GP100 sights

[Chocum]

I'm considering the replacement of the factory sights for a Ruger GP100. Old eyes and all that. I've researched tritium, fiber optic types, sets vs. front sight only, and available ones from HiViz, Williams and a couple of others. What do y'all think?

[jamautry]

Check out Dawson Precision, they are great sights.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[jtcarm]

Depends on what kind of shooting you want to.

For a true night sight, you’ll want tritium.

Most revolver front sights are 1/8” wide and don’t allow enough light for my eyes. As barrels get shorter, it gets worse. On barrels under 6”, I generally want a 1/10”-wide front blade.

For general purpose, I like a post with an FO insert or gold bead.

For precision shooting , I like a good ol black post or ramp with no colors to distract from sight alignment.

For faster DA work, your eyes will probably pick up a larger FO dot more quickly. I recently installed a 1/8”-wide HiViz on a 4” M-66 and seem to pick it up a bit faster than the 1/10” on my other 4” guns.

Here’s some others you may want to look at:

SDM
Dawson Precision.
XS

[jetfire]

Which model of GP100 do you have, and what do you use it for? I have...a lot of time working on and shooting those guns.

[Radar Love]

I'm a fan of plain fixed rear sights and a high visibility front.

I have have no experience with them, but I've seen Bowen's rough country sights recommended a few places (eg http://www.grantcunningham.com/2008/06/is-the-ruger-gp100-inaccurate/)

Thoughts on those from folks with more experience?

[Zeke38]

https://i.imgur.com/kn5tuJF.jpg

Novak Front night sight, narrow and 24 pickup.

https://i.imgur.com/5KFczpI.jpg

My all purpose carry 357

[Sammy1]

I did Hiviz on my 6inch GP100. I did front and back but you only really need the front sight. I liked it because it's squared at the top and not rounded. Great sights.
https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Viz-GPLW01-Interchangeable-LITEWAVE-Handgun/dp/B00MRAPIGC

[rathos]

I have the green fiber optic on my 3 inch GP-100 and I really like it. Any light makes the sight stand out. If you are shooting in the day time or have a flashlight they are amazingly bright. I have found that even in low light at least for me they work well.

[OlongJohnson]

The green fiber optic "lens" on my GP100's front Novak overhung the square edges of the front sight, and was also not centered in the sight. This slowed me down, as my brain had to decide whether to center on the fiber optic lens or the square outline of the front sight, which were differently aligned sight pictures. I replaced the FO element with a brass pin and am happy.

[Edster]

https://i.imgur.com/kn5tuJF.jpg

Novak Front night sight, narrow and 24 pickup.

https://i.imgur.com/5KFczpI.jpg

My all purpose carry 357

Wild. My MC could be the twin for that. Novak tritium front, stock adjustable rear, Altamont grips replacing the wood grips.

It is not really a carry gun for me. The extractor gets too finicky and won't close at the first microscopic hint of crud. I've sighted it in for 158-grain SJHPs so it could do as a Texas "outdoors" carry.

[xray 99]

I think options are limited if the revolver has the plunger front sight versus a Novak dovetail.

[JonInWA]

If you can find a set, I'm a huge fan of the Millett Orange Bar (they were also available with a white bar) front sight and white outline adjustable rear sight.

Disappointingly, Millett ceased production of most of their excellent iron sights several years ago, so you'll have to search.

Although I've never personally used them, my next choice/recommendation would be for Bowen's Rough Country sights. As reviewed and endorsed by Grant Cunningham:
http://www.grantcunningham.com/2008/06/is-the-ruger-gp100-inaccurate/


Best, Jon

[OlongJohnson]

Does anyone have experience with the Meprolight sight set for Ruger revolvers?

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/sight-sets/ruger-redhawk-adjustable-tru-dot-tritium-night-sight-sets-prod70586.aspx

Looks like it should be reasonably rugged. Haven't seen them compared to the Bowen Rough Country option. Frankly, wasn't aware they existed until a few days ago.


