Best available sights for P30 at 25yd?

[TheTrevor]

I'm looking for something better than the factory sights on my new HK P30. In particular I'd like something which works better than stock sights at 15-25yd ranges, plus has tritium in at least the front sight. Fiber optic may be OK as a substitute for tritium.

The Trijicon HDs have been cited as being good for close range, but not so much for distance work. I have good accuracy with the stock sights at 0-10yd so those don't seem like a sufficient step up.

The Dawson Precision sights have been mentioned as a good choice.

One inexpensive options I'm considering is to try milling out the notch on the rear sight to get more light on either side of the front post. Cheap/quick to replace at $30 if that doesn't work out.

Recommendations from the PF Hive Mind, please?

[CCT125US]

For ME, I have found the 10-8 rear paired with a Dawson Tritium to be ideal. I have used the craptastic stock sights, Meprolights, Trijicon HD, and Heinie Straight Eight Qwiks (2nd choice). The 10-8/DPT hits to POA at 25yds and about 2" high at 50 with my load. It is accurate and fast for me. I have never shot any other gun combo as well as I do with this setup. But, who is to say something else would not yield better results.

ETA: If you decide to go with Heinie, I have a set I can send you.

[Dagga Boy]

I also use the 10-8 rear Dawson front tritium combo as well and it is my favorite set up.

[secondstoryguy]

When I shot P30s mine were set up just like Nyeti's.

[TheTrevor]

I love it when the recommendations converge on a consensus choice this quickly. Thanks, gang!

[BaiHu]

Thanks Trevor, now I may have to dump my HDs and I was just getting used to them, but they do suck a bit at 15-25 yds.

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[TAZ]

1+ for the 10-8 rear coupled with Dawson tritium front.


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[BaiHu]

Folks who have the 10-8/DT: how do you like them at speed for under 10 yds?

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[TheTrevor]

Ordered the 10-8/Dawson combo from the respective websites using my pocket supercomputer while I was waiting to pick up creatures from gymnastics. In stock at both stores, score!

BaiHu, you might try just swapping the front sight for the narrower (0.125") Dawson sight first. The lack of sufficient visible gap on either side of the front blade was definitely causing some of my issues.

[BaiHu]

Nice thought. Thanks. Height choice nyeti and the rest of you?

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[TheTrevor]

Everything I read said to go with 0.155 tall, same as stock. That's what I ordered.

My turn for a question: Anybody painting their Dawson front sight blade, or is the white outline around the tritium vial sufficient for quick visual pick-up? The pictures of the tritium blade on the website are all isometric-angle, making it hard to tell whether it's suitable for adding fluorescent paint.

[BaiHu]

Ok. Cuz I would shoot near 3" high with trijicon NS, which means I need to drop about .026 on the front sight if I'm reading this right. I think it might have been bench rest for me. Mmmmm. Have to check my notes.

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[TheTrevor]

BaiHu -- given how popular the HD sights are, I'd be shocked if you couldn't sell those pretty easily for at least 90% of the cost of the cool-kid 10-8/Dawson setup ($113 including shipping).

[BaiHu]

Yup. Now I need to figure out which way to punch the HDs out, because Dawson shows you how to punch theirs in - lol.

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[CCT125US]

Folks who have the 10-8/DT: how do you like them at speed for under 10 yds?

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I usually pass the iHack, currently shooting the FAST in the mid 5s, and the 10-10-10 from concealment last shot on 12.19.13 was 99-7x in 9.68 sec. Today I was shooting pairs to the 3X5 <1.9 par at 7yds


Nice thought. Thanks. Height choice nyeti and the rest of you?

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DPT .170 height shoots to POA with Montana Gold JHP over 4.9 gr of Unique at 134 PF (1085 fps)

A note from my time with the Trijicon HDs: I found them 10 ring accurate at 25yds with Winchester nato and my handloads. Accuracy at 50 was within the 7 ring standing unsupported. The sight picture was actually simple as I formed an 8 with the orange dot and the black bull. However, being designed for speed I found them slower than the straight eight qwiks. The depth of the u-notch RS created vertical stringing for me inside 15 yds. I found I wanted to bury the orange dot in the notch, which is not where it belongs.

