Anyone paint their sights?
- Thread starter NAGANT
- Start date
L
Lost Dog
Guest
Back in earlier times before glow in the dark tritium sights and such, I knew many officers that would paint their front sight with luminous paint. They'd be sitting there during midnight shift roll call with their pistols on the tables and flashlights aimed at the sight. Then the Sgt would come in seeing a dozen handguns on tables and officers milling around gabbing away. The Sgt would bark at 'em and order all to holster their weapons before someone shot someone in the butt! It was a real riot at times.
Texas Hillbilly
Active Member
Nice job on the grips btw I've never had any trouble with sight black myself,bic lighter works too
If i use white targets black works ok, but i plink at all kinds of things and red/white helps me see better. Right now i have about 60 pieces of dead branches 3" to 6' across cut to six inch's long that i stand on a old punky log that's flat on top where i do most of my shooting. But ownership is in flux lately. I always clean up and cut and stack a good pile of wood for them every year so hope it works out.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Long ago a friend had me take a look over his sights to see what I thought. He had painted
the front sight on a self-defense snubbie baby blue! Hmmm, that can't work, right?
Turns out it stands out against essentially all things except the sky, and pretty unlikely to need
to shoot the sky with a snubbie.
Give it a try. Actually works better than most colors under low light and odd contrasting
colors of targets (clothes). Black sights disappear against black targets, white sights disappear
against white targets, red is less of a standout than you think, yellow is pretty good, but
get a model airplane paint bottle in that color (they still sell that stuff, right?) and give it
a try.
Bill
the front sight on a self-defense snubbie baby blue! Hmmm, that can't work, right?
Turns out it stands out against essentially all things except the sky, and pretty unlikely to need
to shoot the sky with a snubbie.
Give it a try. Actually works better than most colors under low light and odd contrasting
colors of targets (clothes). Black sights disappear against black targets, white sights disappear
against white targets, red is less of a standout than you think, yellow is pretty good, but
get a model airplane paint bottle in that color (they still sell that stuff, right?) and give it
a try.
Bill
Ian
Notorious member
Well, that's interesting, Bill! I'll have to try that, the logic is irrefutable.
As for model paint, it's probably illegal for anyone to purchase who's under 21, so parents would have to straw-purchase it for their kids, which is probably at least a class A misdemeanor most places, and a felony in California. Of course kids these days probably don't build model airplanes anymore, instead they watch utoob, play on the social networks, video games, and otherwise waste the peak learning years of their lives playing with gadgets.
I've been "carded" for buying masking tape at Home Depot. I'm 41. Go figure.
As for model paint, it's probably illegal for anyone to purchase who's under 21, so parents would have to straw-purchase it for their kids, which is probably at least a class A misdemeanor most places, and a felony in California. Of course kids these days probably don't build model airplanes anymore, instead they watch utoob, play on the social networks, video games, and otherwise waste the peak learning years of their lives playing with gadgets.
I've been "carded" for buying masking tape at Home Depot. I'm 41. Go figure.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I was in a hobby/model store about 6 months ago, all adults, no kids. I was getting a swash plate link for
a model helo that I am trying to learn to fly. Devilishly difficult little beasts. I had no trouble flying
a real helo, although the whole hovering thing is a LOT harder, but flying along isn't that much different
than an airplane. However, with a model, you are not in the cockpit (obviously) and orientation is an
issue. Also, you have to learn to hover first, the hardest part. Still working on it, and will need the
occasional trip to the hobby store to get parts...no doubt. Didn't notice if they still had the tiny bottles
of Testors paints.
Bill
a model helo that I am trying to learn to fly. Devilishly difficult little beasts. I had no trouble flying
a real helo, although the whole hovering thing is a LOT harder, but flying along isn't that much different
than an airplane. However, with a model, you are not in the cockpit (obviously) and orientation is an
issue. Also, you have to learn to hover first, the hardest part. Still working on it, and will need the
occasional trip to the hobby store to get parts...no doubt. Didn't notice if they still had the tiny bottles
of Testors paints.
Bill
KHornet
Well-Known Member
Your mod helo reminded me of one in Alaska. One of my troops built a pretty good size one in the barrack. It was mid winter, temps down to the -20 -30 mark and he didn't want to fly it out doors. I got him permission to fly it in one of the big hangers, and he had a goodly number of people to watch him. Took the thing off, something went wrong with the controls, it went straight up to and into the roof of the hanger. Did a lot of damage to the thing, and a lot of consternation on his part. Took him a long time to get the thing repaired, and he did fly it successfully out doors after spring break up. A very expensive toy!