There's also this Williams FO setup. I like their FO tubes a lot better than the Novak that comes from the factory on the GP MC, but their stuff is usually aluminum, so I don't know that it would have the durability of a Bowen or perhaps Meprolight.

https://williamsgunsight.com/product/ruger-gp-100-target-pistol-firesights/

[oregon45]

I've had the Williams, on a Redhawk, and was not impressed with the adjustments, nor with the sight picture of the rear fiber optic sight. The Williams front fiber optic worked just fine. No experience with the Meprolight but I'd be hard pressed to buy anything other than the Bowen sight, unless the Bowen was cost prohibitive. It's that good of a sight.

[awp_101]

I've had the Williams, on a Redhawk, and was not impressed with the adjustments
What issues did you have with the adjustments? I just put a set on a 4" GP and when I went to sight it in, Magtech 158g FMJ .38 Special was still 2-3" high at 25 yards with the rear sight bottomed out. I thought the problem was a loose nut behind the trigger but now I'm not so sure.

I wonder if the Williams FO rear that just replaces the blade is a better option?

[Norville]

Yes had a Millett black rear and custom Patridge front for years, but replaced them with the Williams FO a couple of years ago. The rear is too much in my opinion, but coloring the FO with a Sharpie tones it down a bit.

The front is quick to pick up and they work well. Just replacing the front with a narrow fiber optic is an easy and inexpensive option.

[oregon45]

What issues did you have with the adjustments? I just put a set on a 4" GP and when I went to sight it in, Magtech 158g FMJ .38 Special was still 2-3" high at 25 yards with the rear sight bottomed out. I thought the problem was a loose nut behind the trigger but now I'm not so sure.

I wonder if the Williams FO rear that just replaces the blade is a better option?

Inconsistent click values and failure to hold zero; that, and the fiber optic tubes give a terrible rear sight picture to my eyes, particularly in bright sun when they tend to "bloom" and distort the rear sight notch, exactly the opposite of what I want a rear-sight blade to do.

[awp_101]

Thanks. The rear FO doesn't bother my eyes (so far) but I may swap the original rear back onto it and see if my zero issues go away.

[OlongJohnson]

If you can find a set, I'm a huge fan of the Millett Orange Bar (they were also available with a white bar) front sight and white outline adjustable rear sight.

Picked up a Millett Orange Bar front sight from fleabay. Tried installing it. Was able to push the pin, and get the sight to come 98% of the way out, but it wouldn't quite release. I did some googling and found a post on another forum where a guy had several guns that he could easily change the sight on in seconds and spent an hour screwing with one of them, until he finally just grabbed it with some big-arse pliers and destroyed it to get it out. He found that Ruger had installed a defective front sight that wouldn't disengage from the pin, or something along those lines.

This video is what I was expecting.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSOJjdSGIE4

It didn't work that way. 98% of the way out and back in fully seated, over and over. But no freedom. Kept cycling it farther and farther, finally got it a little bit farther. Used a popsicle stick under each side to lever the sight out of the slot.

Turned out there was a big ol’ burr on one side of the slot along the top. Trimmed that out with an X-Acto knife, and it now works just like the video with the factory sight.

The Millett has proven to be a waste of time, however. The only thing good about it is the bright friggin’ orangeness of it. Had to file the base to get it to actually fit into the “dovetail.” When it finally did, the base was wider than the rib, overhanging each side, taller than the old sight base. The rear of the blade doesn’t rest on the rib behind the dovetail like the factory sight does, so it looks goofy, like one of the worst dovetails Ruger has cut for the Novak sights on MC guns. And worst of all, the blade is too narrow, so there is noticeable lateral play when it’s installed. It’s the equivalent of the rear sight moving several clicks randomly without resistance. Checked everything about the front sight, and while it will audibly click when force is applied laterally, I can’t see any movement.

TLDR: I learned yet another detail that Ruger QC can screw up, and accomplished nothing other than making the front sight mount serviceable. I guess that would have needed to be done eventually, but I wasn’t expecting to spend an hour swearing at it and end up right where I (should have) started.

Next up will be a factory Ruger molded plastic insert orange bar sight (https://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/front-sights/sight-front-red-insert-sku780000258-11238-27889.aspx).

