Walther PPQ .22LR replacement sights

grimreefer

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The rear sight on my 5" model sucks the big one, so I'm going to make a couple different styles and then probably make them available through shapeways (very high quality 3D printing in many different materials).

My question to other owners of this pistol: Do you find that the stock sight is too high, even when fully adjusted into the lowest position?
 
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*crickets*

Okayyy....since I'm the only person in Canada that owns this pistol I will just go ahead and talk to myself a bit here. I started this tonight by modeling the stock sight and printing it as a low quality sample to test fit/etc. I also made it 1mm shorter as I find the stock sight too high. First thing I noticed is that I will need a different color. Either a contrasting high viz color or black with white paint (the stock sight is all black and I lose it against a dark target).

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i totally agree with color change
Which part, that you don't like the stock all black or you don't like the orange?

Because the orange is growing on me. The fiber optic front sight is still much brighter and easy to pick up. I blacked out everything other than the face of my rear orange sight with a sharpie for added contrast. I should be able to try it out at the range tomorrow but I think I'm going to like it.

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Pretty hard to take a decent picture of the sight picture with my camera, but it is pretty crisp even though it's just a low quality proto with less than sharp edges.
 
I like the orange contrast better than the stock black.."the stock sight is all black and I lose it against a dark target" i also agree!
Can't wait the hear back with a range report. good work and thanks for posting!
 
Tried it and liked it. Unfortunately it still shoots just a touch high, but it is MUCH better than it was. If I lower the sight any more, then the adjustment screw becomes visible in the sight picture so that's as good as it gets. I like how the dot rides just above the bottom of the rear sight instead of just floating there. I also made the part wider so there is less play...the stock sight is a bit of seesaw.

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I just ordered my finished model from Shapeways in black matte steel and two types of black plastic. There's a bit of a recessed guide to apply model paint or nail polish or whatever you wish. Once I receive the parts I will check fit, etc and make them available to order on their site.
 
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I got an email from shapeways saying the plastic one didn't pass their pre-production checks, so you will probably be refunded for that one. The steel on says it's in production though.
 
Received my sight from Shapeways. Did not fit very well. I suspect the black texturing of the steel put the dimensions over my design. I basically had to file down all the faces until the black was gone. I will post pics and more info later. I've had it at the range a couple times and it seems like it's finally on target so that's good.
 
Tried it and liked it. Unfortunately it still shoots just a touch high, but it is MUCH better than it was. If I lower the sight any more, then the adjustment screw becomes visible in the sight picture so that's as good as it gets. I like how the dot rides just above the bottom of the rear sight instead of just floating there. I also made the part wider so there is less play...the stock sight is a bit of seesaw.

rear%20sight_zps89fjdxbf.jpg


I just ordered my finished model from Shapeways in black matte steel and two types of black plastic. There's a bit of a recessed guide to apply model paint or nail polish or whatever you wish. Once I receive the parts I will check fit, etc and make them available to order on their site.

Can't you just file down the top of your insert a bit to lower your point of impact? Or have a higher front sight printed/milled for it?
 
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You could. I didn't want to modify my factory sight though. It would also be easy to file too much and release the spring and then you'd be hooped.

Part of the issue with these sights is that the adjustment screw is blocking where the appropriate notch should be. I'm still shooting high so now I'm thinking about removing the adjustment screw and designing the insert so that it is "fixed" and can be lower than possible with the adjustment screw in the way.
 
You could. I didn't want to modify my factory sight though. It would also be easy to file too much and release the spring and then you'd be hooped.

Part of the issue with these sights is that the adjustment screw is blocking where the appropriate notch should be. I'm still shooting high so now I'm thinking about removing the adjustment screw and designing the insert so that it is "fixed" and can be lower than possible with the adjustment screw in the way.

How is the front sight held on? Can it be replaced?

Or file down the head of the adjustment screw a little bit?

I really hate how guns come from the factory with sights that just don't work. My Rossi Ranch Hand hit about 3' high at 50 yds with the rear lowered all the way. I milled out a new higher front one that was perfect and then went to a red dot anyways.
 
You could. I didn't want to modify my factory sight though. It would also be easy to file too much and release the spring and then you'd be hooped.

Part of the issue with these sights is that the adjustment screw is blocking where the appropriate notch should be. I'm still shooting high so now I'm thinking about removing the adjustment screw and designing the insert so that it is "fixed" and can be lower than possible with the adjustment screw in the way.

I meant file it here, not in the notch. That would lower your POI but you would end up with a slightly shallow notch for the dot on the front sight.
 
There's a large windage piece that fits into a dovetail on the slide, with a set screw. The elevation part (the part I've replicated) is captive in the windage piece, with a spring underneath pushing up, and the adjustment screw on top of a nub that protrudes from the front of it.

edit: bah...I just re-read your post and see that you said front sight not rear. I don't think the front can be replaced without doing something custom. The fiber optic is nice too.

I'm sure I could file down the adjustment screw or something, but the gun is really beautiful man...I don't wanna do that.
 
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