[klewis]

When you guys say POA @ 25 yards with the Dawson/10-8 pairing, are you "driving the dot" or hitting top of the front blade?

[CCT125US]

When you guys say POA @ 25 yards with the Dawson/10-8 pairing, are you "driving the dot" or hitting top of the front blade?

I always cut the intended POI in half with the top edge of the FS. I visually use it as a knifes edge. (Sorry, that sounds all Ninja like)

[klewis]

I always cut the intended POI in half with the top edge of the FS. I visually use it as a knifes edge. (Sorry, that sounds all Ninja like)

:D thanks!

[Luke]

I have been wanting to find a sight for better long distance shooting and was going to order the 10-8/Dawson combo but they don't make them for FN :(

[TheTrevor]

FN: the brand of choice for gun hipsters who think the HK aftermarket accessory market is ridiculously overcrowded.

[Luke]

Not sure what hipsters means. But yea there is zero support for FN.

[klewis]

Not sure what hipsters means. But yea there is zero support for FN.

Hipsters are the funny guys in coffee shops with porn 'staches that talk about obscure jazz albums a lot and live in the bad part of town because it's "emerging"... They also overuse the word "ironic". :D [/thread derail]

[Mjolnir]

^ LOL


-------------------------------------
"One cannot awaken a man who pretends to be asleep."

[Rich]

I also use the 10-8 rear Dawson front tritium combo as well and it is my favorite set up.

I know of the 10-8 rear sight can you or someone post pics of the FS

or better yet a view looking through 10-8RS

[TheTrevor]

Just a quick update:

Ordered both front and rear sights within minutes of each other on Monday afternoon Pacific time, both vendors showed them in stock.

The Dawson front sight is already here.

The 10-8 rear sight just today made it into USPS hands and shipped from Florida.

Thought I'd share that in case anyone else orders this combo and expects them to ship and arrive simultaneously.

[Harm]

Anyone wanting to offload green Trijicon HDs for a P30 let me know. Can't find them anywhere. I have them on all my guns as I've tried to keep my sight picture uniform. Pricey but worth it.

I am surprised at those who say they struggle with them at range. Is that an anomaly with my P30 I should be aware of or?

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[CCT125US]

I know of the 10-8 rear sight can you or someone post pics of the FS

or better yet a view looking through 10-8RS

http:// https://www.dropbox.com/s/vyq0spw7ewgxbju/20140228_204836.jpg (https://www.dropbox.com/s/vyq0spw7ewgxbju/20140228_204836.jpg)

Shooters view with 10-8 RS / DPT FS

Hopefully link works. Mods please embed image if able to and then educate me on how to do it.

[BaiHu]

Link seems faulty on my end.

ETA: now it works.

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[ffhounddog]

It is funny I have a set of Meps that are colored like they are HD's but I have a spare 10-8 rear sitting here. My first P30 has the 10-8 and Dawson front that I like and I was looking at putting a 10-8 rear and fiber front but I have mostly Meps on most of my HK's. Just the sight picture looks okay to me.

I do like the sight picture of the 10-8/Dawson combo I know my wife does not like night sights if they do not come in three's. Most of my duty guns have never had sight sights so it was never an issue until I started carrying as a civilian. Different mission = Different gear.

[Rich]

http:// https://www.dropbox.com/s/vyq0spw7ewgxbju/20140228_204836.jpg (https://www.dropbox.com/s/vyq0spw7ewgxbju/20140228_204836.jpg)

Shooters view with 10-8 RS / DPT FS

Hopefully link works. Mods please embed image if able to and then educate me on how to do it.


Awesome thank you so much ! Double check what is the size of FS!

When using stock P30 sights I find the FS a little to wide! The above FS appears to be thinner than stock FS.?

Also started wearing bi focal : ( The FS is blur unless I lift my head. Anyone try there FO FS with a 10-8 rear.

[Whiskey_Bravo]

Has anyone here actually been able to get their hands on a 10-8 P30 Tritium front sight? Hilton Yam and the crew must be running low on Unobtanium to forge these out of.

[CCT125US]

Double check what is the size of FS!

When using stock P30 sights I find the FS a little to wide! The above FS appears to be thinner than stock.