I think I'll be calling Mr. Bowen when I decide to upgrade rears.

[JonInWA]

Wow,Olong. Sorry for the flawed experience. Above and beyond the burr in the barrel sight mount, I'm wondering if your Millett was actually the correct one for the GP100; I have Millett Orange Bar fronts on both my GP100 and Security Six, and both fit perfectly-nothing like you experienced. I'm wondering if the sight you obtained was for another gun entirely.

Best, Jon

[OlongJohnson]

shopruger.com lists one part number (looking at the Williams FO set) to fit GP100, Redhawk, Super Redhawk, and Super Blackhawk Hunter. I have never stumbled across any information that would suggest there was any other spec that could be mistaken for a GP100-compatible front sight that wasn't the right one.

The sticker on the box says FB00018 and the part looks just like this one https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005925014, which is listed for both the GP100 and Super Redhawk.

I may just go all Tom Givens on the existing Ruger sight, since I have the stuff sitting around already.

[HCM]

I think options are limited if the revolver has the plunger front sight versus a Novak dovetail.

Actually just the opposite. There are more options for the standard GP100 front sight.

[OlongJohnson]

If you can find a set, I'm a huge fan of the Millett Orange Bar (they were also available with a white bar) front sight and white outline adjustable rear sight.

Disappointingly, Millett ceased production of most of their excellent iron sights several years ago, so you'll have to search.


Somewhat oddball question, perhaps. Or perhaps an awesome one.

There's a guy on fleabay selling what appears to be the Millett version of this sight:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005845866


This sight is compatible with pistols and revolvers supplied with factory original Elliason or Accro rear sights, such as the older Colt 1911 Gold Cup Series 70 & Series 80 guns, Pre-Series 70 Colt National Match, Colt Ace, Colt Python, Anaconda, King Cobra, Trooper, Diamondback, Officer's Model Match and Woodsman Target models. It will NOT fit Colt Delta models or newer recreations of the Colt Gold Cup 1911.

It happens to look a lot like a Ruger sight and by the reviews is subject to the same cross pin walking issue. It wouldn't be completely inconceivable to me that Ruger would have matched the interface of popular Colt models so that there would be excellent aftermarket support as soon as his guns launched. Does anyone know for sure either way? Or am I going to have to test Midway's return policy?

[mmc45414]

I have the Dawsons on a couple of pistols, and I thought some of their hype seemed like hype, but they are pretty nice. The FO seems to be a nice size (a little smaller than some?) and it is recessed nicely, taming the bloom.

And I think they have 3-4 widths and I think I counted 10 height options.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200117/2c133f0a6ceee699bacaa166757fbee9.jpg

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[ECVMatt]

I have Bowen Rough Countries on a couple of my Rugers. I would consider them as durable as a fixed sight, but with the bonus of being able to adjust them. I have a set on my Ruger Alaskan that I sighted in a locked in place about five years ago. I use the gun quite a bit and the sights are still dead on and rock solid. I really like the look of the fixed sighted GP MC, but ended up with the adj MC and Bowens. My gun hits right where I want and the sights are not a concern.

[OlongJohnson]

Does anyone know for sure either way?

Surprised no one knows. Also asked the question on RugerForum.net, and only got one reply pointing out Bowen's offerings.

Does anyone have an old Colt with an adjustable sight? If the distance between the pivot pin and the screw is as close as one can tell to the same, I figure it's worth buying one just in the name of science.

[45dotACP]

I've been having inconsistent accuracy with my GP100. Zero will wander, shots will be random...just weird. I think my next big purchase will be a Bowen rear sight.

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[QuickStrike]

I’ve passed up on a couple of gp-100’s lately that has the barrel (and its accompanying front sight) screwed on too far towards the left...

I can see it easily leveling the gun and lining up where the top of the barrel meets the top strap.

Sure I might be able to crank the rear all the way left to sight in, but damn that irks me. :(

This was present on my .454 toklat too.

I generally prefer these DA’s because I can polish the trigger/replace the springs and minimize the endshake myself.

*sighs* Somethingsomethingfitandfinish...

