Frt. Sight Visibility VS Magna-port

[oldhenry]

BACKGROUND: The gun is a replacement for a stolen 4" S&W 25-5 in '90. The 4" version were scarce (none in my area). The Gun List (remember them) had a listing by a gun shop in Florida. This before the days of sending & receiving photos (by me anyway), so I phoned the shop & they seemed honest (and they were). I bought it for $450.00.The gun is not a 4" 25-5, but very close & in many ways better. It started out life as a 25-2 & some very talented gunsmith (ID unknown.....suspected to be Magna-port) installed a S&W 4" 1955 magna-ported bbl. & fitted an extra .45 Colt cylinder. I "breathed" on the action, converted it to a RB grip (I think I heard some of you cringe) & recontoured the target trigger. It's very accurate with both cylinders.

PROBLEM: The 1955 bbl. has a very dark red insert (I assume this is not factory). The blast from the Magna-port quickly eliminates any red color showing after a few shots. As a short term solution as I write this: a base coat of Testors white is drying. I have florescent orange or chartreuse for the final color. I lean toward the chartreuse, but figure the orange will withstand the darkening effect of the MP blast best.

Any suggestions for a long term solution & if so recommendations for a pistol-smith or pistol-smiths that can do the deed.

Any input is appreciated.

Henry

[megasupermagnum]

My 57-1 also has a darker red front sight just like that. IMO, the best fix is to have a gunsmith mill it off, and cut a dovetail in its place. If you want visibility, I would think a fiber optic would be decently protected from the soot from the port.

[44MAG#1]

i am one of the very few that hates a red insert especially S&W inserts. I am not color blind either. I would paint it black and be happy.

[Dan Cash]

Tap the Magna Port holes and insert short set screws to plug the holes. Problem fixed.

[Rick Hodges]

Tap the Magna Port holes and insert short set screws to plug the holes. Problem fixed.

That would be an odd shaped screw....most Magna Ports are slots.
You should be able to change out the inserts.

[murf205]

Oldhenry, I am no fan of the red inserts either and on my 629 I had my smith install this green fiber sight and I've never regretted it.256207

[Mk42gunner]

i am one of the very few that hates a red insert especially S&W inserts. I am not color blind either. I would paint it black and be happy.
Me too.

At least until my eyesight started to go bad. Now I find a quick touchup with a fluorescent orange paint pen works wonders on being able to see a front sight.

Robert

[oldhenry]

I really appreciate all of the response.

Rick Hodges is correct: the Magna-ports are slots, so I'm stuck with them. I would have preferred that they not be there.

I'll test my short term fix with the bright orange paint, but I think I'll end up with the same solution as Murf205. Murf, that is a very clean installation job on your 629. I would appreciate the name of the gunsmith that did that installation. Were you able to use the original rear sight?

Thanks to all.
Henry

[megasupermagnum]

Why would you go with a pinned sight vs a dovetailed sight. A dovetail sight is easy to replace. A pinned sight is a PITA.

[Dan Cash]

I really appreciate all of the response.

Rick Hodges is correct: the Magna-ports are slots, so I'm stuck with them. I would have preferred that they not be there.


Thanks to all.
Henry

In that case have a smith counter bore the ported section and fit a solid sleeve to block the ports.

[oldhenry]

Why would you go with a pinned sight vs a dovetailed sight. A dovetail sight is easy to replace. A pinned sight is a PITA.

I'll look @ my Ruger GP100 .44 spec tomorrow. I'm assuming that it is pinned. I can't look now: my dog's bed is next to the safe & he's retired for the night.

[Texas by God]

Not to be a picker of nits; but the Magnaport slots are trapezoids( take that, geometry teacher!) and I’d either smoke that sight or mask it off and paint it flat black. My late buddy hated the red inserts so he heated the sight slowly with a heat gun and pushed out the melting red plastic. He cleaned the dovetail out and made a new insert of whatever color toothbrush handle he desired. The one on my wife’s S&W 67 is still bright red and she likes it so that settles it. Me, I prefer black sights- no dots, dashes, or light tubes. That will change as my eyes age- of that I am certain. I like your revolver A Lot.

[megasupermagnum]

I'll look @ my Ruger GP100 .44 spec tomorrow. I'm assuming that it is pinned. I can't look now: my dog's bed is next to the safe & he's retired for the night.

