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Painting sights

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:56 pm
by skeathley
I find that at my age, the contrast between the front and rear sights is not sufficient, especially in low light. I have used commercial sight paint before, but wasn't that impressed. The gun in question, a CZ 9mm, has night sights standard, but the dots seemed too small.

I went to Hobby Lobby, the hobbist chain store, and bought some small artist brushes and two small containers of metallic paint (white and fire-engine red). In front, I painted the ramp up to the top, red, covering all the horizontal surface. In back, I painted the vertical posts white, covering all the vertical surface, and connected the posts across the bottom to form a U.

Total cost: about $10, and the results were spectacular. Acquiring a sight-picture was faster than ever, and groups tightened up a good bit.

:cool:

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:04 pm
by scokill
I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip. My vision isn't what it used to be either.

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:32 pm
by Keith B
There were some previous discussions on the forum about this as well

http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=52380" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and

http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=44446" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 1:55 am
by RKlenka
This is something i have been looking into as well, what i have noticed in my M&Pc is the sights are a bit indented and some lint and dirt can get in there and dull it out until i get around to cleaning it. I been planning on switching them out for some night sights but this should hold me over until then.

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 7:45 pm
by bdsnooks
FWIW, I have painted several sights and have found that a toothpick works much better (for me) than a brush-----

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 8:34 pm
by Pawpaw
I ran across this the other night. It might help someone.

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Re: Painting sights

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:46 am
by bmwrdr
scokill wrote:I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip. My vision isn't what it used to be either.

Same here, I went to Hobby Lobby but the paint I got wasn't lasting. I found out Ultra Green V10 Glow in the Dark paint lasts longer and the price is ok. I clean the old paint with a small drill and instead of a brush I use a tooth pick.

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:25 am
by Cedar Park Dad
skeathley wrote:I find that at my age, the contrast between the front and rear sights is not sufficient, especially in low light. I have used commercial sight paint before, but wasn't that impressed. The gun in question, a CZ 9mm, has night sights standard, but the dots seemed too small.

I went to Hobby Lobby, the hobbist chain store, and bought some small artist brushes and two small containers of metallic paint (white and fire-engine red). In front, I painted the ramp up to the top, red, covering all the horizontal surface. In back, I painted the vertical posts white, covering all the vertical surface, and connected the posts across the bottom to form a U.

Total cost: about $10, and the results were spectacular. Acquiring a sight-picture was faster than ever, and groups tightened up a good bit.

:cool:
We routinely do this on our .22 pistols.
However we use fingernail polish. Thanks to the miracle of Dad's wallet ( :cryin ) my daughter has a full and complete line of fingernail polishes. I use standard white but the Wife uses a pinkish red. They work excellently and the fingernail polish is more resistant to wear.

Now that you mention it my CC is getting blur to my old eyes. I might try that.

Re: Painting sights

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:53 am
by C-dub
We did it on my daughter's Colt 1911-22. She had some really bright orange nail polish and we painted just the front sight. It has helped quite a bit.