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firecop019
02-25-2011, 06:29 PM
My duty gun is an M&P40 and wears trijicon 3 dots from the factory. What are people using to add some color to the front sight. As I get older, it's getting harder to pick that sight up especially in low light. I want as much of an advantage as I can get when Strike Tactical comes back to town this summer. I'm getting my certificate this time! Missed it by .25 2X when I took the class running full duty gear. Only 1 person from our group passed and he was an SRT shooter from the Sheriff Department.

My HK has a set of PT night sights that are 3 dot with a horizontal bar at the bottom of the rear notch. The front and the line was green and the rear dots were yellow. That sight was really easy to pick up.

Thanks

ToddG
02-25-2011, 06:34 PM
JohnO High Visibility Front Sight (http://pistol-training.com/articles/the-johno-diy-high-visibility-front-sight)

I've used both the tape and the paint. The paint is far easier to apply (especially if you have a serrated front sight). I use first a white paint pen for a base coat, then after it dries I apply two coats of orange. A toothpick helps keep the tritium dot clear.

ETA: photo
http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/p30-heinie-front.jpg

JV_
02-25-2011, 06:34 PM
I find that automobile touch-up paint lasts the longest.

Jay Cunningham
02-25-2011, 06:39 PM
I'm going to give a fluorescent orange airbrush paint (using a precision brush) and a heat gun. We'll see how that works.

ToddG
02-25-2011, 06:42 PM
Be careful with the heat. The epoxy that holds a tritium capsule in place can degrade under high heat and even if your capsule doesn't fall out right away, it will be more susceptible in the future.

Jay Cunningham
02-25-2011, 06:48 PM
Sometimes guns get hot when you shoot them, too.

Just sayin'...

:p

ToddG
02-25-2011, 06:57 PM
Sometimes guns get hot when you shoot them, too.

And the tritium capsules fall out. There are dozens of them on the ground in Pennsylvania from when we were doing the ICE test shooting. :cool:

Jay Cunningham
02-25-2011, 06:58 PM
And the tritium capsules fall out. There are dozens of them on the ground in Pennsylvania from when we were doing the ICE test shooting. :cool:

Well, yeah, but S&W fixed my PTC edition M&P9 right away when the vial fell out the first time!

ToddG
02-25-2011, 06:59 PM
Well, yeah, but S&W fixed my PTC edition M&P9 right away when the vial fell out the first time!

I believe that happened to a very high percentage of the Warren front sights used on the PTC guns.
:mad:

JV_
02-25-2011, 07:00 PM
S&W fixed my PTC edition M&P9 right away when the vial fell out the first time!Interesting, S&W told GermanSyn they wouldn't help him with his PT front sight.

Kyle Reese
02-25-2011, 07:03 PM
Yes, S&W told me I was on my own, essentially, in regards to the Warren Front Sight. Scott did replace it free of charge, though. S&W DID send me a 100% brand new M&P 45 after I buggered up the frame and sent the weapon in for repair.

Jay Cunningham
02-25-2011, 07:08 PM
Wow, really?

I guess this should probably be a separate thread, but as Todd alluded to I know multiple individuals who experienced that issue both with the PTC gun and other later model M&P full-size and compacts. I'm pretty sure S&W took care of everyone I can think of...

orionz06
02-25-2011, 08:04 PM
I'm going to give a fluorescent orange airbrush paint (using a precision brush) and a heat gun. We'll see how that works.

Details?


Wow, really?

I guess this should probably be a separate thread, but as Todd alluded to I know multiple individuals who experienced that issue both with the PTC gun and other later model M&P full-size and compacts. I'm pretty sure S&W took care of everyone I can think of...

Mine were Warrens purchased from SKD and they did the same. To my knowledge, of the 4 M&P's with Warrens you are aware of, there have been 6 tubes that have fallen out.



On topic: I love sharpie paint pen thus far. Easy to apply, lasts a good while.

Jay Cunningham
02-25-2011, 08:08 PM
Not a precision airbrush - sorry - simply a precision (very fine) hobby paint brush.

orionz06
02-25-2011, 08:08 PM
Not a precision airbrush - sorry - simply a precision (very fine) hobby paint brush.

Yours?

Jay Cunningham
02-25-2011, 08:12 PM
Yeah, I bought it at the same time I bought the paint.

David
02-25-2011, 08:19 PM
I don't paint mine but has anyone tried engine paint? You would assume it would work better with high temps and chemicals than normal enamel.

orionz06
02-25-2011, 09:29 PM
I don't paint mine but has anyone tried engine paint? You would assume it would work better with high temps and chemicals than normal enamel.

Adhesion and application are of greater concern.

LOKNLOD
02-25-2011, 10:01 PM
Borrowing my post from elsewhere,
I used this paint from the Hobby Lobby plastic scale model aisle-it says fluorescent red but it turns out very orange:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/th_06938905.jpg (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/?action=view&current=06938905.jpg)

And found these nifty little micro applicators that were very slick for applying the paint precisely:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/th_d0a7232a.jpg (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/?action=view&current=d0a7232a.jpg)

I really like the way these turned out:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/th_5aa41ef5.jpg (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/?action=view&current=5aa41ef5.jpg)

(small pics are clickable)

Pat.c
02-26-2011, 02:45 AM
I use a Sharpie paint pen that I found in a arts, and crafts store. It's cheap, and expedient. Turned out quite well on my Warrens. Also use them to label my mags.

boyscoutg36
02-26-2011, 03:06 AM
These new Trijicons look cool:
http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product1.php?id=HDNS

I normally use fingernail polish....I know but it seems to hold up pretty well. Also you can mix up some bright colors by combining bright yellow and white with red. Every year I usually have to reapply it to the ramp on my 642.