Stock luminova FS is .138

Dawson Tritium FS is .125

Heinie Straight Eights measure .125

10-8 rear is .156 wide

[Dr. No]

Stock luminova FS is .138

Dawson Tritium FS is .125

Heinie Straight Eights measure .125

10-8 rear is .156 wide

What height Dawson did you get? I put down my first group at 25 yesterday on my 10-8/Dawson combo and it was 6" high.... grumble.

[CCT125US]

What height Dawson did you get? I put down my first group at 25 yesterday on my 10-8/Dawson combo and it was 6" high.... grumble.

Sorry to hear that, It is frustrating to get a new setup and immediately find out its wrong. I started with the .155 and ended up with the .170 height. I cut the desired POI in half at 25yds. My carry load of Speer GD 124gr +P shoots to POA as does Winchester 124 gr Nato. My handload duplicates those two well. It is the Montana Gold 124 gr HP over 4.9gr of Unique with CCI SPP. OAL is 1.135 velocity is 1085 / 135 PF. Most consistent performance is using once fired Federal cases. Based on the Dawson sight height calculator I believe .015 of FS height translates to 2 inches at 25 yds.

[Dr. No]

Sorry to hear that, It is frustrating to get a new setup and immediately find out its wrong. I started with the .155 and ended up with the .170 height. I cut the desired POI in half at 25yds. My carry load of Speer GD 124gr +P shoots to POA as does Winchester 124 gr Nato. My handload duplicates those two well. It is the Montana Gold 124 gr HP over 4.9gr of Unique with CCI SPP. OAL is 1.135 velocity is 1085 / 135 PF. Most consistent performance is using once fired Federal cases. Based on the Dawson sight height calculator I believe .015 of FS height translates to 2 inches at 25 yds.


That's exactly what I am experiencing with a .15. Interestingly, on 10-8's site they list the stock height as .15 to match their rear. Frustrating. I guess I'll have dawson make me another one.

[TheTrevor]

That's exactly what I am experiencing with a .15. Interestingly, on 10-8's site they list the stock height as .15 to match their rear. Frustrating. I guess I'll have dawson make me another one.

FML. Really? I won't have a chance to check POI on my new Dawson/10-8 setup at 25yd until this weekend, going to be peeved if I have to order another front sight after all of the double-checking I did.

Or could I just mill the same amount off the top of the 10-8 rear to compensate? Hmm... time to go look at that Dawson sight-height guide cheat sheet again.

[CCT125US]

What do you guys think of the sight picture provided by the "nyeti combo"? Aside from the POI issues of course.

[TheTrevor]

What do you guys think of the sight picture provided by the "nyeti combo"? Aside from the POI issues of course.

If you're referring to the Dawson FS/10-8 RS combo... absolutely love it compared to the stock HK sights. There's enough front sight to get it in nice sharp focus, but there's just the right amount of light to either side that I can actually see target detail behind the sights, not just some indication as to whether I have the sights aligned correctly.

Caveat being that this is all dry-fire at ranges up to 15yd. Big brown ammo truck showed up today, live fire with the new sights tomorrow.

[Dr. No]

What do you guys think of the sight picture provided by the "nyeti combo"? Aside from the POI issues of course.

For me, it matches the sight picture I'm used to in competition. Same width front sight, I can drive the gun hard and still make good accurate shots in a timely fashion. I could do without the U on the back, personally, but I don't look at it. I chose the 10-8 rear because I wanted a solid sight with no glare and a ridge that I could do one handed manipulations with since it is a duty gun.

[Dagga Boy]

What is funny is that with mine I have to really remember that they shoot to the dot. Meaning when I am working bulls I have to use what Wayne Dobbs class a "mushroom" sight picture, or my shots are low. I am going to do the one P30 I have that still has a stock front with a 10-8 rear with a Dawson red fiber optic and try that as my first experiment with a fiber optic.

[TheTrevor]

What is funny is that with mine I have to really remember that they shoot to the dot. Meaning when I am working bulls I have to use what Wayne Dobbs class a "mushroom" sight picture, or my shots are low. I am going to do the one P30 I have that still has a stock front with a 10-8 rear with a Dawson red fiber optic and try that as my first experiment with a fiber optic.

