XD front Sight Paint tips?

[Badman400]

One small thing I dislike about my XD's is the way the front sight got dirty and hard to see so quickly. I've tried cleaning with alcohol and Q-tip/toothpick. The sight on the .45 brightened up some, but I only succeeded in digging most of the white out of the 40SC. I have heard about "sight paint" and wondered if any of you experts have any experience with it. I'm hoping someone will chime in here and head me in the right direction. I plan to try a set of Tru-Glo's eventually, but until then I'd love to find some kind of tough, super white flourescent paint, that would stick, stay white, and be easier to keep clean. What would be the best temporary fix? Ideas appreciated.

[xd4life]

I have used fluoresent greens and yellow model paint with good results. I used the green on front and yellow rear for over a year before I got my aftermaket sights. Last fairly long, And if you don't like the color you can change them. I used a tooth pick to apply the paint a drop at a time as not to overfill the indention. However if you do a shet of copy paper rubbed flat across the site will clean off and residual paint. I've tried the sight paints they sell at the gun shops they seemed to me to be overpriced model paint. Two different colored bottles at Wal-Mart are less that $5.00, compard to $8-12 for a single color.

I have also used white out in the pen. Easy to apply and is a bright white. If that's the color you wish for.

[Badman400]

Thnx for takin' the time XD4!

[XD_Dan]

I used model paint also. There is a huge selection of bright colors available, and they are much cheaper than buying "sight paint".



The picture is a little grainy and was taken in low light, but you can see the contrast. I chose a bright yellow for the front sight and flourescent red (bright orange in the sunlight) for the rear. The contrasting colors allow me to pick up the front post faster.

I used a small pick to scrape out the white, and a paintbrush with a tiny tip to apply the new paint. It takes a very small amount of paint to fill the hole. I filled the hole until it was level with the top, and allowed to dry overnight. When the paint drys, it will shrink a little, but there was no cracking.

Good luck.

[Badman400]

XD-Dan, thnx for the input. Looks like it does the job. And for the right price too. Keep the cards and letters coming! I'd like to see what ideas others have come up with tto solve the problem.

[TxStorm]

I too used the model paint method. Front sight is Flourscent Orange and rears are done in flourscent Green. I got both paints, a small bottle of thinner and a brush at Walmart for like $4. I used a bit of thinner in the white to clean and soften it up for a good bond. Then I over-filled the dots a bit and used a paper towel and a quick, firm swipe to remove the extra. Works really well and haven't had to nada else in like 4 months to them. Good luck!

Trace

[Badman400]

TX, do you find that the flourescent paint has any real "glow-in-the-dark" effect, or just brighter to see? Shame we can't buy a Trijicon paint. Now that would be cool!

xd4life, I used your suggestion and dotted 2 of my XD front sights with a white-out pen. It worked great, except that the wife's white-out was almost out...lol. Now to see how long it lasts with all that shooting and powder residue, and how easy it will clean.

Great ideas guys! Anyone else?

I've also read in the past of someone melting a white crayon into the sight indention. Anyone here tried that? How long did it last?

[XD_Dan]

I wouldn't recommend using the crayon method. Crayons are wax-based, and therefore, by design, slick. I don't think the crayon dot will last long. I question it's "holding ability."

I have a over a thousand rounds and several cleanings on my repainted sights with no ill effects.

[TxStorm]

Originally Posted by Badman400

TX, do you find that the flourescent paint has any real "glow-in-the-dark" effect, or just brighter to see? Shame we can't buy a Trijicon paint. Now that would be cool!

Not really any glow in the dark effects, much easier to pick up in dim light though then stock white. If you want glow in the dark, www.sportsmanguide.com , sells a paint that will work okay. "Charges" with light applied and eventually throughout the night it will fade.

+1 on the crayon application.. it doesn't last long at all. Yet it sticks real well in the slide lettering.. go figure.

[Loves2Shoot]

An easy way to get of the white is to take a tiny drill bit and "drill" it out.

Finger nail polish is a cheap and easy way to change colors if you want a colored sight.