Improved adjustable sights for J-Frame 63-5 3"

[Crow Hunter]

I have a S&W 63-5 3" that I really like. It is a surprisingly accurate little gun and the trigger is pretty decent for a J-frame. Never a non-ammo related functional problem. No sticky cases, nothing. Lots of fun to shoot except on small niggling problem.

I can't use the sights worth a crap. That big glowing red ball and stubby rear notch have me fighting elevation problems all the time. The "ball" is too big to "fit" in the notch and due to presbyopia and the glowing ball I can't really see the top edge of the front sight to line up with the rears. So I sorta "float" the ball in the notch. With emphasis on the "sorta". My elevation is also "sorta" on. I can use the factory sights on my G44 WAY better than the 63 sights.

I have searched around to see if there are any options for more visible adjustable sights for it and I am at a loss.

Does anyone else have one and if so, what sights do you use?

[camsdaddy]

Would a laser help your situation?

[BillSWPA]

Would a laser help your situation?

This is likely the easiest answer. Crimson Trace makes a variety of configurations.


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[Duelist]

If it’s a fixed rear, making a change will likely be expensive. If it’s an adjustable rear, you can replace the rear blade with one with a bigger notch (even if you have to fabricate it) and replace the front with a less difficult to use choice. Maybe start with a green rod in the front instead of the red one, for a cheap and easy place to start.

[Jim Watson]

You can get to a conventional post and notch sight picture, finding the parts might be a trick, but here is what you need (I think.)

https://dawsonprecision.com/s-w-pinn...-front-sights/

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004477188?pid=541186

Unfortunately, removal of the rear sight blade normally involves breaking the windage screw so you need a new screw and probably a nut. J frame screw is different from K, L, N, but the nut is common to all.

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...176-34698.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...prod15288.aspx

Out of stock, I do not know where else to look unless S&W would sell you a set. Maybe a delicate touch could tease the screw out but I would not count on it.

[Crow Hunter]

I hate to use a laser on what is essentially a plinking .22.

It somehow seems "wrong".

I was afraid it would be expensive/time consuming. I was hoping there was just a "drop in" part but apparently most of the target shooting crowd goes with K-frames instead of J-frames. Still, I would have thought a kit gun would have a bigger selection of sights available.

I wonder if just replacing the front sight would be enough to help? The biggest problem is that giant ball of a front sight. I think if I had a thinner front sight, I could deal with the shorter "ears" of the rear sight since it looks like getting a taller rear sight is problematic.

I wonder why they make them so darn short. Any ideas?

[Crow Hunter]

You can get to a conventional post and notch sight picture, finding the parts might be a trick, but here is what you need (I think.)

https://dawsonprecision.com/s-w-pinn...-front-sights/

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004477188?pid=541186

Unfortunately, removal of the rear sight blade normally involves breaking the windage screw so you need a new screw and probably a nut. J frame screw is different from K, L, N, but the nut is common to all.

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...176-34698.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...prod15288.aspx

Out of stock, I do not know where else to look unless S&W would sell you a set. Maybe a delicate touch could tease the screw out but I would not count on it.

I have a semi-local to me gunsmith that has been in business for a very long time. Not famous or anything but he did a good job at making the trigger on my Browning BL-22 reasonable. I might hit him up and see if he has any suggestions or maybe the parts I need.

Thank you very much for the info!

[Caballoflaco]

Try coloring over the front sight with a black sharpie, or use some tape to see if you can dim the fiber optic some so it doesn’t cause so much glare. If you’re comfortable using files you might could open up the rear notch a bit.

[BN]

It looks like you have a HIVIZ sight. https://www.hivizsights.com/product/sw1002/ I never liked them. They don't give a distinctly clear picture.

Replace it with a Dawson. https://dawsonprecision.com/s-w-pinn...-front-sights/ Measure the height of your existing front sight and measure the width of your rear sight notch. I like the rear notch to be slightly wider than the front blade. You'll probably need to drill a new hole in the new front sight but it isn't hard.

[jandbj]

Based off the compatibility of j frame & sp101 sights in 38/357... perhaps a Ruger sp101 front sight from Numrich Arms is a cheap solution.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-man...rs-ruger/sp101