Sight Visability

[JohnV]

I have a Gold Cup with Bowmar sights and a Commander with standard sights, moveable rear. What would you recommend to increase sight visibility? I like the dot alignment sights that I have shot on Sig. Can I paint dots on the sights that would be serviceable?

[wichaka]

From a defense standpoint, you want to be able to pick up the front sight, don't worry about the rear sight. At combat range..........basically what the gun was designed for..........people place too much emphasis on the rear sight. If you're trying to get your sights lined up during a gunfight, you've already lost..........or the bullet is on its way with your name on it.........because you're taking too long.

I recommend putting something on the front sight to draw your eye to it. Something along the line of white paint or the like. The rear sight should be left black. When you get out to about 15yds or so, then the rear sight starts to become a factor.

wichaka's sight use rule of thumb;

If your target is bigger than your sights, get to shootin'.

If your sights are bigger than your target, better get on 'em.

[John]

Well, I have a small bottle of something called Bright Sights. It's a paint that you can apply to your front (or rear) sight and get the three dot effect you want. I did this in some sights, but they already had the recesses for the dots, without them, I am not sure.

The thing is that the manufacturer's site is not working at this moment, but it is (was) www.brightsights.com

Rgds

[SMMAssociates]

John:

I played with "Bright Sights" a while back. Works OK, but if you ignore their "glow in the dark" materials, you can get enamel paints from a hobby shop that work about as well, and in more colors. I didn't find the "glow in the dark" all that good. There's something in the paint that makes it really jump out under fluorescent lighting, though.

"Bright Sights" use a resin-loaded paint that makes for a thick coating that can be easily removed if desired, but seems to be fairly good when there are already little holes or dimples to paint in. The enamel's are hard to get rid of, but will coat flat surfaces well.

I ended up putting almost everything back to "factory", but need to try a white front again.

Regards,

[bearandoldman]

Got to agree with Wichaka lood at the target see the front sight and if you try to look for the rear you are dead. I have put a HiViz with the crimson dot on my SA loaded prkerized 5 in and on my 22/45 5.5 inch guns and shooting IDPA targtets that open for 2 to 3 seconds then edge out and move to another distance, I can usually get 2 in the 0 ring or very close with the SA andup to 5 with the Ruger per exposure. It' a lot of fun and quick action point and shoot is my game as I have just recently got back into pistol after shootin 1000's of rounds at clay targets in sporting clays. I still do not have aprobably will never develope the slow trigger squeeze required to shoot bullseye but thei action stuff is very close to shotgunning and I am having more fun with a pistol than I have ever had. I can usuall manage to keep all of the shots very close to the Wichaka hand standard.

[John]

I guess you are right Stu, I have some modelling paint which is almost as bright as Bright Sights. Like you, I 've also gone back to standard black sights, for other reasons though, dumping some pretty expensive tritiums on the way, as well. Works for me!

Rgds

[JohnV]

Thanks for the note. I too have been on the FITASC-Sporting Tourney Trail for years. The cost and commitment to shoot in Master Class has turned me off. Today I look to another interest, namely, pistol shooting. I hope to get into the self defense shoots.

I too find that the target acquisition in the two sports are opposed. The shotgun likes target clarity and follow through. The pistol likes front sight clarity and firmness.

Good shooting. JohnV.

[SMMAssociates]

I'm undecided on the tritium. A friend locally will do 'em for the Para for about the same price Para was offering, and without involving mailing anything, but....

Ohio's got a "must retreat" specification in the law that puts one in an odd situation. If it's too dark to see the sights without enhancement, it may be too dark to shoot legally....

Still, I think there may be a slight advantage to the tritium when the situation is marginal, especially if you're older. I'm not exactly ancient, but I have to swap my single-focus range glasses for trifocals if I need to work on a gun down there.... (I'm 58.) Might just do it anyway....

White dots, meantime, like my Tac-Four, don't seem to make much difference for me. Whether the dots are visible or not seems to depend on a lot of difficult to control in the real world factors. On the range, they get in the way, but that's because of the way the place is lit.... I left them at "factory" for now.

I'm inclined to think that a red ramp front sight and black rear sights may be the way to go. The problem is in getting that front sight coloring in exactly the right place.

Regards,

[bearandoldman]

Was heavily involved in NSCA sporting clays and running the registered shoots at my local club. Got involved with a shooter cheating his wasy into first place at on ef my shoots and that really turned me off to the sport????. Totally got out of the registered just shoot for my own enjuyment now plus the dog Bear and I set the targets and maintain the course at my local club (not the same on e as before, we parted ways shortly after thaqt chaeating fiasvo) I you read shotgun sports website all you know what I am talking about.

I too find that the target acquisition in the two sports are opposed. The shotgun likes target clarity and follow through. The pistol likes front sight clarity and firmness.

Good shooting. JohnV.[/QUOTE]

[wichaka]

I'm undecided on the tritium. A friend locally will do 'em for the Para for about the same price Para was offering, and without involving mailing anything, but....

If you're going to go night sights, then at least go with the front sight only having the insert and leave the rear sight as is. Works very well.......

There are times when you can see your target well enough, just can't find the front sight very fast.........the above will help that.