DB, just to make sure I'm tracking, what do you mean by a mushroom sight picture?

[GJM]

I am not sure how folks concluded the HD sights are not ideal for distance. My wife routinely shoots small groups at 50 and 100 yards using a Glock with HD sights, and considers them her favorite precision sight. Small groups, such as shooting the USPSA head at 50 yards. Given a choice, I would just run FO or HD sights on everything.

[BaiHu]

GJM,
I could be wrong, but for me the HDs on a P30 default to easier close up shots and harder distance shots. But, I've also been shooting crappier ammo lately due to the cost availability which could account for some of this.

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[GJM]

GJM,
I could be wrong, but for me the HDs on a P30 default to easier close up shots and harder distance shots. But, I've also been shooting crappier ammo lately due to the cost availability which could account for some of this.

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Based on my experience, and especially that of my wife, I believe most issues with using the HD sights at distance are either lack of experience shooting HD sights at distance, or preconceived ideas that they are no good at distance. I would be curious if you went and shot some groups at 25 and 50 yards with your HD sighted pistol, using good ammo, and tried the same with a similar pistol and different sights, and then reported back.

Crappy ammo can cause a lot of tail chasing, when evaluating accuracy.

[JV_]

I am not sure how folks concluded the HD sights are not ideal for distance.Ideal != Usable.

IMO: The HDs are usable for distance, I prefer a much thinner front for distance work. My groups at distance are how I made the conclusion.

[BaiHu]

Based on my experience, and especially that of my wife, I believe most issues with using the HD sights at distance are either lack of experience shooting HD sights at distance, or preconceived ideas that they are no good at distance. I would be curious if you went and shot some groups at 25 and 50 yards with your HD sighted pistol, using good ammo, and tried the same with a similar pistol and different sights, and then reported back.

Crappy ammo can cause a lot of tail chasing, when evaluating accuracy.

I made no assumptions, but I agree on the tail chasing regarding ammo. It's been a tough winter here, so although I notice a difference with my good ammo vs my practice reman ammo, I won't be able to confirm for myself what others have seemed to confirm for me like JV.


Ideal != Usable.

IMO: The HDs are usable for distance, I prefer a much thinner front for distance work. My groups at distance are how I made the conclusion.



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[Dagga Boy]

DB, just to make sure I'm tracking, what do you mean by a mushroom sight picture?

If you think of the rectangle of the sight over the bull with the dot centered on the X, the top of the front sight is just below the top of the bull, so it is rounded on top, and then the sides of the bull are coming out from the sides of the sight and looks like a "mushroom". Most sights are set up for the top of the sight to be even with the middle of the bull, so it looks more a lollipop where you could see the stick, and a sight set up for a 6 o'clock hold will look like a golf ball on a tee.

[JV_]

http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/sightimages.jpg
http://pistol-training.com/archives/1361

[GJM]

Absent personal preference, and individual physiology (read -- mature eyes), I think conventional wisdom would rank from best to worst more or less the following for shooting 25 yards groups with a handgun:

1) conventional optic with cross hairs

2) RDS

3) plain black sight set, with a narrow rear opening

4) Heinie style tritium sight

5) Trijicon HD

6) legacy Trijicon

7) HK factory sights

8) Big Dot style sights

With my eyes, seeing the front sight clearly, trumps other benefits associated with thin, black sights. Given the different distances you can use a pistol, the HD sights works best across a range of distances for me, and specifically allows me to shoot some of my best groups at 25 and 50 yards. It would be interesting to have folks shoot groups at 25 and 50 yards with the HD and other sights. My guess is whatever minute differences there might be between HD and thin black sights, if your eyes are young enough to use thin, black sights well, get washed out in the accuracy variability of most loads.

[Dagga Boy]

http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/sightimages.jpg
http://pistol-training.com/archives/1361

If you looked at number three without the rear sight in the way........it's a mushroom....;)

[ToddG]

Three is what I have always used.

[GJM]

Three is what I have always used.

I assume you are "driving the dot" as opposed to using the top edge of the front sight?

Interestingly, last summer, I found driving the dot with HD sights to be quite fast and accurate on an 8 inch steel at 50 yards with a G17. Probably because that is a "mature eye friendly" approach.

