Drill out rear Mepro night sights

[jpm]

I don't want to change out my rear Mepro night sight on my Kimber, but I want it blackened out. I painted it, but it doesn't last. Can I drill out the vials with the appropriate sized bit? Is the liquid deadly or something?

[Dave Berryhill]

I've got to admit, this is the first time I've heard anyone ask about this. The vials are filled with tritium (H3) which is a mildly radioactive gas. It's a small quanitity but I can't imagine that it would be good for you. I don't know what to tell you other than to check with Meprolight about it first or consider replacing the sight.

[kotonk]

how bout filling the dots with some black crayon?

[John]

I did punch the vials out on my tritium sights some years ago and I am still alive. Then I filled the holes with some material that gets as rigid as steel when dried out and painted them black.

Obviously tritium is a radiactive material, that's how you get the glow in those things, but the quantity used in the vials is very small, so you are not going to get radioactive by it (at least I didn't glow in the night!). It definitely is better if you can remove them in a control, laboratory environment, but I didn't have access to one.

Not a very environmental-friendly thing to do (what if every owner of tritium sights does it? I do not know.) but also not something to worry about if you do it.

OK, Greenpeace guys can sue me now.

[jpm]

That's about what I figured, John. I think I'll wear rubber gloves and grab the drill. I'll bury the remains in the back yard. If I die, who wants my SS Kimber Gold Combat series 1?

[stans]

I'll take it! Unless it is rusty, corroded, and otherwise beaten up, like the one at my local pawn and gun shop still sitting in the case for $600!

[John]

That's about what I figured, John. I think I'll wear rubber gloves and grab the drill. I'll bury the remains in the back yard. If I die, who wants my SS Kimber Gold Combat series 1?
I am not sure if there will be anything left to bury. These things are tiny pieces of glass (or plastic) filled with a gas. Just do it outside the house if possible and forget about it.

Rgds