Painting sights - What colors?

[whipkiller]

Picked up a Marlin 795 awhile ago and just shot it for the first time last week.

I had forgotten how bad the factory sights are, I'm getting older and my eyes have a hard time differentiating between black and umm, black.

Before I go spending money on Tech Sights or some sort of optics I thought I would paint one or both of the stock ones and see how they work.

So I went to the craft store today and picked some little bottles of:

White
Bright Red
Neon Green
Yellow Glow in the dark (Don't plink much in the dark, but whatever)

What color(s) or combination of colors have you guys tried and liked or not liked?

It may be fine just to paint the front one white to contrast with the black in the rear, but I figured maybe I'd play with a few ways and see what pops.

[MaHoTex]

I used bright yellow and it is so/so. Maybe neon green would be better. I saw a kit somewhere (can not remember now) that had a few different colors in it. Maybe a google search would turn up the kit?

FWIW, I hate the sights on my 795.

[Mongoblack23]

ive only had experience with white. and it does NOT work, the white blends worse than the black does for some reason. i have a white front sight on my mini and i can barely make out the top through the rear ring. i would stick to the florescent colors one color up front and another color in back... good contrast make easy line up.... that just my $0.02...

[DippyPower]

I used model paint on the fr sight while leaving the rear black. It is what you would use for the yellow reflectors/turn signals on car models so it is metallic/sparkly/reflective. It works well enough if there is some light on it.

[whipkiller]

I used bright yellow and it is so/so. Maybe neon green would be better. I saw a kit somewhere (can not remember now) that had a few different colors in it. Maybe a google search would turn up the kit?

FWIW, I hate the sights on my 795.

So did you do bright yellow front and leave the rear black, or what?

[MaHoTex]

So did you do bright yellow front and leave the rear black, or what?

Yes. I left the back black. While it made a huge difference, I still do not like it. The sights are just junk in my opinion. I have not decided what I want to do, but it will not be a peep sight that so many recommend. I am sure someone will jump in with the recommeded peep sights soon enough.

[Izzy43]

Get a small length of red, green or yellow fiber optic (small diameter) and super glue it to the top of the front sight. Shines like a light in the sun and works great.

[donw]

i purchased some gun-sight specific paints a few years ago from midway USA or brownells and the only time they work is in bright sunlight.

I'm gonna go the fiber optics route

[donw]

Get a small length of red, green or yellow fiber optic (small diameter) and super glue it to the top of the front sight. Shines like a light in the sun and works great.

great idea...where might a person get some?

[Izzy43]

great idea...where might a person get some?

Sent you a PM.

[whipkiller]

Sent you a PM.

Could you send that my way too?

[Izzy43]

Link to fiber optic rods that I used. Enough to do the front sighes on about 300 guns. Link:http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...sting-_-514010

Not cheap for what it is but if you gotta have it.

[j1133s]

... I figured maybe I'd play with a few ways and see what pops.

This is what I'd do. But it also depends on what you shoot/when you shoot. I shoot very specific targets and can pick thhe rime (mostly mornings, almost never late afternoon/evening), so I'd pick colors that works best for me.

[Izzy43]

Mybe some folks on this thread that are interested in the fiber optic thing could do a little group buy. The three rods are plenty for a large number of sights. Just an idea. I already have some.

[Oldrice]

Guys, here's a MUCH better place to deal with when it comes to light tubes and fiber optics: http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/

Look under the "Fluorescent Fiber" section of the website. I have dealt with Fiber Optics Products many times and they are GREAT people to deal with.

When you cut light tube to the desired length, don't cleave through it. Score it with an NEW X-Acto blade as you allow it to roll under the pressure of the knife -- then snap it. If you do this, you get a better, clearer end to look at.

Based on my experience with a variety of good-quality CA (super) glues, I would expect the shock of the rifle to break the bond between the metal sight and the light tube element; CA glues have high tensile strength, but do not stand up well to shear and/or shock.

You would be better off using JB Weld to affix the light tube to the sight and I would even take a round file and score a channel for the light tube to lay in.

Just my .02