a fix for my Mt Gun front sight - updated - not a long time fix

[Dand]

I really like my 657 mt gun but I don' like the black sights. But I'm too cheap and too caught up with other stuff to find the ones I want. Forgot all winter and today I dug it out for practice prior to moose season. I use it as a tent gun and sometimes while packing meat. Draw down on a target and Darn! I still haven't located an orange front sight! Got to thinking about a quick fix on the way home. I have tried painting front sights with marginal luck. Then I remembered that I have some bright florescent orange powder paint for making salmon lures. I heated up the front sight with a lighter, wiped off the carbon and dusted the rear face of the sight with the powder. Reheated to assure adhesion.  Now I'll see how this stuff holds up. I sure can see that front sight better, and much brighter than any solvent type paint I've ever tried.

Maybe this is no new thing for others but I thought I'd pass it on if it helps.

The last time I searched for an orange front site (including Brownells and Midway) I got the impression that its hard to get the right height for this particular gun. Now I want to get a white outline blade for the rear - that's easier.

Oh at night I have the Crimson Trace grips and the switch is put ON.

I even tried to talk Heine into installing their tritium straight 8 on the gun but they said no way. Durn I like that concept.

HTH

Dan

Update 7-10-2010

Took the gun out today for some target shooting - haven't had it out for about 6 months. Half way thru my session with some medium level loads, the cooked on paint just disappeared!  Maybe the gun oil I use worked under the paint or something. A bit of a disappointment.  I think I'll pursue the proper sight per Dr Doug below.

[Mikey]

Dand:  call S&W directly and get the proper height front sight and a rear sight blade with a white outline.  They will send you the correct front sight blade with the orange insert, and instructions to install it or to have a gunsmith install it.  And it is pretty inexpensive.  So is the rear sight blade with the white outline. 

I had a 6" M29 rebarrelled with the slim, tapered Mountain Gun barrel but the front sight blade was too low and my poi at 50 yds was too high.  Called S&W - they said I had the wrong height front sight blade on mine and sent me a new one (fer nutin..).  The last time I went out to practice with it I was able to get 75% of my hits within a 4" square.  The other 25% were close enough but not good enough for me.  More practice is in order......

[Dand]

Have to admit I never CALLED S&W.  I think I did check their parts list but can't remember for sure.  If this cooked on paint doesn't hold up that will be my plan. Or maybe I'll try to get a Tritium front sight. But right height might be a problem.  I know several places I looked for front sights would say "suitable for all but MT Guns" or something like that.
Thanks for the info.

[drdougrx]

I actually spoke to SW last thurs on this very issue.  I have 4" mtn gun and I like to shoot 300gr XTPs w 20gr H110.  They shoot about 6" high at 25yards.  I had this same issue with a Ruger SBH and called Ruger and got a higher front site.  On the Smith you need the site thats .300 tall as the mtn gun site is .250 or .265.

Hope this helps.

[Dand]

Another very helpful piece of info.  My preferred loads are the 250 to 265 gr hard cast from Corbon, Buffalo, Federal and others. The higher sight for the 29 mt should work for my 657. But I sight for about 30 yds since this is a defensive gun not hunting gun. Don't recall having trouble with the current front site height, just seeing it quickly in poor light.

Thanks so much drdougrx! Always enjoy your posts by the way.

[drdougrx]

You're welcome.  I did see on the SW website a few sites with white beads on them, or, you m ight want to look at a firesite or whatever they call it.

[rawhidekid]

I always used my wifes fingernail polish.  Comes in a meriod of colores and can be removed when no longer desired or a color change is needed.  I shot in a compition once were they got cute and put up orange plates to shoot.  Every one with a orange insert could not see thier sights on the plates.  I simply wiped off the polish and won the shoot.

[S.B.]

The front sight on my new John Ross custom 500 has something along the lines you used on your .41. I think Millet made these front sights? Good luck with the new sight.
Steve

[Bearcat 74]

I got a new front sight from Cylinder and Slide when Midway had them on sale, $30 or something.  It is a .300 and has a replaceable fiber optic strand.  I really like mine.

[Dand]

Bearcat, I'll have to check out Midway for that. Sounds very interesting.

thanks