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S&W Revolver sights

toad67
I currently have an older 686 with a white outline rear sight and a red ramp front sight. I am currently bidding on an older 617 target model tha has a black rear and black front sight. However there is another 617 here on GB that has since came up that has the white outline rear with the red ramp front. Can any one tell me why some com bith black and black while others come with the white outline red ramp front? I prefer the white/red combo. Thanks.

Todd
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  • dcs shooters
    The all black sights are considered target sights. The front black sight is undercut, not a ramp like the red ramp, to not reflect light.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by toad67
    I currently have an older 686 with a white outline rear sight and a red ramp front sight. I am currently bidding on an older 617 target model tha has a black rear and black front sight. However there is another 617 here on GB that has since came up that has the white outline rear with the red ramp front. Can any one tell me why some com bith black and black while others come with the white outline red ramp front? I prefer the white/red combo. Thanks.

    Todd


    Its a question of what you're using the gun for, and personal preference.

    If you want your 617 as a target gun, you'll want target sights.

    If you want your 617 to stand in as a practice gun for your 686 or other combat-type medium frame revolver, you'll want combat type sights.

    Note that if you like a red front sight, painting your front sight red (or yellow, or orange, or any other color you like) is trivial. Just get some red nailpolish or (if you want to be more fancy) any red enamel paint from an art or hobby store. Some people like to put down a layer of white paint first to make the red paint stand out a little more, but it isn't absolutely necessary.

    Apply a thin coat, let it dry, then repeat 1 or 2x more. If you are sloppy and get some where you don't need it, you can take it off with nail polish remover.

    Putting a white outline around your rear sight is a little more complicated. You can get a replacement white-outline rear sight from Smith and Wesson then install it yourself or have it professionally installed.

    If you're CAREFUL you can paint a white outline on your rear sight yourself without removing it. I did this by masking off everything BUT the area that I wanted white with masking tape, then painting over it, letting it dry, and removing the tape. Worked out pretty well, actually.

    If you REALLY want to be fancy, you could use high quality luminous (glow in the dark) paint for the rear and/or front sights as a relatively good "poor man's" night sight.
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