[TheTrevor]

If you looked at number three without the rear sight in the way........it's a mushroom....;)

Got it. "Mushroom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkgs5KXqZ2Q)" == drive-the-dot.

[Rich]

DB, just to make sure I'm tracking, what do you mean by a mushroom sight picture?

So how do you like your sights and did the have the POI your wanted?

[TheTrevor]

So how do you like your sights and did the have the POI your wanted?

The sights themselves are great. I'm perfectly OK with having a single tritium dot on the front. I did take an orange paint pen to the white ring around the tritium vial to increase visibility.

Height... My POI is consistently low even when it looks to me like the blades are carefully aligned across the top. For now I am compensating by aligning the top edge of the "dot" with the top of the rear sight at distances of 10yd or more. After I get back from next week's class I will probably order a 0.140 tall front sight and see if that works better for me on this particular gun.

The group at the bottom of this picture was shot at 20yd using a drive-the-dot center hold, top edges of front and read sight aligned. 9mm 147gr Freedom Munitions new manufacture ammo, plated projectile. (The shots high on the 8" square were me trying other POAs)

2248

ETA: If I had a surface grinder, I'd take .005 off the top of the .155 sight at a time and shoot it at 20yd to test POA/POI. However, I don't have a surface grinder, and I'm not sure I could mill off much material from this sight without endangering the tritium vial. I also don't have a spare, so there's that.

[Dagga Boy]

So how do you like your sights and did the have the POI your wanted?

Depends on what I am doing. We work a lot of B8 bulls in training and it is often hard to get perfect 10 and X ring hits using the dot. A top edge of a front sight would be better for this. When shooting "normal" stuff that are humanoidish and I am just looking for high in the chest or a head, they work great because I am running at speed and driving the sight with focus on the dot itself.

[TheTrevor]

DB, what weight training ammo do you run? Wondering if my low POI at 20yd might have something to do with my use of Freedom 147gr.

[Dagga Boy]

As I am running out of my AE147 stuff I have started using more 115 gr stuff and it seems to not hit quite as low. I am thinking that these are probably dead on with 124 NATO and low with 147.

Some of the issue is with my eyes as most of my stuff hits dead on for Wayne and a hair low for me. Ever since my eye/head injury I have had a lot of issues with stuff that were not issues in the past.

[TheTrevor]

As I am running out of my AE147 stuff I have started using more 115 gr stuff and it seems to not hit quite as low. I am thinking that these are probably dead on with 124 NATO and low with 147.

Thanks. I put boxes of FM 147, 124 and 115 FMJ in the bag today, planning to compare them tonight at 20yd using the TLR-2 laser for consistent POA. I'll post pics of the targets.

[Dagga Boy]

Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[GJM]

When this came up in a thread a year or so back (thread on different POI with different ammo), I found AE 147 to hit higher in a Glock than 115/124, but no difference in POI in a P30 between the same loads. Think Gary Roberts has targets with his RMR, showing 147 hit higher in the Glock for him.

[TheTrevor]

Tonight's results were inconclusive and not particularly valid. Full, slightly chaotic range loaded with newbies and squads of bros renting magnum hand-cannons.

Will give it another go tomorrow.

[TheTrevor]

Two themes for today's update:

(1) Optics packaging designers who cheap out on laser mounts (*cough*Streamlight*cough*) should be given 10 rounds and 60 seconds to zero a laser module they designed, or they lose a body part. Repeat until lesson is learned. Elevation/windage adjustments which interact unpredictably make Loki cackle maniacally.