Some distributer special's use a dovetail, but most Redhawk/GP100's use a push pin, quick change front sight.

[murf205]

I really appreciate all of the response.

Rick Hodges is correct: the Magna-ports are slots, so I'm stuck with them. I would have preferred that they not be there.

I'll test my short term fix with the bright orange paint, but I think I'll end up with the same solution as Murf205. Murf, that is a very clean installation job on your 629. I would appreciate the name of the gunsmith that did that installation. Were you able to use the original rear sight?

Thanks to all.
Henry

I use Jimmy McCollough at McCollough Rifle Co in Valley Grand, Al. This old Marine can do it all and I mean ALL. He used to work for Walker Arms before they closed. He also re-barrels Mini 14's with a Douglas barrel and has some shooting under MOA, which is quite an accomplishment for one of those rifles.

[murf205]

Henry, I called the guy's at Hi-Viz and quizzed them about the front sight height and they made the recommendation based on my 4" barrel and using the factory rear sight. I went with the green because I occasionally wag this gun around in Alaska while fishing and hiking and the green stands out against a wet bear hide!

[Silver Jack Hammer]

I sent my Security Six 6” in to Magna Port in the mid 1980’s, I paint my front sights yellow with Testors model paint. The darkening on the colored front sight could only be fixed by selling the gun. IMO the Magna Porting did not reduced muzzle rise at all. I was a peace officer at the time and needed the front sight visible in low light.

[oldhenry]

Not to be a picker of nits; but the Magnaport slots are trapezoids( take that, geometry teacher!) and I’d either smoke that sight or mask it off and paint it flat black. My late buddy hated the red inserts so he heated the sight slowly with a heat gun and pushed out the melting red plastic. He cleaned the dovetail out and made a new insert of whatever color toothbrush handle he desired. The one on my wife’s S&W 67 is still bright red and she likes it so that settles it. Me, I prefer black sights- no dots, dashes, or light tubes. That will change as my eyes age- of that I am certain. I like your revolver A Lot.

Good suggestion on the heat gun to remove the dark red insert. In the past Brownells sold colored epoxy kits that could be trimmed after curing (don't know if they do now). I'm 80 & need some color. A blacked out front would be OK if I was shooting @ a BE type target, but BE is not my game. I rarely shoot paper. Basically I'm an unrepentant combat shooter that dapples in IHMSA.

Regards,
Henry

[oldhenry]

I use Jimmy McCollough at McCollough Rifle Co in Valley Grand, Al. This old Marine can do it all and I mean ALL. He used to work for Walker Arms before they closed. He also re-barrels Mini 14's with a Douglas barrel and has some shooting under MOA, which is quite an accomplishment for one of those rifles.

Thanks for this valuable information.

I see you're in the "Dead center of Alabama". I visit the Barber Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham often: the largest in the world.

Regards,
Henry

[oldhenry]

I sent my Security Six 6” in to Magna Port in the mid 1980’s, I paint my front sights yellow with Testors model paint. The darkening on the colored front sight could only be fixed by selling the gun. IMO the Magna Porting did not reduced muzzle rise at all. I was a peace officer at the time and needed the front sight visible in low light.

I agree about the Magna-port not reducing muzzle rise. Recoil is about the same as the stolen 4" 25-5 w/o the MP.

[onelight]

I may be wrong but it seems to me that any sight you put near those magnaport slots is going to get smoked and be just like what you have.
That gun might be a good candidate for a red dot sight.

[oldhenry]

I may be wrong but it seems to me that any sight you put near those magnaport slots is going to get smoked and be just like what you have.
That gun might be a good candidate for a red dot sight.

You may be right. I did examine the sight on my GP100 (3" SS). the fiber tube is on top & is shielded completely on the sides by metal. I think something like that would have a chance of working.

I'm just not a Red Dot guy & would prefer just wiping the front sight between reloads over the RD. I think they are great for some people, but not for me.

