Painting Sights?

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I'm having trouble with some of my handgun sights, specifically a Ruger Mark III and Single Six. I'm finding the black on black contrast between the front and rear sight is getting difficult to contrast. I'm not quite ready to swap to a red dot. I've been looking at the Hi-Viz sights but I keep hearing mixed reviews on them.

I remembered reading something somewhere about applying brightly colored fingernail polish to the sights to make them pop out. Anybody try this and can recommend for it or against it?
 
Never used fingernail polish but I have used the florescent red Tester's model paint on the front sights of my pistols and am pleased with the results as it produces good contrast with black targets
 
I use a bright red model paint on my pistol sights. (cause I already have it on hand). It works pretty well to add a little contrast between the front and rear.

I have also used some really bright, fluorescent yellowy-green paint on a couple of my rifles.......but would stick with a simpler red or orange next time. The red/orange is much easier to pick up, and the darker colors dont seem to dazzle ya in the sunlight like some of the lighter colors can.
 
I remembered reading something somewhere about applying brightly colored fingernail polish to the sights to make them pop out. Anybody try this and can recommend for it or against it?
Click to expand...

Think pink. That's all the wife had laying around
 
Many ways to skin this cat !!

I've used a number of products and colors. Currently have settled on Jig-Head Paints . A base coat of white and the one that really stand out for me, is Chartreuse. Have done quite a few for other Gun-Guys and they seem to like it as well. ... :)

You might also be aware that Hi-Viz makes a replacement front sight and rear sight blade for the Ruger MK-Family. This is a fiber optic sight and cost about $30.00. ... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
I painted the front sights on my SW 638 flourescent yellow. It stands out a bit too much, and will probably change to orange. I can definately pick up the sight now, though.....
 
I use two (2) thin coats of orange nail polish over a thin white base coat. Holds up well and is easy to pick up in most light conditions.
 
I paint all my Ruger front sights-white-.
My wife is into crafts and I have no idea
what kind of paint it is but it works well.
Ruger factory sights are far from the best.
Ron
 
I used tippex (correction fluid) on the sights of my pistols.

We had Mk.3 Brownings and subsequently we switched to SIG P226. Both have a small white insert in the foresight and this can be brightened up to aid contrast with the fluid. I would put a good blob on, wait for it to dry and then just slice off the excess with a blade. The result was a nice bright white spot in the centre of the foresight!
 
I've been using fingernail polish for years. I find some God-awful red color at the Dollar Store and use that. Cheaper than red paint and lasts almost as long.
 
Birchwood Casey makes some orange sight paint that works well. It's a white base coat with an orange top coat. Looks great and holds up very well.
 
I used to use "white out" for correcting typing but that is becoming a "thing of the past" along with typewriters. :D

I at one time, had a small bottle of fluorescent orange that worked pretty good for me. The container eventually dried out though. I looked recently in at a Michaels store in Tucson for some orange model paint but they didn't have any. I've heard others have luck with bright fingernail polish so that's my next step. For me, it doesn't take much on the sight but it sure helps in picking it up quickly, especially when it's a color that contrasts well with the black, grey and white on the paper target I usually shoot.
 
I put the HiViz front sight on my GP100. Great sight and makes a world of difference compared to the factory sight. Got it off Amazon.com for around $28. It needs light to show up well, but this is not a night sight and I didn't pay what a night sight costs.
 
I used some $5 appliance touch up enamel. It worked well on my black LCP.
I used $1,50 yellow Testors on the front because the white on white was too hard.
Now all my front sights have Testors yellow, from my Red Ryder to my Mosin Nagant.
 
I paint all of my sights (except the night sights). My preferred combination is always red on the rear and chartreuse/yellow on the front but some like other colors. I bought the Bright Sights kit from Midway, which also includes a cleaner. It's held up well so far. Jig paint for fishing lures will probably work just as well and comes in many combinations. Here's my usual process:

- Disassemble and place the slide in a padded vice in a near-vertical position.

- Use a q-tip soaked with cleaner until nothing comes off - even new guns will have grime or oil to clean off. Let dry.

- If they are dot sights, use a toothpick to lightly cover the sight paint in with the new color and let stand for at least 24 hours. On existing white dots this is easy.

- If they are blade sights, I usually tape off a small square at the top of the front sight and use a stiff but fine brush to evenly paint the open square with the yellow. I tape a smaller rectangle at the top edge of the rear blade and paint with red. Let stand for 24 hours and make sure to cut along the tape with an exacto knife before attempting to remove it or you may pull the sight paint along with it.

Have fun! :)
 
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Remember, S&W has white outline rear sight blades for its K, L, and N frame revolvers.I find this makes it a bit easier to pick up the sight picture. (As a rule, eye sight doesn't improve with age.)
On a couple of J frames, I've painted the rear sight blade with white paint; try Testors model paint. It isn't as attractive as the factory white outline, but it serves.
 
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