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Hand Gun Sights and Handgun Sighting

LaylaWindu

One with the Force
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Ok so I want to get new sights for a handgun. I'm looking into night sights/tritium sights.

I'm doing my own research but who likes what the best?

Hi-Viz
Trijicon
Tru-Glo

Something I know NOTHING about is boresighters.

What are good bore sighters for a 40cal? Does anybody know about this:
SITELITE : SL - 100

 

a bore sighter is normally used to get rough point of aim for a scope on rifle

it basically aligns the bore with the crosshairs on the scope. some project a laser onto a target and you line the crosshairs up with the laser beam on the target.

so you don't waste ammo trying to get on the paper. lots of times scope on a rifle will not even hit a 2x2 foot target at 100 yards. a boresighter allows you to get the scope to the point that you are going to be easily able to zero it

as to those three brands they all are decent. My son has the the HiViz on his Glock he uses for 3G

you have to realize that there are different models from most makers

some are actual glow in the dark that a use a radioactive compound. that will wear out in a while-usually a decade. those are best for a home defense gun. others use a light gathering fiber. in pure darkness they are worthless but in sunlight or some artificial light they will appear to glow. they are great for target shooting or concealed carry outside. I have fiber optics on all my speed rigs, I don't have them on pure target guns for reasons I won't go into here

some of the very best have BOTH the radioactive glow in the dark and the fiber optics in one sight,

some only have the filament or the radioactive insert in the front sight (which is what you want to be looking at when you shoot) while others have them on each side of the rear sight and the front sight

generally the longer and fatter the fiber optic, the brighter it will be

I will note that the fiber optic filament in front sights can break somewhat easily if the gun is carry concealed and drawn from concealment. However, with the sights I use, (Dawson precision) I buy extra fiber and it takes about 30 seconds to replace.

what sort of brand of firearm and your intended use
 

I saw videos of that one being used on a handgun and I saw a video for a bore sight that replicated a bullet itself. Do you not recommend those?
 

Just looked up Dawson precision they make sights for the PPQ. Ill add those to the list, thanks.
https://dawsonprecision.com/dawson-...sight-set-fiber-optic-rear-fiber-optic-front/
 
LaylaWindu said:
I saw videos of that one being used on a handgun and I saw a video for a bore sight that replicated a bullet itself. Do you not recommend those?
Click to expand...

a scope has lots of adjustment-sometimes 40 MOA which means forty inches of movement at 100 years (minute of angle means basically an inch at 100 Yards)

so if you have a scope its often the case it won't even hit on a standard target if its set real high or low, left or right

now a handgun sight often has almost no adjustment because handguns are designed for short range and an iron sight is not going to be so far off at 15 yards or so that you cannot see where the gun hits. Many combat or defense handgun sights are not adjustable up and down. the way to change the point of impact if the gun shoots high is to use a higher front sight blade and if its low, a lower front sight blade or use different ammo. GENERALLY a lighter bullet will shoot LOWER (yep lower) at typical handgun ranges than a heavier bullet.

now some combat/Self defense sights have an adjustable rear sight that you can raise or lower and in some cases move left or right

on most fixed sights though you have to use a punch and tap the rear sight to move it or use what is called a sight pusher (most gun ranges have one)

the boresighters that work like a bullet use a laser. the older kind had male plug that fit in the barrel (at the front) and a screen that attached to it that you line the scope up with. the lasers are faster to use but you need some distance to use them. (like aiming out your window at say a tree 100 yards away-not advisable if you live in downtown NYC in an apartment! the kind with a screen you could boresight in a small office for the most part
 

I have a mix of Tru Glo and Tritium ( glow in the dark) sights on my pistols; I would recommend that you visit a gun store that has both on display on dummy pistols and take a look at them for yourself to determine what you feel most comfortable with.

As TurtleDude already pointed out, the Tritium sites will fade in time, and I have replaced a few on my pistols over the years....My wife prefers Trijicon Tritium White for her personal carry...I use Tru Glo fiber optic sights on mine with green rear, and orange front for contrast in sighting.

In the end, it depends on what you are putting the sights on, and what is comfortable to your eye.
 
LaylaWindu said:
Just looked up Dawson precision they make sights for the PPQ. Ill add those to the list, thanks.
https://dawsonprecision.com/dawson-...sight-set-fiber-optic-rear-fiber-optic-front/
Click to expand...