JV_
02-26-2011, 07:49 AM
I won't mind knowing some of the front sight dimensions that sight, it looks to be as wide as the factory Glock sight.

JV_
02-26-2011, 08:56 AM
FWIW: I've seen posts on other forums saying it's a:

.144" Front
.169" Rear Notch

MechEng
02-26-2011, 04:22 PM
I also use finger nail polish. Most finger nail polishes are designed, in theory, to be chip resistant. Not that I'm an expert on finger nail polishes mind you. I would assume that you get what you pay for when choosing a quality brand nail polish. Wives or girl friends may be able to help here. ;)

Nikuraba29
02-26-2011, 08:27 PM
JohnO High Visibility Front Sight (http://pistol-training.com/articles/the-johno-diy-high-visibility-front-sight)

I've used both the tape and the paint. The paint is far easier to apply (especially if you have a serrated front sight). I use first a white paint pen for a base coat, then after it dries I apply two coats of orange. A toothpick helps keep the tritium dot clear.

ETA: photo
http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/p30-heinie-front.jpg



I did something similar. I really like the hackathorn/ameriglo sights but they don't make them for the P30 so I took some XS dot sights and painted the front circle orange with an orange sharpie paint pen.

S/F

29

Jay Cunningham
02-26-2011, 08:30 PM
These new Trijicons look cool:
http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product1.php?id=HDNS

I normally use fingernail polish....I know but it seems to hold up pretty well. Also you can mix up some bright colors by combining bright yellow and white with red. Every year I usually have to reapply it to the ramp on my 642.

I really wish those rears were muted yellow or amber... still look worthwhile, though.

The Fish
02-28-2011, 12:15 AM
I use the tape method as suggested on pistol-training.com.
http://pistol-training.com/articles/the-johno-diy-high-visibility-front-sight

It takes a bit of practice to get it right the first time but after that the learning curve flattens out.
You can get the punch set at Michaels' Crafts.

F-Trooper05
02-28-2011, 06:31 PM
Paint pens...


http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k40/millert12005/DSCN0130.jpg


http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k40/millert12005/DSCN0135.jpg

willowofwisp
02-28-2011, 06:35 PM
I tried painting the front heinie sight on my glock awhile back, didn't work out so well with a brush, maybe next time I will try using a paint pen.

Question, do you guys scrape the paint out of the tritium insert after it drys or while you apply it?

F-Trooper05
02-28-2011, 07:15 PM
I tried painting the front heinie sight on my glock awhile back, didn't work out so well with a brush, maybe next time I will try using a paint pen.

Question, do you guys scrape the paint out of the tritium insert after it drys or while you apply it?

I've never managed to get any paint in the tritium insert. Just got to have a steady hand.

firecop019
03-02-2011, 01:55 AM
I think I'll try the paint pen first and see how that works.

jslaker
03-07-2011, 07:38 PM
You guys finally convinced me to bite on this.


Borrowing my post from elsewhere,
I used this paint from the Hobby Lobby plastic scale model aisle-it says fluorescent red but it turns out very orange:
[URL=http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/LOKNLOD/Guns/P30/?action=view&current=06938905.jpg]

This is the exact same paint I used. I found I also needed to pick up a bottle of white primer (looks like Testor's/Model Master #4622 if I'm reading the label right), as this paint was quite thin on its own.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_5XLLT_qPgmI/TXV4d5tGaEI/AAAAAAAAA3M/z8gaMm7cSnk/s800/IMG_20110307_192643.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_5XLLT_qPgmI/TXV4YVsMm_I/AAAAAAAAA3I/41RgLIlpEEI/s800/IMG_20110307_192702.jpg

Like LOKNLOD says, it's really much more orange than red. It's also way more vibrant than the photos really capture.

It was a little tricky since the Meprolights on this gun have the glass for the tritium flush with the sight face; I ended up intentionally painting over the white circles (the aforementioned glass made them fuzzy looking anyway) leaving enough of a gap in the middle that the sights still shine through in the dark. I made sure to check my work after each coat to make sure I didn't accidentally paint over the inserts.

Final product is a bright orange front sight in high to low light with the green tritium vial still visible in the extreme low light where it matter. I'm pretty pleased with the result so far. Now to see if it helps my shooting any. :cool:

John Ralston
03-07-2011, 09:43 PM
I use a Sharpie paint pen that I found in a arts, and crafts store. It's cheap, and expedient. Turned out quite well on my Warrens. Also use them to label my mags.

Same here - I bought orange for the plastic guns, but I used gold on my Heirloom Precision Commander - orange seemed too tacky.

Savage Hands
03-08-2011, 11:15 AM
I'm lazy so I just bought an Ameriglo Pro-Glo front sight.

http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad251/SShenaniguns/033d23d6.jpg
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad251/SShenaniguns/433b9f39.jpg

John Ralston
03-08-2011, 11:28 AM
I've never managed to get any paint in the tritium insert. Just got to have a steady hand.

Same here - I've done 4 or 5 now and never had an issue.

John Ralston
03-08-2011, 01:26 PM
BTW - are you guys with Heinie's on your HK's getting them with the "Qwik" notch (0.156 wide)? Seems to be the only option available.

JV_
03-08-2011, 01:30 PM
Yes, QWIK. It is a really nice setup. I'd own 2 if you could get them without tritium.