Iron Sights..

[Pip]

Have any of you with metal iron sights experimented with blackening...like taking a lighter and waving the flame around to soot it? There is a scene in Band of Brothers, the last patrol i think...where they blacken their sights, i was just wondering if anyone had done this on any airsoft. I know it's commonplace in the military and on real steel.

Pip

*edit* If this belongs in guns discussion feel free to move, wasn't sure where to put it lol

[PTE. Pyle]

well i personally wouldent do it being that most airsoft rifles are painted and not annodized or parkerised so you could risk damaging the pain. also there is little use for this in airsoft.

[Pip]

Well yeah that was my concern about the paintwork. But as far as use goes, it make the sights easier to pick out against various backdrops, so you don't have that issue with losing your front sight amongst background clutter. But i have a TM M14 and the sights seem pretty hardy. Anywhoo, thnx for the reply..

[wingman]

Keep the front sight a different color than the rear sight, it makes it a lot easier to see/aim in low-light conditions. I should done that before heading out to the gravel pit.

[Kid]

No matter what you do, your sites are going to suck in some area or another.

On a bright sunny day outdoors or in a lightly colored building, your sites will stand out very well as black.

On a darker day, or a dim day with dark surroundings, it will be hard to find them in a hurry.

I've went over the idea many times and I've thought about it and I think I may end up painting my front site red and my rear site a dark yellow.

Then I won't confuse the two and they both should stand out in most enviroments.

[SHaKaL]

I dont think they soot the sight for better aiming... they cover the wear and bare metal so they dont caught the light (the moon). Better for avoiding detection.

[Pip]

yeah makes sense to get rid of the glare...oh well i'll not bother for now, maybe later if i still think it might be a good idea. I was just trying to figure if anyone else had done this for either a positive or negative effect...

[Gryphon]

Originally Posted by SHaKaL

I dont think they soot the sight for better aiming... they cover the wear and bare metal so they dont caught the light (the moon). Better for avoiding detection.

Um, no. Blackening your front sight is to make it stand out better in your rear sight by eliminating glare. My father and I shot competitive PPC and this is commonplace on the firing line for all disciplines.

Catching the light of the moon on your front sight? Come on. Someone's eyeglasses would reflect more light than a millimeter-thick bead.

[Greylocks]

Using a candle on iron sights is common in target shooting. It removes any glare. The method is used more often on handguns in ISU competitions.

This must not be done on sights with plastic inserts. And dont do it on airsoft guns; they are not built to cope with that. Something will peel, or melt.

[tunabreath]

Off topic, but Pip, is your avatar from where I think it is? The Wave (1981), 'Strength through Discipline, Strength through Community, Strength through Action'? Eh? It bears a striking resemblance.

[Pip]

haha, no it's from the guld wars website, one of the guild emblems.....thought it looked cool lol