Wilson Combat Beretta fixed front sight fiber optic modification

[GJM]

Enough folks have asked about this, that I started a separate thread so this wouldn't get lost in the ongoing Beretta threads. Here is the modification Wilson Combat does to fit a fiber optic front sight in a fixed Beretta 92 front sight:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/GJMandes/Image3_zps0522c5f9.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/user/GJMandes/media/Image3_zps0522c5f9.jpg.html)

[taadski]

G,

Does the fiber on the modded example illuminate similarly to a normal fiber (a la Dawson, etc…) that has most of its length exposed? Got a pic from the user end? It looks like replacing the fiber might be a bit more involved but perhaps less necessary too? What size FO tubing are they using?


t

[GJM]

T'ski, just heard back from Bill Wilson.

Apparently, they did a few front sights where they milled more of the top away, but couldn't tell any practical difference in how the FO worked, so they elected to do it the way they are now as it looks cleaner and protects the fiber optic more. Replacing the fiber optic piece is straightforward, and use .60 rod.

[ffhounddog]

Sexy...my Centurion is getting this done by AGW in August.

[Totem Polar]

This is not helping my 92A1 G.A.S. any.

[Drifting Fate]

I'm not one to trust fiber optics, but, dang, that looks sweet. And here I sit with a 92 Compact just itching for the Wilson touch.

[WilsonCombatRep]

I'm not one to trust fiber optics, but, dang, that looks sweet. And here I sit with a 92 Compact just itching for the Wilson touch.

The beauty of the fiber optic is that if it disappears you still have a viable front sight and installing a new fiber takes 5 minutes with a cigarette lighter.

[Wayne Dobbs]

You guys are going to make me send my old, tired 92FS in, aren't you?? It shoots great, has a "D" model mainspring and has been used for quite a bit of teaching and to keep my DA/SA skills solid. Guess it deserves some work...

[GJM]

You guys are going to make me send my old, tired 92FS in, aren't you?? It shoots great, has a "D" model mainspring and has been used for quite a bit of teaching and to keep my DA/SA skills solid. Guess it deserves some work...

Wayne, besides possibly a FO front sight, if you had the pistol dehorned and converted to a "G," I bet you would like it a lot more. It is amazing how a dehorned slide 92 feels in your hands.

[Wayne Dobbs]

Wayne, besides possibly a FO front sight, if you had the pistol dehorned and converted to a "G," I bet you would like it a lot more. It is amazing how a dehorned slide 92 feels in your hands.

I've never noticed any sharp edges on the slide of mine, but I know what you mean about edge removal making a much nicer pistol. As for the "G" conversion, I'd do it, but the single side lever is a no go for me as a left hander.

Am I correct in believing that WC can mill a dovetail in the front of the slide and install a proper tritium front sight or is that only on the A1 guns?

[GJM]

I've never noticed any sharp edges on the slide of mine, but I know what you mean about edge removal making a much nicer pistol. As for the "G" conversion, I'd do it, but the single side lever is a no go for me as a left hander.

Am I correct in believing that WC can mill a dovetail in the front of the slide and install a proper tritium front sight or is that only on the A1 guns?

WilsonCombatRep will correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding is that dovetailed front sights are a feature of the 92A1, Brigadier, Elite and Vertec slides. For the 92FS, your options are Tooltech for tritium, Wilson (and possibly Allegheny) for a fiber optic front sight modification, or the "old" orange fingernail polish treatment.

Not sure what the answer is on WC converting to "G" as regards the two side lever, but my stock "G" pistols all have two side levers.

[Serpico1985]

There isn't enough material on the FS models for a dovetail.

[Wayne Dobbs]

There isn't enough material on the FS models for a dovetail.

That's what I thought was the case.

[TORCH2J]

There isn't enough material on the FS models for a dovetail.

I thought either Ned Christianson (spelling?) and David Sams had welded up slides in that area and then milled dovetails with success.

[GJM]

The dovetailed front sight is why Ernest Langdon is so fond of a Vertec upper, which has the FS profile slide, which is thinner than a Brigadier slide, paired with a M9A1 lower (functionally the same as a 92G-SD lower).

[Jeep]

[QUOTE=GJM;234459]Enough folks have asked about this, that I started a separate thread so this wouldn't get lost in the ongoing Beretta threads. Here is the modification Wilson Combat does to fit a fiber optic front sight in a fixed Beretta 92 front sight:

Wilson is doing some extraordinarily nice work on those Berettas, isn't it? It's a pity that some of what they do isn't incorporated into the new stock M9's (for example, the significantly improved trigger and the FO front sights).

[GJM]

At the Wilson/Langdon Beretta class in May, there were two management representatives from Beretta in attendance. I said "G conversion" and "dovetailed front sight" enough, that they were sick of hearing it from me.

[JTQ]

Anybody say Elite II, or maybe Elite III?

[JTQ]

At the Wilson/Langdon Beretta class in May
I would have enjoyed seeing that. I did read the thread from Bill Wilson. That was a good one.

[Paul D]

Just to add a data point....

I sent my 92FS to Wilson to replace the front tritium vial with one of their fiber optic inserts in green and replace the rear Novak sight with one of their rear sights. I also had a G conversion done. I sent it off on 7/1/14 and got back today 9/2/14.
The rear sight is great. It has great U notch and is serrated. The front sight is okay. In outside daylight it shines like a red dot sight. Indoors lighting it is equivalent to the Tool-tech tritium sight with white outline which was originally on the gun. If there is an overhead light, it is much better. Darker situations (room lit by one lamp), my Trijicon HD is much better. As far as the Wilson made decocker, I actually like the Beretta safety better. The rear corner of the safety ledge is kinda sharp an bites in the the pad of the thumb. I would recommend you have them round off the rear edge a bit. The decock motion is crisp and clean.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/pnduong/IMG_2715_zps171fd5ed.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/pnduong/IMG_2717_zpsf013391e.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/pnduong/IMG_2714_zps4309f979.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/pnduong/IMG_2716_zps51740f1b.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/pnduong/IMG_2713_zps785b4073.jpg

[breakingtime91]

How are the fiber front's holding up?

[Poconnor]

Any new suggestions for fixed beretta front sights? If not; I’m calling Wilson for this fiber optic front with their rear. Too bad 10-8 stopped making beretta rear sights. Has anybody asked Garthwaite to install a good dot on a beretta?

[JTQ]

Any new suggestions for fixed beretta front sights? If not; I’m calling Wilson for this fiber optic front with their rear. Too bad 10-8 stopped making beretta rear sights. Has anybody asked Garthwaite to install a good dot on a beretta?
A dab of orange paint like the Langdon M9. Save you a bunch of cash.

http://www.beretta.com/en-us/langdon-m9/#FeaturePoint_3

[JTQ]

Sorry about the above post, I thought I was answering a question in the "High Speed Beretta for a Proletariat 3rd Class" thread.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?35328-High-Speed-Beretta-for-a-Proletariat-3rd-Class