Target Revolver. Golfball hits at 35 yards are commonplace.

DrDanke, it's nothing for me to hack-up a perfectly good gun in pursuit of a good gun made "perfect". But yeah, I'm not quite confident enough in the prototyped theory yet. But I'm in the Gage & Fixture business, surrounded by VERY skilled machinists and CNC Machining Cells. If I DO cut-out the square rear sight into a "U" & don't like it, I'll just have it welded-up & install the cool new J-Frame sight that Hamilton Bowen has recently developed. Go look at his website.

Imaginos, I'm familiar with Single Action "Hog Wallow" rear sights. I'm also familiar with "gutter" style sights on several modern, covert pocket autos including Kimber, etc. I think an easy trick to avoid sight glare in the daylight would be to blacken the inside of the sight channel everywhere EXCEPT the small, exact location where the tritium will reflect in bad light when the sights are aligned. That way, the chance of accidental misalignment because of glare is greatly diminished.

 

[bigmike45]

Ghost Tracker,

Can I make a suggestion here. Before you alter that great little Ruger, and since you have the resources, find a piece of stainless or aluminum bar and try your theory out on that. If it does not work, you have not altered the gun. I have prototyped ideas like that before with other items. You can mill the front sight slot and stick yours into it. It does not need to be pined to test. Cut your U slot behind and give it a try.

bigmike45

 

[Serpico]

A mirror finish on top of your gun might be distracting when shooting under normal lighting conditions and especially outside in the sun...

 

[rdaines]

I don't know if you've ever shot a 3.06" SP101...but the heavy little SOB thinks it's a Target Revolver. Golfball hits at 35 yards are commonplace.

I do have a 2.5 inch SP-101 but I've never tired to shoot 35 yard golf balls. I was just pointing out that for it's intended purpose, the SP-101 does not need modification. Obviously if the poster wants to that's his business and it may turn into a pretty neat revolver. I think fiber optic sights are cool but I'm not gonna change what already works wells.

 

[Walkalong]

35 yard golf balls

That's a mighty big golf ball.

 

[Serpico]

While my gun was at Gemini Customs, Marc recommended the fiber optic...I was skepical at first but after using it, I found it awesome...it may not be any use at night but at bad breath range, I'm gonna point shoot anyway...but for the rest of the time, it really makes shooting it a whole lot more fun....

 

[rdaines]

Suppose the light tube broke at an inopportune time, using the rest of the front sight how does the POI change at 7 and 14 yards? I like all these "improvements" that can be added or swapped out these days but stuff does break and batteries do wear out. Nothing like iron, fixed sights for dependability.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

bigmike45, I've already built & tested two prototypes. The second was checked for precise height (center of front sight, C/L of channel) on a CMM. No, I'll be SURE of my intent well-before I start carving on my pistol.

Serpico, the only part of the top of my pistol that will be mirror polished is the small, exact location (inside the channel) upon which the tritium vial will reflect its green glow when the front sight & "U" channel are aligned at the target. ALL other areas inside the channel will be black coated. Since none of the channel surface is perpendicular to my eyes, the only way to catch a glare outdoors on a clear day is to be pointing AT the sun. That's very unlikely.

rdaines, I not sure what "for its intended purpose" means. The intended purpose for MY OWN SP101 isn't limited to "a snubby, close-range gun". My 3.06" SP101 is a woods-walking, bass-fishing field revolver in a compact size that happens to shoot like a full-sized Service Revolver. If I stick with 125 gr. .357 mag. ammo, it groups 2-2.5" POA @ 25 yards. That's about as good as I can hold even with my 4" S&W 686, and the SP101 carries much easier. By the way...where did you find a 2.5" SP101? All the ones I've seen are 2.25" or 3.06".