black bear stand hunting...need bright front sight

[rimfire]

Going on a black bear hunt over bait with Foggy Mountain in Maine next year with my Dad.  Wayne [owner] recommends a bright front sight over a scope as he says the scope can wash out looking down on a black bear at dusk or dawn. 

I have a Redhawk with interchangeable front, but the Ruger blades inlcluded are very dull colored.  Does anyone sell brighter front blades for the Ruger?  I normally use a v noth and front bead, but it is not very good for low light situations.

Thanks.

[Redhawk1]

I went to Maine the last 2 years and found that with my handgun, the red-dot did not give me what I needed in the low light conditions, a low power scope will work fine. My next trip to Maine with my handgun, I will use my Bushnell 2 X 6 X 32 on my S&W 460 Mag. As far as iron sights, I did not like them either in low light conditions, but look for a bright color sight paint and try different colors in low light conditions and see which one works best for you.

But my opinion a low power scope with a big objective is the best in low light conditions. JMHO.

[LEO]

How about a front sight with a tritium insert, several companies make them for the GP 100/Redhawk.  I don't know if they are legal for hunting in Maine or not but I suspect they probably are in that they don't help you see  your target, only your sights.  The tritium sight with the rest of the blade orange works well for me but of course everyones eyes are a little different so another color might work for you.

[SDS-GEN]

I just got a muzzle loader with tru-glo fiber optic sights.  They work great and aren't too expensive, I don't know if they are available for your ruger or not but may be worth looking into. www.truglo.com

[Lloyd Smale]

problem ive found with triniums is there so frajile. especially in a gun that is holstered alot. I think im on about my 5th insert in the sti trojan ive got them on and broke a few on one of my marlin guide guns before i pitched them. I just wouldnt trust them on a gun im going to hunt with. Trinium might be the  way to go. Im having them put in a new custom redhawk im having built.

[palgeno]

Check out Marble's---they make a fiber optic front sight----I put one on my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter---works great! (They did not have one specifically for the SBHH, but had one that would fit.) Give  them a call if you are unsure which to order---they are very helpful on the phone. Gene

[LEO]

Lloyd Smale, boy I bet you don't like night sights with that kind of luck.  I don't know what kind you are using but my experience is only with the trijicon brand.  I have used them on Smith Revolvers, Sig and Glock pistols, and AR-15s/M16s.  I have never had a failure and these guns are carried everyday.  The handguns in a holster obviously and the AR/M-16s in vehicle mounted racks when not in hand.  Of course the front sight on the AR is much more protected than the guide gun that may have contributed there.  The guns these sights are on are tools and while not abused they are not babied eiither so if you haven't tried the trijicon sights you might want to try them if you go with tritium sights again.  The sights on the Smith were installed in 1990 and they just quit working lin 2005, trijicon will replace the vials for a small charge, I haven't done it because I no longer carry the revolver, I do take it to the range occasionally for old time sake.  Before someone gets the wrong idea, the reason I don't carry the revolver anymore has nothing to do with revolvers, I like them, it is agency policy.  The sights on my Sig lasted 8 years, I think they probably quit sooner due to the extra stress of the slide cycling, the gun had in excess of 12000 rounds through it.  I have some buddies who have used other brands and haven't gotten as good of service out of their sights. Hope this helps