Glock sights value? [Archive]

grahamnc

07-19-2016, 05:21 PM

Nephrology

07-19-2016, 05:42 PM

Yes, they absolutely do. I don't have a good or easy way to quantify it, but they make shooting the gun substantially easier.

You can get flat black iron sights for much less than 20% the value of the gun.

https://www.amazon.com/AMERIGLO-DEFOOR-TACT-SIGHTS-GLOCK/dp/B005BSNCT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468968101&sr=8-1&keywords=defoor+sights

They will be a huge step up from what comes on the gun. Also, consider that even 20% the value of the gun (let's assume $100) is only about 500 rounds of 9mm, which for me would last 2-3 range trips. Keep it all in perspective.

okie john

07-19-2016, 05:54 PM

I've read plenty of negative comments on Glock factory sights with recommendations to replace them with brand x, y or z, etc.. Two of the reasons for changing them is that they could or will get worn down or broken with daily carry and they're not great for night use. Good reasons, no problem understanding why someone in the military, law enforcement, carrying concealed daily or even high level competitive target shooters would change them out but do aftermarket sights give that much greater potential for accuracy over factory sights? Considering they'll add around 20% or a little more to the cost of the gun I'd like to think I'd get 20% or more improvement in accuracy. Anyone here seen that kind of accuracy improvement after replacing the factory sights?

Increased accuracy is not the best way to either measure or understand the benefit of upgrading Glock sights. OEM Glock have improved quite a bit since the first ones came out, but they're still unacceptable for anything other than casual recreational shooting on a square range.

Most Glocks go for about $550, so according to your math, you're looking at a sight budget of $110,which will get you state-of-the-art night sights like Heines or Trijicon HDs. You can get perfectly serviceable night sights from Ameriglo or Meprolight for considerably less, or superb non-night sights from any of several vendors for even less than that. And if you're really tight on cash, you can find used sights for 1/2 to 1/3 of the new cost.

These sights may or may not help you shoot somewhat smaller groups in slow fire on a range. The real benefit is that they can help you shoot the same groups at speed, in the dark, or at a dead run, which is why serious shooters invest in them. You can also use some of them to rack your pistol's slide if you only have one hand available for some reason. And that brings us to the durability issue: good steel sights are a lot harder to break than plastic sights, and they tend to stay zeroed if you drop your pistol.

In the end, sights let you aim your pistol. If that's important to you, then upgrade your sights. If not, then you're good to go.

Okie John

Gray222

07-19-2016, 06:35 PM

+1 for defoor...I did a review on my site if you want a more in depth explanation.

grahamnc

07-19-2016, 06:44 PM

Good enough. Thanks to all for the info and thanks for the link Nephrology. Just ordered the defoor, $36.30 at Amazon.

HCM

07-19-2016, 07:11 PM

Even if you like the Glock factory sights, they are plastic and easily damaged when exposed to actual use.

If you like the OEM sights, Glock sells a steel version of them which are far more durable.

spinmove_

07-20-2016, 06:33 AM

The overwhelming reason to replace the stock sights, as you pointed out, is due to durability. Plastic sights on any serious use gun is just simply unacceptable. That being said, even with OEM steel sights from Glock, will you gain accuracy with a different set? That's entirely up to the shooter and several other factors. One of the primary reasons why people hate the OEM sight picture is due to the orientation of the front dot in the rear "bucket" with certain sight radiuses. On a lot of different Glock models, the lower 1/4 to 1/3 of the dot is shaved off by the bottom of the rear sight notch. This gives the shooter a confusing sight picture to look at, which is exactly what you DON'T want. Black out the sights and you already have a far better sight picture as tighter front sight width to rear notch widths have been employed by other shooters with great success.

I have a set of Defoors on my G19 at the moment as well. I can do pretty well with them. I've touched the front sight with a little bit of white paint which aids in transitional lighting and less than favorably contrasting backgrounds. I might change up how I've painted the front sight though, which is for another thread.

My advice is to find a sight picture that you like (far easier said than done, I know) and run with it. There's a very good chance that it'll be more to your liking than the Glock OEM sight picture. Heck, even the Glock OEM tritium sights are a significant improvement.

StraitR

07-20-2016, 08:18 AM

Even if you like the Glock factory sights, they are plastic and easily damaged when exposed to actual use.

If you like the OEM sights, Glock sells a steel version of them which are far more durable.

At this point, I can only see the plastic sights as a middle finger from glock. It's that ridiculous, IMO.

spinmove_

07-20-2016, 08:24 AM

Literally for $31 retail you can have the steel OEM Glock sights. I seriously don't even know why Glock doesn't just put these as stock on their pistols.

http://www.rockyourglock.com/custom/GLSP07079.htm
http://www.rockyourglock.com/custom/GLSP04197.htm

LOKNLOD

07-20-2016, 08:25 AM

At this point, I can only see the plastic sights as a middle finger from glock. It's that ridiculous, IMO.

