express sights? bead with v-notch??

[Joe S.]

i have 44 special blackhawk needing a taller front sight. i have been going back and forth about this for months... i think i want to try a bead front and v notch rear. i have seen pics on guns and i just think it would be a good sight for me, as i like to hold on my target, like a rifle.i love bead sights on my rifles, so think i would like it on my revolver too...

but where to begin? the ramp is gonna have to be milled out. i cant afford a Bowen package, as much as i would like it! and Alan Harton didnt seem like he knew much about em when i called him. maybe i just misunderstood him... id love to have Harton do the work, but wondering what my options are. is it possible to order the parts online and have a local smith/ machinist do the work for me?

i think this is what i am talking about... off Mr. Taffin's site... this is actually a Gary Reeder. maybe i should check with him. lol i guess i answered my own question...

http://www.sixguns.com/show/12/DSCN0045.jpg

ok, new question, those that have it, how do you like it?

 

[Hondo44]

Joe,
I do like them and have them on S&Ws. To have Reeder do it will be expensive especially with shipping both ways. He shows a Ruger front sight replacement for $50 seen here: http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/services.htm
I only see this sight set (front and rear) shown here offered by him for $45: http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/accessories.htm
But you can ask where he got Taffin's sight. It looks like a new base also and soldered on which means rebluing your barrel, $175 at the above link.

The easiest and simplest approach IMO is to cut off just the blade on your Ruger sight and have a slot milled in the Ruger base by a local smith or machine shop. Drill and pin in a bead blade looks just like Taffin's.
Order a V notch blade for a Ruger Redhawk seen here which will swap with the sq notch blade: http://shopruger.com/Sights/products/24/, from Brownells #780-015-001AD ($9.99)

Another option you can do all yourself: cut off just the blade on your Ruger sight and flatten by filing the top of the base only where the blade was. Buy a simple rifle sight blade with bead on a dovetail, from Brownells, e-bay, Lyman or Marbles. . File a simple dovetail with a "sight base 'safe-side' file" from Brownells #080-648-060AD #2 60 degree ($39.99), in the Ruger sight base, and drift in the bead sight.

The front gold bead on blade for a 10/22 is the same length as the Ruger 44 front blade and just about the same width as the Ruger base, Brownells #780-010-042AD ($9.99). It's only .330" high plus you'll loose a little height when you flatten the top of the base.

The Ruger blade on my 44 spl, 4 5/8" Blackhawk is .335" and you want a taller sight (for a lower point of impact). However the front bead of the new sight will be nestled down into the bottom of the V notch rear blade which will significantly lower the point of impact. It may work perfectly. Tape it on the gun overhanging the front of the sight base and test fire. As long as you don't pound it into the dovetail, if it doesn't give you the point of impact that you need, you can return it.

You might like a bright fiber optic bead from the 10/22 seen here: http://shopruger.com/Sights/products/539/

Lyman makes their #31 front dovetail gold or ivory bead sight in heights from .240" up to .560" for $11.50 seen here with ivory bead: http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/sights/hunting-front-sights.php
File the dovetail to the width of your sight base if needed.

Simple, inexpensive and factory original looking.

 

[Joe S.]

Hey jim,
Thanks for that info... I am looking to have someone do this as i dont want to my nice Bisley to be the guinea pig and me mess it up. I need a beater. Ha

 

[contender]

Many years ago, when my eyes were younger, I did this on one of my guns. I used a mill & a dovetail cutter to make the slot in my Ruger base. Then I added a gold bead rifle sight. I also added the V-notch rear blade. It was great as long as I could still see the bead. As I have aged, I have found that the new fiber optic front sights are easier on my eyes.
I removed the front sight assy from my MKII & now use fiber opticss.

 

[flatgate]

FWIW,

I just had to give it a try..... i.e. a "V" notch rear and a gold bead front on a .44 (or was it a .45?) cal. Blackhawk.
Nope, it did NOT work worth a darn for me.

Standard square notch rear and ramp front is what works for me.

flatgate

 

[Joe S.]

I lose the ramps in sunlight. I mean cant see it.

I need either a vertical post, or a bead b