(2) Ever have one of those moments when you realize that the ammo which made your gun reliably during break-in is not what it shoots most accurately, also at 100% reliably, post-break-in? And you had 2500 rounds of the former (147gr) delivered to GA for Rogers, with maybe 8 boxes of the latter (115gr) at home? {sigh}

147gr at 20yd using laboriously zeroed TLR-2 laser (seriously, 40+ minutes of shoot/adjust/shoot/adjust) is basically bracketed vertically on the target center:
(ETA: that's three shots bracketing the bullseye, and two shots re-punching a patched hole off to the right. Total of 5 rounds on all of these targets.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/13766220194_43f3499784.jpg

124gr at 20yd shot high vs 147gr and much less consistently, which is in line with my previous experience shooting FM 124gr 9mm through this P30:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/13766217604_8d3a65b625.jpg

115gr at 20yd shot a bit low -- and if you ignore that flyer off to the right that was totally my fault (my wrists slipped on the box I had them braced on right as I broke the shot) it was substantially more accurate than the 147gr or 124gr. Go figure.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5083/13765858113_6cef504d06.jpg

So, no huge differences in impact height, but the FM 124gr is a no-go (not the first time I've seen it group poorly out of this gun) and the 115gr definitely has an edge on the 147gr.

Any lateral deviations were purely the fault of the shooter's trigger control consistency and the not-inconsiderable instability of the improvised braced shooting position.

[Rich]

When this came up in a thread a year or so back (thread on different POI with different ammo), I found AE 147 to hit higher in a Glock than 115/124, but no difference in POI in a P30 between the same loads. Think Gary Roberts has targets with his RMR, showing 147 hit higher in the Glock for him.

In my fixed sighted S&W revolvers JK frames 38/357 the low grain bullets 110 SJHP shoot lower than the 158gr . (M13, M642 and so on have a POA/POI = 158gr)

[Rich]

When this came up in a thread a year or so back (thread on different POI with different ammo), I found AE 147 to hit higher in a Glock than 115/124, but no difference in POI in a P30 between the same loads. Think Gary Roberts has targets with his RMR, showing 147 hit higher in the Glock for him.

I only shot at 7Y using the Lawman 147 and 124 / P30S V3. One would be hard pressed which load or weight to choose by looking at my targets !

But I do see the differences when shooting a M642 and 110 vs 158 SWC HP

[tmoore912]

Just ordered the Dawson Tritium front and 10-8 rear for the new P30. Hopefully I'll have some hits on paper next week.

Thanks for the info in this thread.

[Dagga Boy]

Update......went to Dawson yesterday with a hand full of various P30's. I dropped two P30LS V1's off for Dawson Fiber optic fronts and Dawson's rears and paid for install and regulation at the shop to avoid the "me" issues and to ensure these two guns are dead nuts on. Had an interesting thing happen that may explain my shooting low. I had a spare twin to my daily carry P30 that I wanted to set up with the same as my carry gun (essentially to have a training gun and then a carry gun....read that it was a good idea somewhere ;)). So when asked if I wanted a 170 or a 155, I shrugged and said whatever was stock as that was what was on my carry gun. Guy says it should be a 155.......I seem to remember them putting a 170 in it. I get my carry gun out and we measure and sure enough it has a 170 in it. Then measure the rear and find that it is also a little different from stock....:confused:. When I first had the sight installed, it was measured off the front sight that was in my pistol originally. It all began to come together, and I decided that now that I do have an option, I am pulling the 170 front and will go 10-8 front and rears on both guns and I think all will be good. Probably hand off my 170 rear to Dr. No to see if that will help him.
Should be an interesting road. I think the ammunition inconsistency has been a huge factor in trying to figure this out.

[tmoore912]

My sights came in. Before I begin...........

Is there any dark secret to pushing out the factory sights and putting the replacements in?

Do you push them out to the left or to the right?

Thanks

[TheTrevor]

My sights came in. Before I begin...........

Is there any dark secret to pushing out the factory sights and putting the replacements in?

Do you push them out to the left or to the right?

Thanks

The dovetail is not tapered. You can push them out to either side.

I do prefer to push the new sights back in on the side where the previous ones came out.

Use patience and take your time removing metal from the front sight to get it to fit.

[tmoore912]

The dovetail is not tapered. You can push them out to either side.

I do prefer to push the new sights back in on the side where the previous ones came out.

Use patience and take your time removing metal from the front sight to get it to fit.

Thank you!

[CCT125US]

Dawson has some great vids on installation. I had to remove material from the bottom, front and rear of the FS on 4 installs. Only one of the 10-8 rears needed moderate fittting. Love that set screw.

[TheTrevor]

Dawson has some great vids on installation. I had to remove material from the bottom, front and rear of the FS on 4 installs. Only one of the 10-8 rears needed moderate fittting. Love that set screw.

