Front Sight for poor sight....

Twisted Canuck

Twisted Canuck

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
125   0   0
Location
Alberta
So my lovely wife got me a range membership to our new indoor range in town, an early Christmas present. Great facility, well lit, massive air exchange and first rate sound baffling, not to mention a great target caddy system 5-25 yards.

I've taken full advantage of it, been there five times in the last 8 days, shot 3000 ish rounds from .22LR up to .44 mag. Shot 10 different autos and revolvers, some that haven't been out for some time. Which brings me finally to the point....

50 is well back in my rear view mirror, and my eye sight is just not as great as it used to be. As long as I can see my front sight, I'm fine, but so many of my old S &W and Colt revolvers are all black front and rear, and I just can't see them on a target anymore. So I started painting them with orange nail polish, about 3-4 coats works great. I can see again!!

I started with my Smith Model 41, then the Model 17 (K22), and the Model 14 (K38), my model 27-2 with 5" barrel next, then the Model 66 Combat Magnum. I felt almost bad putting nail polish on them, right? But it helped so much, and it's an easy fix to remove should I want to.

But then....I think I committed blasphemy. My custom shop Python is such a sweet shooter. I have had it to the range twice this week, loving it, but struggling with the black sights. And then, I let a couple of the RSO staff shoot it today, young guys. And they shot much, much better groups than I did. *sigh* With my own gun.

Tonight, after I cleaned it....I put nail polish on that Patridge front sight....and I can see it now! But I feel like I've sinned against Samuel or something. But I will be damned if some young kid shoots better than me with my gun because I can't see that front sight anymore.

Surely I'm not the only one adjusting to aging....?

Probably I will get over it next range session when my groups get smaller.

IMG_20191202_134457_01.jpg
IMG_20191202_134457_02.jpg
IMG_20191202_134457_03.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20191202_134457_01.jpg
    IMG_20191202_134457_01.jpg
    83.6 KB · Views: 336
  • IMG_20191202_134457_02.jpg
    IMG_20191202_134457_02.jpg
    106.3 KB · Views: 333
  • IMG_20191202_134457_03.jpg
    IMG_20191202_134457_03.jpg
    72.8 KB · Views: 334
Last edited:
I've painted more than one front sight white before, and I'm not even all that old. I don't feel bad about making my guns work better for me.
Kristian
 
Have any of that white out , the tape type, I put some on a K38 last night, and than some neon pick sharpie. won't take any holster work, should just rub off, have not tried it yet.
I usually put some white paint on and than color over that, in low light helps a lot , my 19 is bad as it has been in a holster lots, and I used white , with pink Sharpie in a felt pen.
Really stands out.
never tried the nail polish, as she don't use it.
I have not done the colt, but I see it quite good.
Had the eyes done about 20 yrs ago , and that made a huge difference. Old age sucks.
 
A lens that gives a sharp focus of the front sight really helps. Target may be a bit blurred, but you can still aim precisely at the target.
Another solution that really works is to transition to an optic. Night and day.
 
I don't personally think about resale value when I purchase a gun so if I need to change the sights so that they work for me I will do that. Having a gun that you don't enjoy shooting because you can't see the front sight well makes the gun not worth shooting in my opinion. We have guns because we enjoy shooting them, do what you have to do to make it so you enjoy shooting the guns and if someone has an issue with it tell them to go pound salt.
 
You can experiment by buying a pair of drugstore reading glasses that will give you a sharp focus of the front sight. Just try different pairs in the store. Hold a pen out at arm's length to simulate the front right.
I know a chap who has used the two different lens system. When they are first put on, it is an extremely peculiar sensation.
I have used a different approach. Both lenses have my distance prescription. Then there is a bifocal element which gives front sight focus. These are positioned higher on the lens than reading bifocals. With my head up, the front sight is focussed. Tip slightly forward and there is normal distant vision.
I generally don't shoot irons - much prefer an optic. Really solves the problem.
 
Trigger fingered, yes, it's a fantastic range for sure, really glad they opened here. The other range here has great outdoor ranges and amazing skeet/sporting clay facility, but the indoor pistol range is a dark concrete box, no sound baffling. I have hearing damage and can't shoot in there, or my ears ring for days. The new range is perfect.