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Yes, expensive. I got mine from my BIL's estate, he never got up enough guts to try it out, he paid about $200-250 for the thing, I would
estimate. Not wanting to have to replace a lot of parts --- I have been looking at videos on the net about how to best learn.
I have been learning slowly, with the "outriggers" - long thin carbon fiber fingers with an orange Ping-Pong ball on the end
as a visual cue and "wheel". If it hits the ground a bit tilted, they level it up, and the will slide and push upright if you are moving sideways when you
touch down, rather than catch and flip like the skids will, FAR fewer flipovers, FAR less rotor blade damage in learning phase.
Bill
estimate. Not wanting to have to replace a lot of parts --- I have been looking at videos on the net about how to best learn.
I have been learning slowly, with the "outriggers" - long thin carbon fiber fingers with an orange Ping-Pong ball on the end
as a visual cue and "wheel". If it hits the ground a bit tilted, they level it up, and the will slide and push upright if you are moving sideways when you
touch down, rather than catch and flip like the skids will, FAR fewer flipovers, FAR less rotor blade damage in learning phase.
Bill
Texas Hillbilly
Active Member
Hummm you guys need to learn to shoot from the hip,so you don't need the sights,remember your not shooting groups at night
9
9.3X62AL
Guest
I am not a strict precisionist when it comes to defensive shooting, and don't use sights until the target is 5-7 yards away. Familiarity with the arm being fired helps immensely with this "pointed" firing regimen. It might be a better description to say that during these firing sequences I am not consciously aware of sight usage--that is not to say that sights are ignored per se. More than half of my practice sequences involve this "pointed" firing at close quarters, and has its basis in personal experience and case history.
That said, for low-light or darkness shooting tritium sights are a HUGE plus--ESPECIALLY with the rifles. I paid for a set to outfit my issued AR-15.......worth their weight in gold, AFAIC.
That said, for low-light or darkness shooting tritium sights are a HUGE plus--ESPECIALLY with the rifles. I paid for a set to outfit my issued AR-15.......worth their weight in gold, AFAIC.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
In agreement here, Al. For short range I find that the clean silhouette of the slide (see no side or top) is adequate for very rapid
"slide alignment", and at about 10 yds the front sight has to be seen. Night sights are a plus, added them to my bedside gun
a very long time ago. Have added a green laser to my "around the house" AR after seeing a really interesting video of a home
defense simulation with the defender using a laser sighted AR in dim light. Extremely effective, especially from odd barricaded
positions where normal sight use is problematic.
Has anyone else spent time with First Person Defender series online? IMO, they bring a lot to the discussion and learning about
self defense. I have been to a number of training classes, and those are important and valuable, but these well done videos
also an help with thinking through your responses to various possible incidents.
Bill
"slide alignment", and at about 10 yds the front sight has to be seen. Night sights are a plus, added them to my bedside gun
a very long time ago. Have added a green laser to my "around the house" AR after seeing a really interesting video of a home
defense simulation with the defender using a laser sighted AR in dim light. Extremely effective, especially from odd barricaded
positions where normal sight use is problematic.
Has anyone else spent time with First Person Defender series online? IMO, they bring a lot to the discussion and learning about
self defense. I have been to a number of training classes, and those are important and valuable, but these well done videos
also an help with thinking through your responses to various possible incidents.
Bill
Texas Hillbilly
Active Member
"Shooting from the hip, beyond about 3-4 yards is "missing from the hip" for 99.999% of shooters."
mostly some truth to this statment which is why I said learn to shoot from the hip" not just shot from the hip.
mostly some truth to this statment which is why I said learn to shoot from the hip" not just shot from the hip.
James W. Miner
Active Member
I hate the S&W red inserts and anything with a glow.
Flat black sight paint or carbide smoke.
Sights should be as flat black with no glare as you can make them.
Flat black sight paint or carbide smoke.
Sights should be as flat black with no glare as you can make them.
Yes, most of my handguns have paint on the sights. I find it hard to even see the sights without paint. I use the small bottles of model paint that are available in hobby shops. I tried the so-called luminescent paints available at gun shops, but it did not work for me. I clean off the front and rear sight with alcohol first, then paint the front one white. The rear one is painted yellow. After they fully dry, I cover them with a clear paint coat. I am careful not to soak the paint in solvent or oil and the paint lasts a long time. It is easy to touch-up or strip-off and repaint. At least I can see the sights now.