Pro-tip for those too impatient to actually watch videos...

A $20 digital caliper from Harbor Freight, and a clean/smooth surface (glass, granite or Corian-type countertop material) with 400-grit sandpaper taped to it, are all the tools you need to evenly take material off the base, which is where the work should start. Rub base of sight on sandpaper, measure thickness of both sides with caliper to verify that you're taking material off evenly, test-fit, repeat.

[imp1295]

So,
Dawson only making a .165 tall fiber front means that you would shoot the dot, since the stock config is .155?

I was a bit confused about that until this thread.

[tmoore912]

Just noticed that the Dawson front sight has a arrow on the bottom of the sight showing which way you should install it.

This info is also talked about on the video I just watched.

[TheTrevor]

So,
Dawson only making a .165 tall fiber front means that you would shoot the dot, since the stock config is .155?

I was a bit confused about that until this thread.

You'd be better off contacting Dawson and having them make a .155T fiber front sight. Had an email conversation with them about this a few days ago, wait time is 4 weeks. Not bad.

IMHO, don't get a .165T front sight and assume that you'll be able to compensate through drive-the-dot, as that's the normal way of shooting HKs. The instinct to top-align the sight blades is pretty strong, at least for me.

[TheTrevor]

To summarize my experience with this setup:

(1) I like the sight picture, but I would definitely prefer a .100W blade to the .125W blade after seeing that setup on other guns. Personal taste and use case, the .125 works fine but I'd like a narrower blade that shows more of the target.

(2) Tritium is great for an all-weather/duty/nightstand gun, but that fiber dot is like a freaking laser in any kind of ambient light -- awesome. I'm definitely going to pick up a fiber-optic front sight next, as that seems to be a good fit for my requirements.

(3) An all-black rear sight works surprisingly well. I didn't feel like I was giving up anything not having tritium and/or paint dots on the rear sight. It is definitely less distracting and makes a hard focus on the front sight easier to maintain.

(4) Bench-rest testing is required to verify, but my particular P30 appears to be shooting low with the .155T front sight. I used a depth micrometer to verify that the front sight is .155 inches tall, just to make sure mine was in spec. Others have had good success with the same setup, so it may just be my gun, or even me. We'll see when I shoot it from a sandbag rest sometime soon.

[tmoore912]

New sights on and tested at the range. Coming from the Ameriglo I-Dot Pros, it's certainly a different sight picture. The Dawson front @ 1.25" is better at distance than the Amerligo 1.40" front, but I miss my florescent orange front that is so easy to pick up. The 10-8 rear is nice and wish they made it with a single tritium for a Straight 8 sight picture. I found it hard to find the correct sight picture when moving around outside my house last night in different lighting situations without a rear tritium reference. I'll try these for a while and see how they work.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii218/tmoore912/HK%20P30S/IMG_20140501_122358_705.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/tmoore912/media/HK%20P30S/IMG_20140501_122358_705.jpg.html)

[TheTrevor]

Two options for increasing visibility on the Dawson fronts:

(1) Fluorescent paint over the white circle, toothpick or pointed laboratory swab to clean off tritium vial lens as it dries
(2) Fluorescent paint over the black surface of the front sight, leave white circle intact

I went with option 1, still thinking about either cleaning off the white ring or using a contrasting color on the black part of the front sight. This link may be helpful if you decide to give it a try:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/120/1944/=rt8e1y

[ffhounddog]

I saw Dawson has .150 and .130 tritium front. What is the front you are getting with a 10-8 rear?

Ive been shooting a lot of Beretta's lately and been using sight picture number two. CATM always taught us to use the tip of the front sight and have been getting expert on the paper targets not the green dummies using m882. I know P30 is suppose to be #3 and so should Beretta's but In stress shooting I keep going back to sight picture two. I know its a training issue but that is what is going on with me.

[Dr. No]

I saw Dawson has .150 and .130 tritium front. What is the front you are getting with a 10-8 rear?

Ive been shooting a lot of Beretta's lately and been using sight picture number two. CATM always taught us to use the tip of the front sight and have been getting expert on the paper targets not the green dummies using m882. I know P30 is suppose to be #3 and so should Beretta's but In stress shooting I keep going back to sight picture two. I know its a training issue but that is what is going on with me.