Tiriaq, I have several older prescription reading and distance glasses, but I really prefer a full wrap around style safety glass when shooting. I've never had anything go wrong, but just prefer the safety aspect of it to using normal glasses, so will look for Rx shooting glasses. I don't know if I could do the two different lenses, for opposite eyes. I had a friend get laser surgery done like that and he says it's great once you get used to it....not sure if my brain would adapt. I have enough trouble shooting weak hand unsupported, mixed up eyes wouldn't help! Lol
 
Last edited:
"Old age sucks."

yup..it gets Fuzzy. Paint them, tape them, file them...do what ever it takes to make the shot.


this is my "go to" nail polish. Its like florescent, so even if your 1/2 blind you can see it.
its been on for 2 years now and hasnt come off of my 357

its WAY brighter in person. picture doesnt do it justice,
100-7022.jpg


yes I did feel silly walking into "chick Nails" and asking the young pretty lady for Bright Orange nail polish...LOL
 
Last edited:
Another tip for you. Try using white targets, like dollar store paper plates. Black sights show up nicely on them. I have tried white and orange front sights, white outline rear sights, none worked for me.
 
lone ranger said:
"Old age sucks."

yup..it gets Fuzzy. Paint them, tape them, file them...do what ever it takes to make the shot.


this is my "go to" nail polish. Its like florescent, so even if your 1/2 blind you can see it.
its been on for 2 years now and hasnt come off of my 357

its WAY brighter in person. picture doesnt do it justice,
100-7022.jpg


yes I did feel silly walking into "chick Nails" and asking the young pretty lady for Bright Orange nail polish...LOL
Click to expand...

That looks better than the one I stole from my daughter....I will have to get one, but off Amazon. Lol
 
ryan said:
Another tip for you. Try using white targets, like dollar store paper plates. Black sights show up nicely on them. I have tried white and orange front sights, white outline rear sights, none worked for me.
Click to expand...
I've been buying bulk packs of splatter targets on Amazon, I like how I see my shot right away. I will try some white ones though to see if it helps.
 
Twisted Canuck said:
I'm going to look into prescription shooting glasses for sure. Anybody got any suggestions on those? I know they are pricey but it is time....
Click to expand...

No, not expensive.

You need to get a prescription for glasses. A proper correction for both eyes. Bi-focal if needed.

Then get the prescription for the correction that will bring your pistol front sight into focus. I take my air pistol to the doctor to help find the right correction for shooting.

Ask him to note your PD (distance between your pupils - something like 65mm)

Go to zenni.com and select a cheap plastic frame in a man's medium or large size (depending on your head size.

Order the left lens as the full correction for distance, and the right lens as the front sight focus lens.

If you order bi-focals, the reading distance correction would be correct on the left lens, but much too strong for the right.

My shooting glasses cost about $25.

I order two pairs. One is a 10% yellow tint, for indoors and the other is a 80% amber for outdoors.

3d8IIxp.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ganderite, do you take these off as soon as you finish your shooting, or can you leave them on for awhile without eye strain when walking out to change targets?
 
I've actually ordered off Zenni before and have a fairly current prescription. But honestly, I'm not sure if I'd trust them as a safety glass. Sure, I could see my target, but in my mind the point of safety glasses is safety....no, I don't think I'd trust those. My daughter worked for several years in a couple different optometry stores and has some connections still. She can get me Rx Smith shooting glasses at a bit of a discount still. Gonna pay the price.
 
ryan said:
Ganderite, do you take these off as soon as you finish your shooting, or can you leave them on for awhile without eye strain when walking out to change targets?
Click to expand...

I am very comfortable wearing them. I frequently forget to take them off and notice them while driving home.

But that comfort would be a factor of how strong the close up correction is for the front sight focus. For me it is only 1 diopter. For others, it might be a 3 diopter correction.

But because the left eye is "normal", you can still see quite well.

The lens is polycarbonate. Strong stuff.
 
lone ranger said:
"Old age sucks."
Click to expand...

But consider the alternative .....

Cowboy Logic 101 - "If'n I had knowed I was gonna live this long, I'da taken better care of m'self."

I had cataract surgery on both eyes a few years back. I have trifocals now, but my vision is such without them that I only need them to read fine print.

My shooting glasses have the same prescription with a grey tint. With either set, I can see 9mm bullet holes at 25m and .45 holes at 100m.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom