Fiber optic front sight as accurate as Baughman ramp?

[jphendren]

I recently had FA install an orange fiber optic front sight on my M83 454.  While the sight is VERY visible in bright sunlight, it is very thin and hard to keep centered in the wide rear notch.  I went out with the revolver today testing some 454 loads using Bullseye and Unique, I could not seem to get any kind of a group with the new front sight.  Anybody else have any experience with these?  I managed with two of the loads, to get two holes touching with one off to the side, but the other two were always a few inces away.  With the Baughman ramp, I can usually get all five into less than two inches at 25 yards.

Jared

[fowler]

Personally I don't like the one I purchased. I thought it would be nice for hunting, especially very early or very late in the day. What I find, at least for my eyes, is that I can not get that clear front sight focus that is so critical for good shooting. I find the bright orange insert just glows out there but does not give any hard boarder to focus with. Yes there is a metal outline but it is not perfectly centered and the glow washes it out for my eyes. For some other people they find their eyes work wonderfully with these sights.

For my money get a Ken Oneill undercut front sight, he charges $20.00 and they work great. I am going to make some post style sights here in the shop one of these days just for a little more holster friendly design but also for one that can have long range marks on them for rock plinking.

Here is a pic of my 475 with Ken's front sight on it.

[jphendren]

Fowler,

Thanks for the reply.  My experience with the sight is that it stands out very nicely, however, there is too much room on either side using the standard square notch rear sight.  You have to concentrate very hard to maintain the fiber in the center of the square, at least I do.  The standard Baughman ramp fits the square notch more completely, so it is easier to maintain good sight alignment.

Jared

[paul105]

First of all, don't think that any old load you throw down the pipe of the M83 will be a one holer.  If you want to verify the accy of the fiber optic front, squre notch rear, you need to shoot a load that has been proven accurate in your gun.

Second, everybody is different!  Selecting a sight system that works for you is a trial and error process.   Nobody can tell you what will work for you.  I'm 62, and my eyes (and nerves) aren't what they used to be -- 20 years ago, that group Fowler posted above was a gimme, today it would be posted on the "braggin wall".  I just don't see "black on black" that well anymore except under perfect light conditions.  I have three of Ken's front sights and recommend them highly if you can see them well -- I don't, except under perfect light conditions with help from reading glasses.

I've tried red dots, and for me, they just magnify the wobble -- 98 % of my shooting is off hand.  From solid support, they are superior with my aging eyes, but for now, I think a handgun should have iron sights.

I like the FA Fiber Optic front sights w/square notch rear although, I have trouble picking up the rear in poor light situations -- I can see the front well enough to make a hit out to 50 yds off hand during legal shooting light.  I also know that depending upon light conditions (time of day, time of year (location of sun on horizon)) point of impact does change.

Here are some groups with the FA Fiber Optic Front, Square Notch Rear


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FWIW,

Paul

[jphendren]

paul105,

I should mention that I really like the orange fiber optic front sight.  Maybe you are right, I was trying new loads with a new front sight blade at the same time.  Maybe the front sight is not the weak link, maybe these loads just don't shoot any better in my revolver.  For some reason, I have never been able to get a one hole group with any handgun before.  If I can get all four holes in 1.5-2", I am usually happy.  I should mention that I don't have a shooting bench to shoot from, these were shot off of my knees from the back of my truck.  One load that has been pretty accurate in my M83 is 8gr. of Bullseye and a 250gr. XTP.

Jared

[mray]

I think that the weak link in the express sight is the rear sight and not the front sight.  I have a ruger single six hunter with express type sights and the rear sight has a white line down from the center of the "V".  This lets the shooter line up the sight without even thinking.  It's a huge improvement over what FA offers.  I wish that they would make that improvement.  I've suggested it to Bob. but I don't think that he took me very seriously.

Someone here said that Magna-port (SP?) offers the modification and I plan to look into it as soon as deer season ends.

Good shooting!

[mray]

Does anyone here have Bob's (at FA) email address?  I'd like to email him an image of the sight I'm talking about in the post above.

Thanks

[mray]

In case you're interested, I checked and Magna-port will do the modification for 65.00 to the rear sight.  I plan on sending mine in.  I'll let you know how I like it.

[paul105]

FWIW, Jared's orginal question was directed at the square notch rear sight -- not that the above isn't useful information.

FAs email addy is:

freedom@freedomarms.com

From what I can tell this is a general FA business email addy.  However, I'm sure if you addressed your email to Bob's attention it would get to him.

Paul

[mray]

Thanks for the email address...