White on brass bead

A

Al Bear

CGN Regular
Rating - 97.8%
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Location
Montreal area
With these old eyes, I can hardly see the brass bead at the end of my rifle* barrel . So I put the barrel vertically in a vice and , with a paper clip as an applicator, applied a small drop of crazy glue to the brass bead. Then I dusted some white pigment ( from a craft store) onto the glue and, presto, a white bead appeared. Not sure how long it will last but now I can see the front sight.

* A break-action Savage single shot 30/30 which I don’t want to drill & tap for scope mounts.
 
White bead on front sight works very well, most time, for hunting sight. I think writer Ross Seyfried called them a "gloaming" sight - for hunting in the "gloaming" - poor light in early morning or late evening. Especially if you are like me and can no longer dependably see it at all, is definitely better than nothing!!! I have an older sported military rifle that someone globbed on a drop of solder on front sight - about 4 times normal size "bead" - and it works, so far as I can tell!!!
 
White on the front site works really well. I use paint markers, they use on used auto parts. Currently trying red out. Seems to work well on targets so far , during mid day. My short range eye site also makes it difficult to see the front site. I find peep sites help a lot. I just recoated my Lee Enfields after about 2 years of due to paint coming off. Lyman makes a decent front site with a white bead which I plan to get a couple more of. I tried yellow but found it wasn’t as good as white.
 
Finger nail polish works as well.... and it comes in many colours... but you really shouldn't be looking at the front bead that much... it's the target you want...
 
guntech said:
Finger nail polish works as well.... and it comes in many colours... but you really shouldn't be looking at the front bead that much... it's the target you want...
Click to expand...

I think you are correct - at least about time - is not minutes spent aiming - is in seconds. However, my former boss spent his younger days in US Marine Corps - his last tour (of three) was as a Shooting Instructor on a Marine base that processed recruits. His job was to teach "kids" to shoot rifles and hit things - the US Marine Corps way - so I went with his advice - always rear aperture sight, always both eyes open - both initially focused on target, always most focus through right eye to see front sight post top clearly, never actually "see" the rear aperture - looking through it. It works. And has done so for 100 years plus - since USMC was a thing.
 
I have used nail polish as well. It is handy having girls to call on-- my daughters contributed bright orange for my home made crossbow sight pins and a neighbor's daughter gave me white for my High Standard Sentinel. Both applications have lasted well, best of all I can see the sights.
 
I made my SKS sights more visible with "Appliance Touch-up Enamel" from CT. It's made to be a bit more durable. I put it on front, inside the hood and on the rear, too. Then I put yellow hi-liter on the rear sight so there's some contrast. Works really well, I think.
 
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Now go and buy a rattle can of florescent orange. Spray a small amount onto a piece of paper and take a paper match or very small paint brush like used in plastic models and apply it over the white. This way you wont lose the sight in certain lighting conditions. Always apply florescent colors over a white base coat.
 
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