Stainless New Model Vaquero Front Sight Glare

Deadeye Dick · April 19, 2008, 02:52:15 PM

When shooting my New Model Vaquero in stainless steel, I'm having problems seeing my front sight. Especially in the sun shine, although even on cloudy days there is glare. I tried blackening the sight with a black magic marker and with soot off of a match. Glare still seems to shine through. Thought I'd ramp the front sight like on my Blackhawk. I think this would reflect the light off at a different angle. There is a night and day difference in clarity between my Vaquero and my Blackhawk. I notice my Blackhawk front site besides being ramped is serrated too. I think this would help.
Any of you pard's have this problem and if so what did you do?
Deadeye Dick

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · April 19, 2008, 03:38:28 PM

My new Vaquero is untouched, for now. My Stainless classic Vaqueros in .44-40 had their front sights filed-in, after a good load was firmly established for both,in both Titegroup and Goex.

I filed a 45 degree forward slope at the tip, and coloured it with black felt-pen. Now I can see the sight against any coloured target, including bullet splatter. and the tip shows black on a paper target. If you hold the blackened tip above the rear notch, you have a long-range hold.

Will Blastem · April 20, 2008, 11:26:38 AM

I shoot a brace of Stainless NV's and all I did was swiped a coarse file across the rear verticle part of the front sight...works for me...but if I knew where to but a file that would serate the edge, I'd do that.

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · April 20, 2008, 02:18:20 PM

Brownells, I believe, sells a checkering file that would do the job.

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · April 20, 2008, 09:55:19 PM

hOWDY gENTS

I understand your problem, and I can relate to it , when I shoot in the sun , I always wear sun glasses, but because of reflected glare, I've started wearing POLARIZED sun glasses, I shoot New Model Vaquer's SS 5 1/2" BARRELS, and I have no more problems with glare. problem solved...

tEN wOLVES

fourfingersofdeath · April 21, 2008, 06:53:04 AM

What we used to do to 'matte' a piece of a gun was to tape off the parts we didn't want touched, then use top quality emery paper held against the part and tap with a hammer. I'd be going careful like, you wouldn't want to break the solder on the foresight. Now that you mention it, My old model Vaqero SS gun was a PITA. I now have two SS New model Vaqs and there is no problem. I also have polarised glasses now.

I went to range for a weekend shoot recently and left my sunnies at home. I dug a set of shooting glasses out of the bottom of my box. they are those bright yellow ones, better than nothing. When I was on the brass picking up detail I was just standing there confused, I couldn't see the brass in amongst the bales of straw and loose straw on the ground in th bright sunlight. I couldn't work out what was going on for awhile. Then the penny dropped and I swapped jobs. I was standing there with my mouth open and everyone was going around me picking it up for me, D'Oh!!

Mustang Gregg · April 21, 2008, 07:51:40 AM

Another plan to matte down the shiny stuff is to use a heavy masking tape & sand-blast (or better yet, bead-blast) the offending blade. Gotta use low pressure air & fine grit only.
I would be scared to try the emery/hammer system. I have had front blades that have loosened & flown off when firing some six-shooters (non-Ruger, of course).

They were warthog loads, though.

My opinion only...Your mileage may vary.

MG

Sgt. Jake · April 21, 2008, 05:25:05 PM

On my OMV stainless,I did the very thing Mustang Greg sugested to you ,thats taken care of the glare since 97,when I bead blasted it. Adios Sgt. Jake

Will Blastem · April 22, 2008, 02:30:18 PM

Quote from: Sir Charles deMoutonBlack on April 20, 2008, 02:18:20 PM
Brownells, I believe, sells a checkering file that would do the job.

Thanks!

Deadeye Dick · April 22, 2008, 07:18:48 PM

Well I bead blasted the front sight today. It still seems to reflect some. I think the blade being rounded off at the top causes some reflected light. It is much better than what it was. I'm probably being to picky. I'll try throwing some holy black through it and see if it still bothers me while shooting. I may still want to ramp the back portion at 45 degrees and see if that helps.
Pard's, thanks for all of your help and advice.
Deadeye Dick