For mine I had to get dawson to make a .190 to be zeroed at 25y with my P30L in 40.

Call Dawson, measure your sights properly, and they will make you the right one.

[Spr1]

Pro-tip for those too impatient to actually watch videos...

A $20 digital caliper from Harbor Freight, and a clean/smooth surface (glass, granite or Corian-type countertop material) with 400-grit sandpaper taped to it, are all the tools you need to evenly take material off the base, which is where the work should start. Rub base of sight on sandpaper, measure thickness of both sides with caliper to verify that you're taking material off evenly, test-fit, repeat.
Part two of this tip might be to switch the direction of the sight as you work it on the abrasive. It helps to keep it even.

[TheTrevor]

Part two of this tip might be to switch the direction of the sight as you work it on the abrasive. It helps to keep it even.

Good point. I do that without thinking about it. Pretty much impossible to evenly thin the sight base if you only work it one way.

[Chance]

Bump.

Just got my P30 and am looking forward to becoming an HK snob. :)

There's been a few years since the last post, so how have y'all's setups evolved since then, or have they stayed the same? Any new products worth trying?

Also, 10-8 has been out of HK rear sights for a while now. Are there any other places to purchase those, or is the 10-8 website it?

[CCT125US]

PM inbound

I have actually moved back to basic Trijicon 3 Dots, and have mostly sold of my 10-8s. I now need the awareness of the rear vials.

[Chance]

Posted a WTB here (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?22571-10-8-Performance-HK-Rear-Sight&p=510532#post510532).

Also, 10-8 is based in Florida, so my very best wishes to them and their families as Matthew wreaks havoc.

[Casey]

Bump.

Just got my P30 and am looking forward to becoming an HK snob. :)

There's been a few years since the last post, so how have y'all's setups evolved since then, or have they stayed the same? Any new products worth trying?

Also, 10-8 has been out of HK rear sights for a while now. Are there any other places to purchase those, or is the 10-8 website it?

I have Trij HDs on two of my VP9s (carry gun and spare), and a 10-8 .115 FO front paired with a .140 rear on VP9 number three (dedicated range gun). I really like the 10-8 setup. Sight acquisition is fast, even in intermediate lighting, and tracking through recoil is a breeze. The narrow front makes 25 yard shooting subjectively easier than with a wider front like the HDs. I did have to wait a while for the rear to get back in stock. You can sign up for in-stock notifications on 10-8's site. I don't know of any other retailers who carry them.

Dawsons are another good option, though they don't yet make their charger-style rear for the VP9, and I prefer a u-notch to a square.

[bornandraisedlv]

I run HD's on my p30sk for the hi-vis edc set up and I run Heinie Straight Eights, with the front sight painted orange on my VP9 (same exact sight for P30) and this is above and beyond my favorite sight set up to date! I think I will actually make the switch to them for my p30sk before long.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161008/ca513bd525b053903cf4ba8c9af1c215.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OnionsAndDragons]

I have HDs on my P30 right now. I can use them out to 25 but a thinner front would definitely be superior here.

I think the Heinie sights are probably the best non mix-n-match option. You can get a good thin front post there.

Dawson fiber with a 10-8 rear would also be very nice as I like the Dawson fibers the best. But those 10-8 sights are hit and miss when they are in production.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[YVK]

Ive pretty firmly set myself on 10-8 rear and some sort of tritium front. My 10-8 are modified into a square .150 notch. I like the conventional rear notch, and this width works with front sights from .125 to .150. I shot heads at 25 last time two days ago, felt pretty good about hits although would've like better speed on my part.
Heinies are OK but shot too high for me on P30, although not on 30L. I've a couple of issues with HDs to not consider them when I have other options.

[Casual Friday]

Meps with the rear vials subdued with a black sharpie and hi viz orange paint on the front.

[Casey]

10-8 .140 rears are currently in stock (http://www.10-8performance.com/hk-rear-sight/). The only front currently in stock (http://www.10-8performance.com/hk-front-sight/) is the .125 with tritium insert. (They did have .115 FO fronts, briefly, but I think I snagged the last one.)