I like them. I Put them on my wife's MP long slide and one of her 22s (sadly that gun had issues that were so bad SW gave her a new gun but they didn't send the dawson sight back). Put them on several Glocks and the Glock I use for the stock (new iron sights are allowed) events for GSSF has DP sights on them. In fact I have 4-5 G-34 or G 17Ls that I have replaced the cheap plastic target sights with the Dawson stuff.

I don't think you can go wrong with his stuff

they also have good instruction on how to order the proper height front sight

PPQ has a nice grip. Its about the only major plastic framed brand I don't own though I have the wonderful Walther P88 (it didn't last long because in 1988 when it was introduced it retailed for 1500 and you could buy a Beretta M9 or 350 and a SIG 226 for 450. I also have German Made Walther PP in 380 and 22. You have a very well made pistol
 

Thanks
PPQ .40
 
LaylaWindu said:
Thanks
PPQ .40
Click to expand...


Then I dont think you can go wrong with either choice.....My wife carries an XDM 40 compact, and she loves the sights......adequate for low light and daytime.
 

Fossilzed Turtle, I move to make it TD's Avatar!
 
I use Truglo for my Glock 19, and I haven't had any reason to try anything else. You can get them from Amazon.
 
About 7 yrs ago when I wanted to get new sights put on my 9mm, I couldnt find anyone to put them on. Most of the ranges had guys that did some gunsmithing but no one wanted to do it.

The other option was to send it to the optics manufacturer and have them do it. And I didnt want the gun gone that long. So I never did it.
 

I havent looked into it in years, but I was thinking of getting a new front sight for my 9mm M&P Shield.

Not to start a controversy on point shooting, but are there any front sights recommended for point shooting? Or just anything that's more visible? And short range, 30 ft max.
 

I have used pistols with mini red dot sights; they work well for rapid short range ( 20-30 feet) targeting, but realistically, at that range, they shouldn't be needed.
And I would point out that they are rear sights.
Leupold comes to mind off the top of my head, but many companies make them.
 

If your goal is defensive shooting...
Save your money and practice good accurate point shooting.
Some white epoxy touch-up paint on the front sight does just fine.
You can get a small bottle of it at Walmart that looks like a bottle of Whiteout.
Put your money into more ammo to practice with.
We are talking handgun ranges here and you will seldom get the luxury of carefully aimed fire.
10 inch paper plates are plenty good as targets.
Getting center mass hits quick and accurately should be the goal.
I have always seen people taking too much time to aim with those other sights.
They also ruin the sleekness of the handgun.

Look up, "Jelly" Brice if you would like to see how to do it without any gimmicks.
No substitute for frequent and often practice.
he did it often and frequently in the 30's with a .38 using round nosed lead ammo and never was once even wounded.
I shoot my bare bones 1911 the same way.
 
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Thanks.
 
PS...I have 472 rounds of my high quality reloads in .40 that I will not even shoot.
If you know someone heading down my way....they are yours.
I sold my .40 because it was becoming a safe queen. (not shot much).
Now the ammo box they are all in is used to block the cat door.
 




Go with the Tru-Glow.

I have had handguns with night sights. The night sights last ABOUT ten years. So -- after about five years , they start getting dim. Shortly after that ...so dim they need replaced.

Tru - Glo sights should be useful in low light --- but not totally dark conditions.

Night sights are OK --- but "slightly" over rated in my book. I just sold a defensive handgun -- and am buying another. I am ordering it with STANDARD sights.

Plus ... night sights glow. A bad guy at your side , or somehow got above you -- and it is possible they will stick out like a sore thumb, and even more so if someone is equipped with night vision. Although the possibility of a bad guy having a night vision device / scope is low.......it is still a possibility.

Don't spend money that you don't have to. Keep your defensive pistol simple. For what some people spend for add ons ( that they more than likely will not need ) -- custom triggers , lights , lasers, custom grips, match barrel....and ect.... ect --- they could have spent that money on training ammo.... and a good holster -- or extra magazine.

Invisibility in total darkness or low light is the advantage to the good guy. Moving slow and quiet in a dark or low light environment is the good guys advantage. Make the bad guy frustrated -- make them move fast cause they are tired of setting still - make them wonder "What If" , " Are they even still here" , "What the hell is going on."

Lay down, peak around the corner with your eyes just above floor level --- and ambush the bad guys whom are searching for you. After you shoot....move to another location. Few walls stop bullets.


Hope I helped ---



( CAPS are for stressing - I was not yelling )



Stay safe --- practice practice with your handgun.







Major Lambda
 
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