Fiber optic front sight for Freedom Arm?

[cas]

Has/does anyone make a fiber optic front sight for Freedom Arms revolvers? I know FA sells one, I guess you're supposed to use it with an express rear sight? I've been down that road and don't want to go there again.

The idea of a fiber optic front sight on a Freedom Arms nearly makes me cringe. It offends my sensibilities. I've always hated the way they looked on any gun. Then I bought a semi auto with one. Well skip ahead a couple years and I've got them on 4 semi autos and 4 S&W DA revolvers. Hate the way they look, can't argue with how they work.

Which leads me to my "serious" single actions, 3 of my favorite pistols in general, but for hunting in particular. My 2 Freedom Arms and my Clements 500 Bisley. I take them in the woods and unless it's the middle of the day I can't see the dang things. So that's what leads me to this post, as opposed as I am to the idea, they're not much good if they're not much good. ;D

The Bisley is fairly simple, the Clements style sight easily lends itself to making it fiber optic. I did it once before, though it was on a less expensive sight if I screw up.

The Freedom Arms is another matter…. so before I go to far afield, does anyone make one?

[Ken O'Neill]

No.

[cas]

Ref the factory sight;

"Fiber Optic Front sight in place of standard ramp front sight Premier Grade $18.00"

I've seen the photos online the one gentleman has of the factory fiber optic used with a notch rear.
It looks like it would be terribly inaccurate to me, that little dot in that big square notch. Has anyone used this setup?

[Ken O'Neill]

Yes, I have, and I prefer it to the wide "V" express sight. I always superimposed the dot over the area I wanted to hit. Obviously, that method presents some range limitations, but I preferred it to trying to use the rounded top of the sight as the aiming point.
For me though, an undercut patridge is superior to anything else, and that's all I've used for years.

[AxeHandle]

When I bought my first Redhawk in the early 80s Ruger offered a brass bead and express rear sight. They really looked cool in the pictures and on the gun. I was in the middle of my bullseye shooting years and quickly understood that it was not an appropriate sight configuration for precision shooting. A few years back I stumbled upon a Marble front sight for the RH/SRH in Brownell's. This sight is a nice big square black post with a fiber optic inserted. IMHO a much better option for old eyes and precision shooting. Out looking through the leaves, limbs, and twigs, that green dot really catches your eye.
I'm thinking a man might take one of Ken O'Neill's FA front blades, bore a hole in it, and insert one of the fiber optic rods.

[dmize]

Thats what I was going to suggest. Also in case you didnt know, fiber optics are used a lot in the archery business. Some online searches should net you different colored fibers of different diameters and lengths. I have seem them a foot long,an enterprising person could do a lot of experimenting.

[paul105]

I use the Freedom Arms fiber optic front sight with the standard square notch rear. It works well for me and my old eyes. I do have some of Ken's undercut patridge front sights and they are more precise when used in good light on a light background but for me, it disappears in poor light or against dark backgrounds.

Dave Clements makes fiber optic front sights with a square top. He might have one that fits the Freedom Arms ramp. Give him a call.

I have extra orange .380" FA FO front blade. I'd be glad to send it to you if it's the right height for you application.

Paul

[cas]

Well the fiber optic itself isn't the issue, I have/use plenty of it. Nor is drilling the hole. What is an issue is making the cuts, or "light windows" so that it works. It would be an all hand tool proposition for me, the end results may no match the rest of the gun. lol

I might just try a bead sight first on my 97. Years ago I made a bead for one of my fathers slug guns. I bought some straight pins for sewing that had colorful plastic heads on them. I drilled a small hole in the face of the blade. Stuck the pin in a drill and ran it against a file till it was the size I wanted. Then cut the pin shorter and epoxied it in the hole. Just like a brass bead sight, but bright yellow.


(While I was typing this Mr. Clements got back to me on the sight for my Bisley. For what he wants it's not worth doing it myself. Now I see me makes sights for Freedom Arms bases, so I guess that covers that as well. )