[OlongJohnson]

I've been having inconsistent accuracy with my GP100. Zero will wander, shots will be random...just weird. I think my next big purchase will be a Bowen rear sight.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2008/06/is-the-ruger-gp100-inaccurate/

[Crazy Dane]

Both of my Gp100s have play in the rear sight and I have considered shimming them. I have also read on the Ruger forum that a new Ruger sight from Midway https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004346319?pid=643810 will address the issue. I may try a Bowen sight on my 5" and see if I can get the 3" tightened up with shims or a new OEM. I do wonder if a phone call to Ruger will get me anywhere?



Somewhat oddball question, perhaps. Or perhaps an awesome one.

There's a guy on fleabay selling what appears to be the Millett version of this sight:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005845866



It happens to look a lot like a Ruger sight and by the reviews is subject to the same cross pin walking issue. It wouldn't be completely inconceivable to me that Ruger would have matched the interface of popular Colt models so that there would be excellent aftermarket support as soon as his guns launched. Does anyone know for sure either way? Or am I going to have to test Midway's return policy?

If you do this please let me know how it turns out.

[Crazy Dane]

I have an email in to Kensight asking if the Colt sight will fit or can be made to fit the GPs. In the mean time I dug out my feeler gauges and I can get a .011 in my 5 inch and a .009 in my 3 inch. Searching the interwebs to its deepest depths, I can only find the Bowen sights for a direct replacement and the go to fix for the stock sights is a shim. I am sitting here contemplating using the feelers for shim stock. Its raining here so it may become my rainy day project.

[OlongJohnson]

If you do this please let me know how it turns out.

Looked carefully at the shape of the Kensight and the fact that it appears to still be spring loaded and decided I’d be happier in the end with a Bowen RC. Finally ordered one, which was the plan when I bought the MC several years ago. It’s why I chose the adjustable sight model.

[Crazy Dane]

I spent last Friday working on my 3". I ended up using a .004 shim on either side of the rear sight and there is no more side to side movement. The bad news is I shot it on Saturday and at 15 yards, I bottomed the rear out and I'm still 5 inches high, I had some great groups though. I did some research and found this one was shipped in 2017 and has a lower serial number than my 5 inch that I've had for a while. While perusing the internet for taller front sights I found many references to my particular models being shipped with front sights that were way short. This brings me to my list of questions, Its ok you didn't have to study.

Question number 1, do I call Ruger and complain and hope they can get it right?

#2 nothing else is wrong with the gun so to heck with Ruger and order a taller front sight?

#3 does anyone know if the calculator on Dawson's web sight is correct?
Dawson's calculator recommends a.306 tall sight and anything within .005 will work. My options are a .300x.125 ramped or a .315x.100 partridge, both are serrated. Anything that glows blooms on me with my bad eyesight so no FO and paint if I need to make it more visible. I'm leaning toward the narrower one.

#4 Have I missed anybody that makes a taller sight in a Novak cut?
Dawson is the only place that I found that makes taller than factory.

If this works out I may change out the 5 inch too. Its not bottomed out but its close.

Thanks, FES

[mmc45414]

#3 does anyone know if the calculator on Dawson's web sight is correct?
Dawson's calculator recommends a.306 tall sight and anything within .005 will work. My options are a .300x.125 ramped or a .315x.100 partridge, both are serrated.
I tend to want to rely on the info on the www and not interreact with people (I have to do that on my job...), but in the process of figuring out what the rear sight on the Ruger SR1911 Target is ("Kimber" pattern, got it on the third try...) I called a few times and seemed to always end up talking to Jay (IIRC) and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. They might know exactly what the score is based on how old you gun might be. Maybe not, but I experienced great customer service and was worth the call.


Anything that glows blooms on me with my bad eyesight so no FO and paint if I need to make it more visible. I'm leaning toward the narrower one.
It is impossible to see what another guy sees through their eyes, but Dawson specifically sizes their FO rods a little smaller (0.040") and recesses them into the blade nicely. Not saying that it will make a difference, only suggesting that it might. Tried to take a pic:
47901