[Valley-Shooter]

I have a 629 with factory Magnaports and an orange front sight. I only shoot cast boolits through it.
The front sight gets covered with grey soot as I'm shooting. Never really bothered me. I can still see the front sight. I just keep shooting.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

[Groo]

Groo here
At one time You could get plastic rods cut to fit the front sight dove tail..
Just cut a piece file to fit, tap in with glue on it, then file as needed.
Many colors were made even glow in the dark and brass..
A second type was a liquid with hardener and a dam.
Put dam on sight, mix liquid , pour in slot , let harden , file to fit.
Last , there is some Light charged paint[?].you could paint on.[do WWW search.]
Ps , Magnaport does not reduce kick,or climb associated with kick.
It reduces rotation of gun [saving web between thumb and trigger finger]
I have many ,some cant be shot without it. [ 45-70 hand canyon by SSK]
The thing is, If you shoot reduced loads It will not work well.
Needs full up loads.[where you need it anyway] like a brake...

[oldhenry]

Groo,
I agree (in theory) that the MP would be more effective with full power loads & I also think (my opinion only) that the longer bbl. length would make it more effective due to the lever principle. However: I may be wrong (I often am).

I just checked Brownells & they still catalogue the epoxy type kit with several (I think 5) pigment additives. The price is $60.00. They also have the type you described that has several different color sheets that you must cut to fit & glue in place @ about 1/2 of the liquid kit.

I do appreciate your additional comments.

Henry

[murf205]

Thanks for this valuable information.

I see you're in the "Dead center of Alabama". I visit the Barber Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham often: the largest in the world.

Regards,
Henry

Brings back some fun memories doesn't it?

[Rapidrob]

Just a thought, have you tried a cleaner burning powder? Bullseye,Unique and Red Dot are just nasty BBQ Grill crud out of a ported firearm.
I'd give PB Powder a try as it is one of,if not the cleanest burning powder ever made.

[oldhenry]

Just a thought, have you tried a cleaner burning powder? Bullseye,Unique and Red Dot are just nasty BBQ Grill crud out of a ported firearm.
I'd give PB Powder a try as it is one of,if not the cleanest burning powder ever made.

PB was once my most used powder. It worked in .38 spec., .45 ACP, .44 spec. & .45 Colt. It also has low muzzle flash (useful in an IPSC night match).

However: they must have ceased making it. I'm unable to find any anywhere. If you know of a source, I'd be interested.

Now, I find WST to be the cleanest burning. HP-38/231 is OK also.

[oldhenry]

Brings back some fun memories doesn't it?

It sure does. My 1st. bike was a '51 Matchless G80 500cc single. Most people have never heard of a Matchless: Barber has about 10.

[gunther]

Meprolight makes an insert that will replace the red plastic. Tritium white dot. I don't know how it would be affected by the magna ports.

[oldhenry]

Meprolight makes an insert that will replace the red plastic. Tritium white dot. I don't know how it would be affected by the magna ports.

Thanks for the heads-up. I checked their web site (kind of confusing & was never able to get anywhere with their "contact" point.....computer would lock-up every time).

Amazon had some info. BTW the entire set was priced conservatively. From the reviews it seems that the S&W front is pinned in place (not very clear). Most agree that installation is difficult + all guns shot 6"-8" high after install. I wish I had an underside view & I could tell more about it.

[country gent]

Not truly traditional on a handgun but there used to be spring loaded hoods for rifles maybe one of those fitted to the front sight. It would protect the sight from blast, and also glare

[country gent]

Not truly traditional on a handgun but there used to be spring loaded hoods for rifles maybe one of those fitted to the front sight. It would protect the sight from blast, and also glare

[M-Tecs]

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/sight-scope-installation-tools/sight-insert-kits/instuctions-sku076200115-397-1451.aspx

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/sight-scope-installation-tools/sight-insert-kits/front-sight-insert-kit-sku081000370-22791-48933.aspx

https://rifleshooter.com/2019/02/smith-and-wesson-revolver-front-sight-insert-replacement/

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?312929-S-amp-W-Model-66-Front-sight-insert-replacement

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/284190-front-sight-red-insert-replacement-photos-tips.html

[oldhenry]

Not truly traditional on a handgun but there used to be spring loaded hoods for rifles maybe one of those fitted to the front sight. It would protect the sight from blast, and also glare

I tried some plinking loads for the .45 Colt cylinder today with WST (4.8 gr. WST with Lee 230TC). The soot from the MP was greatly reduced. I could get 15-20 shots off before wiping it down. The Testors paint doesn't adhere to the red insert area as well as the metal area. If I could get it to stick to the insert, I'd just refurbish the Testors occasionally.

[jrayborn]

Informative discussion. I've always been interested in magnaport.