So, while I feel like this is a somewhat generic thread title; I'm going to start out by elaborating why I'm considering, what I'm using currently, and hoping to obtain insights/input from others. I didn't want to do a poll, because I wanted discussion and information exchange.
Why?
So, in the last two months I've obtained a Glock 19 Gen 4 (from my lovely wife) and a SIRT Pro (from a forum member here; great transaction). I own a Glock 17 Gen 4, which was my primary carry and competition gun, and I currently am using Warren Tactical 2-dot night sights. My experiences with the Warrens have been very positive, I was highly skeptical of the shape of the rear sight playing a major factor before acquiring and installing them. However, I saw continual positive reviews (trends these days seem to indicate that the U-Notch at the least is here to stay) of the sight and the sight design. I was pleasantly surprised.
I need to install sights on the Glock 19 Gen 4 and the SIRT, so I'm looking at between sight installation costs and the sights themselves somewhere in the ballpark of $300-400. So, before I commit to two more pairs of the same sights I wanted to evaluate my decision. What better place than pistol-forum?
What am I using currently?
As I stated earlier I currently use Warren Tactical 2-dot Tritium sights; I do use the .245'' tall front sight post instead of the .215'' sight post to "shoot the dot".
However, after shooting a 1911 with my wife a few months ago and seeing trends here it seems that most are okay either shooting at the intersection of the top of the sight or a 6 o'clock hold. I will acknowledge right now that a 6 o'clock hold seems most accurate at range. However, I will also say that I find that it seems to me a shooter could start falling into the temptation of watching the target (chasing groups) instead of the sights as they bring the sights onto the target and then adjust to shoot underneath, or attempt to intersect the top of the sight blade with the target (the classic "Glock height" front sight blade). Being for defensive use and not bulls eye shooting; I think that the balance of speed with simplicity of focus (look for the front sight dot) is good. That's been my experience.
So while I'm not opposed, I wanted to see what others thought. I know some experienced shooters that swear by intersection and/or 6 o'clock hold.
- The first question is: Sight Height; what do you use and more importantly why? What have your findings been that it is either better or worse?
The second question I've come to is, I've come to really enjoy my two-dots. I found that with three dots on a 1911 that I carried before my Glock I would lose the front sight in the 3-dots. I had to take time to stop and refocus. The warrens not only have a good rear sight geometry that to me leads me to the front sight they also have a bright white outline on the front sight with a green tritium vial and a yellow and metal (silver) outline around the rear. This leads to precision when you want it and the rear doesn't distract too much but it's there if I want it.
I'm not opposed to the tritium rear and I rather like the two-dot system for being able to aim the gun in pitch black; but that begs the question. If I can't see the outlines of the sight at all, should I be shooting? My thinking is if I can't make out the sights I probably can't make out the target. However, being married with no kids if my wife is with me in bed then whoever is in the apartment in the middle of the night needs shooting anyway. That discussion leads to the next point
- The second question is: Should I consider a tritium only Front sight and ditch the tritium rear?
My third question is, I'm a strong believer in a U-Notch rear sight going at about .150'' and a front sight around .115-125". I don't see myself changing this perspective. However, I was also certain that three-dot night sights were it and a green front vial and yellow rear vials would be "it". Even after painting my front sight orange and I still found that the front sight for me was hard to find. For me, I found that wasn't necessary with the Warrens; they just worked as advertised, my eyes really did go to the front sight. It was $180 (after installation and shipping) well spent. However, I only went to them because I was willing to take a chance on new sights. I'd like to just at least briefly consider an alternative, I figure before I go much deeper into these sights as my sole set of sights get some input.
(ETA: To keep the conventions the same) The third question is: What sights other than what I'm using would you recommend if any?
So lastly, I'm going to humble myself and open my ears for this one. So in the spirit of Proverbs 15:22 "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed."
Here we go.
Thanks and God Bless,
Brandon.