AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: Jerry on December 13, 2023, 12:40:23 AM

Title: Front Sight
Post by: Jerry on December 13, 2023, 12:40:23 AM
With my eye sight, I would like to know what I could use on my front sight to make it more visible. Something that would make it stand out against the black on a target bullseye. Many thanks in advance. Jerry
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: smylee grouch on December 13, 2023, 12:55:40 AM
That might vary according to light conditions.  :-\
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: john bohan on December 13, 2023, 01:03:02 AM
RMC makes a sight called Quick Peep ,uses fiber optics in the front. Not very traditional but atleast you could shoot. I also see MBS has some johnson peep sights.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: MuskratMike on December 13, 2023, 01:29:02 AM
Paint the front edge with a bright orange toenail polish. It might make the front sight more visible to you.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: recurve on December 13, 2023, 01:48:45 AM
at the last Dixons gun makers fair(at Dixons shop) there was a gun builder by the main door who split the front sight and inserted a white guitar pick as an insert then filed to the shape of the front sight It really popped (like ivery)
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Daryl on December 13, 2023, 02:41:28 AM
Shiny brass bead with a 45 degree bevel is easy to see for my old eyes.
If it needs to be darkened in bright sunlight, then a dry-erase felt pen works wonders. The Dry-erace is flat black, not shiny like permanent felt pen markers.
Too, if back to needing a shiny sight, one wipe with the thumb or finger and it's back to shiny.
WHITE paint on a blade will make that one stand out, but not on white targets.
(https://i.ibb.co/yBpXpCv/100-7226.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Lhr8ryj)

(https://i.ibb.co/zXRyQTV/Front-sight-closeup.jpg) (https://ibb.co/x1jpXtq)

(https://i.ibb.co/Cz74Xs2/P4291715.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c1FRpXL)

(https://i.ibb.co/G3QRrJH/P4291716.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k62XPym)
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Ghillie on December 13, 2023, 02:52:58 AM
Try a copper blade.  I always thought silver was the best thing to use.  On another sight many people bragged about a copper blade.  I tried one and will never go back to silver.  The copper stands out in low light and doesn't blind in bright light.  Seemed to me to be the best choice for all lighting conditions.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: smylee grouch on December 13, 2023, 05:01:05 AM
I tried white paint last spring and it wore off too easy. So I tried white nail polish last fall and that didn't wear off. Very visable at twilight on darker colored game.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Darkhorse on December 13, 2023, 05:03:27 AM
I'm with the muskrat. I use bright orange finger and toenail polish on my front sights on my flintlocks and pistols. I can see this very good. And most important it stands out against the background instead of blending in and dissapearing.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Pukka Bundook on December 13, 2023, 07:50:18 AM
I like a silver foresight.
It can be darkened easier than a dark sight can be lightened I think.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Skychief on December 13, 2023, 08:13:08 AM
My eyes have favored a front sight dabbed with "White Out" for years.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Jerry on December 13, 2023, 02:56:24 PM
Many thanks for all the good advice. Jerry
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: J.M.Browning on December 13, 2023, 04:14:27 PM
Im going to order 2 front sights , modify accordingly , save the original front & rear sight . Many good suggestions thank you !
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Kurt on December 13, 2023, 11:19:03 PM
 Using a water-based black marker can be helpful, as you wipe the black off or put it on as conditions change. Starting with a bright front sight, that is. If you want to stay authentic use soot from a lantern wick, lit with flint and steel,  to blacken a silver or brass front sight, then wipe it clean when the sun goes below the horizon.
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Jerry on December 15, 2023, 01:33:54 AM
I tried filing my front sight blade as Daryl suggested. Worked really well. My front sight is a blade with a small 45 degree filed, then painted the angle only. Help much appreciated. Thanks. Jerry
Title: Re: Front Sight
Post by: Daryl on December 15, 2023, 03:35:41 AM
That is preferred by many, Jerry. That small square of white or shiny, will appear a bead in the sights. You can have your point of impact in the middle of it, or
on it's top edge - whatever you want.