The Truglo sight paints and a few simple tools will allow you to dramatically alter your handgun sights.

Standard open sights found on most rifles and handguns do a pretty darn good job. These sights are usually a combination of a post of some sort for the front sight and an open-notch rear sight, and shooters have used them for hundreds of years. Sure, there've been a lot of changes over the years to the shapes and sizes of the sights, but the basic concept and form have stayed remarkably consistent.

Open sights, also known as iron sights, have a lot going for them. They tend to be more rugged and durable than any other form of sight, such as a scope or optical sight or even most commercial receiver or peep sights. Iron sights can be very compact, which can be of great value on handguns that will be carried concealed. In addition, in their simplest form, they are inexpensive compared to virtually any other type of sight. Consequently, you'll find them on most rifles and handguns.

On the negative side of the ledger, iron sights can be more difficult to see clearly and use properly than most scopes or optical sights. This can be especially true for older shooters like me. As we age, it becomes harder for our eyes to adjust quickly as we try to focus on the front or rear sights. It can also become harder for senior shooters to pick up, or even find, the front sight when shooting quickly.

This is especially important because the front sight is far and away the most important sight on the gun. Years ago, an old Army sergeant I knew made the point that there were only three things you should keep in mind and focus on when shooting in a stressful situation. They were front sight, front sight, and front sight. If you can't find your front sight, you'll never be able to make a good shot.

While it just makes sense to change over from iron sights to a scope, electronic-dot sight, or laser on some guns, it isn't as practical or as desirable on many other guns. And there's also the expense to consider. In tough economic times when you may need to watch every penny, it can be tough to shell out a lot of bucks for sights that in some cases can cost as much as the gun.

Fortunately, there is a way to make iron sights more visible that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and you can do it right in your own shop. Basically, I'm talking about painting your sights. Paint is inexpensive, and you can easily experiment and customize your sights by trying the various color options until you find the ones that fit your needs the best. I've used a variety of different types of paints, ranging from nail polish to paints for plastic model kits. These all worked to a degree and were definitely better than a poke with a sharp stick, but they were less than ideal. Most of these paints were simply too dull, and many didn't stick to the metal all that well.

But there is hope. The good folks at Truglo offer two paint kits specifically designed for application to iron sights. The colors are very bright, and the paint is designed to provide the maximum adhesion to a steel surface. In addition, the Truglo products are available in both a standard paint kit and in a kit that actually glows in the dark. These kits make customizing your sights super simple, and using them is well within the capabilities of virtually any gun owner.