Ruger GP100 3" .357 front sight change-out?

[TeddyBallgame]

the new front red dot sight i ordered for my Ruger GP100 .357 wasn't compatible with my 3" barrel

thinking about applying some florescent model paint or something like that on the ramp instead...some of the other options i've researched don't really appeal to me, i'd like to keep it simple

paying out a lot of money for other sights, only to need a gunsmith to try and make them fit isn't worth it IMHO

actual front sights for the firearm seem hard to find...what you see here now is the stock front sight that came with the Ruger...ideas anyone?

[CK_32]

What's different between then 3" and other models?

I have the HIVIZ fiber optic sights with replaceable color tips on my 4.2" GP. Love it.

[TeddyBallgame]

the 4" and bigger barreled sights are wider than the slot provided for the 3" to fit...also, the 3" has a pin going through the middle of it, keeping it in place on the barrel

the other model Rugers front sights don't have that pin, they are removed by pressing in a spot in the front of the barrel, releasing the sight and letting it slip out

the sight i received was not only too wide, but, there was no hole in the middle of it to support the pin that needed to go through it securing it to the Ruger

even the vendor I purchased it from was unaware of the difference...here's a picture of the side view front sight...just below you can see the little hole that the pin goes through securing the sight...i don't believe the larger barrels have that, check yours out to see...the sight i bought didn't have the hole in it for the pin to go through

[ojisan]

That looks like the same sight that was on my 3" SP101.
You might look at SP101 sights for replacements for yours.

I replaced the front sight on my SP with a Meprolight night sight.
The Meprolite did not come with the cross pin hole drilled in it.
This is normal for replacement sights of this kind as the cross pin hole location in the gun will vary.
After driving out the cross pin and removing the old sight, you will need to clamp the new sight in the gun exactly where you want it, then drill the cross hole through the sight using the cross pin holes in the gun as your guide.
Drill halfway through the sight from each side for best results.
Use of a drill press and machinist's vise is recommended.
This is not so hard to do as the big flat top of the Ruger barrel makes an excellent reference surface to clamp the barrel straight and true.

One other thing to consider is that many night and hi-viz front sights are taller than regular blade sights.
Since you don't have adjustable rear sights that can be raised to match the taller height of the new front sight, you will need to change your point of aim / sight picture to keep your shots from hitting low.

[TeddyBallgame]

That looks like the same sight that was on my 3" SP101.
You might look at SP101 sights for replacements for yours.

I replaced the front sight on my SP with a Meprolight night sight.
The Meprolite did not come with the cross pin hole drilled in it.
This is normal for replacement sights of this kind as the cross pin hole location in the gun will vary.
After driving out the cross pin and removing the old sight, you will need to clamp the new sight in the gun exactly where you want it, then drill the cross hole through the sight using the cross pin holes in the gun as your guide.
Drill halfway through the sight from each side for best results.
Use of a drill press and machinist's vise is recommended.
This is not so hard to do as the big flat top of the Ruger barrel makes an excellent reference surface to clamp the barrel straight and true.

One other thing to consider is that many night and hi-viz front sights are taller than regular blade sights.
Since you don't have adjustable rear sights that can be raised to match the taller height of the new front sight, you will need to change your point of aim / sight picture to keep your shots from hitting low.

from what i've read on the Ruger site, the front sight for the SP101 and the GP100 are not compatible...

the rest of your post is interesting, seems like there are some ideas here that might just be doable for me


thanks

-Steve

[CK_32]

Huh learn something new every day.

Yea mine has like a detent pin I push to release the front sight. That sucks.

GLWP OP! Sorry I couldn't help.

[TeddyBallgame]

Huh learn something new every day.

Yea mine has like a detent pin I push to release the front sight. That sucks.

GLWP OP! Sorry I couldn't help.

yeah, i don't get why they changed it up over a 1" difference in the barrel length...im sure the 3" i have could have easily supported the same detent pin in front, along with the wider fitting sight...just makes it that much harder to find something aftermarket for it

[jwc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVtn9qzPWZ0

[hasserl]

Finger nail polish works well, you can find some pretty bright colors. I used a bright, almost flourescent yellow/green polish on the front sight of me SP101 3" 357. That helped a lot.

[hermosabeach]

I prefer black sights... but you are not alone

http://www.amazon.com/Birchwood-Casey-Super-Bright-Green/dp/B00AU67HZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409273806&sr=8-1&keywords=sight+paint

[hermosabeach]

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/sight-scope-installation-tools/sight-insert-kits/brightsights-gun-sight-coating-prod1480.aspx

last one

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/sight-scope-installation-tools/sight-insert-kits/site-kote-prod24548.aspx