We all have such varied sight preferences, that I see it as them doing us a favor by wasting the least amount of money possible on the sights I'm going to trash anyway.

LittleLebowski

07-20-2016, 08:26 AM

At this point, I can only see the plastic sights as a middle finger from glock. It's that ridiculous, IMO.

Yup. Especially considering that draws from the holster will wear down stock Glock sights.

Tamara

07-20-2016, 08:38 AM

The white dot/white cup arrangement is actually counterproductive for me. On the 19/23-size guns, a proper "equal height, equal light" sight picture has the bottom edge of the dot on the front sight occluded by the bottom edge of the rear notch. At any kind of speed, my eye wants to align the dot in the cup, which results in the top edge of the front sight standing proud of the rear notch and rounds impacting an inch or two high in the 7-10 yard range.

Greg

07-20-2016, 08:46 AM

Those "plastic sights" are merely dovetail preservers. To be replaced ASAP.

pblanc

07-20-2016, 09:02 AM

The stock Glock sights would actually be pretty high quality for a toy water pistol.

Tamara

07-20-2016, 09:17 AM

Seeing the stock plastic sights on a Glock in use is like seeing picture frames with the sample picture still inside them, or someone trying to pay for their purchases with the cardboard "credit cards" that came in their wallet. It's a little sad and awkward and you feel sorry for the person and don't know quite what to say.

BillSWPA

07-20-2016, 09:28 AM

I am probably one of the few people who like the stock Glock sight picture. We have a thread here by Mr. White wherein he shows various sights in different light conditions, and the stock sights were more visible in more conditions than many other options. I find that I can shoot accurately with the stock sights.

However, since I use my Glocks for concealed carry, the sights get replaced with sights using Trijicon brand tritium inserts in a 3 dot pattern. Currently I am using Dawson carry sights, as a result of Mr. White's thread. Tritium is well worth the cost on any defensive handgun, which will most likely be needed in poor light, even though you will likely have to replace them every 6 years for maximum visibility. I specified Trijicon because in my experience they last longer than inserts from others I have tried.

The durability issue with plastic v. metal sights is a valid point although I never had any issues with the stock sights.

OnionsAndDragons

07-20-2016, 02:25 PM

Good enough. Thanks to all for the info and thanks for the link Nephrology. Just ordered the defoor, $36.30 at Amazon.

These sights are excellent, functionally and value wise. Even better is that you can put a TCAP, fiber optic or other front sight on there and use the Defoor rear if/when you decide to try something different. I like the TCAP quite a bit.

Dos Cylindros

07-20-2016, 07:44 PM

There are a metric ton of acceptable aftermarket sights for Glock pistols. Some worth the money, and some not. That said, nearly all of them are a vast improvement on the factory sight arrangement. I just picked up a blue label gen4 G19, and thank god my Trijicon HD's are set to arrive tomorrow. I wish Glock would up their game when it comes to the factory configuration, but it would only add to the cost of the gun, and most people would probably still change them out for something they prefer.

Rex G

07-25-2016, 07:17 PM

The white outline, around the rear notch, overwhelms the front sight, for my eyes, in some light conditions, causing the front sight to almost disappear. As properly focusing on the front sight plays the greater part in accuracy, the factory plastic is counterproductive.

In other light conditions, it is the same for me as Tamara described, in about the seventh post prior to this one.

Even if the plastic sights were sufficiently durable, I prefer a wider rear notch, and for most or all of the white paint on the rear sight to be gone. A bit of white paint at the bottom of the notch might be OK, but if I want to leave the front sight as-is, better to simply attach the rear sight tool, crank the rear sight out of the notch, and replace it with a plain black, wider-north rear sight, as soon as possible. Then, figure on replacing the front sight as soon as wear is significant. Best practice: Replace both sights.

I should note that the wider rear notch is a personal preference thing, and more likely to be preferred by older eyes than younger eyes.

grahamnc

07-29-2016, 03:43 PM

First range trip with the Defoors sights, big improvement over the stock Glock sights and well worth the money.

Paul Sharp

07-29-2016, 04:22 PM

...do aftermarket sights give that much greater potential for accuracy over factory sights? Considering they'll add around 20% or a little more to the cost of the gun I'd like to think I'd get 20% or more improvement in accuracy. Anyone here seen that kind of accuracy improvement after replacing the factory sights?

Yes and yes. Dawson Precision or Warrens. https://dawsonprecision.com/sights/glock-sights/glock-fixed-sight-sets/

The perfect impact policy is no joke.

HopetonBrown

07-29-2016, 04:41 PM

I wish Glock would up their game when it comes to the factory configuration, but it would only add to the cost of the gun, and most people would probably still change them out for something they prefer.

I hope they don't up their game. Factory Glock dovetail protectors are easy to remove, and don't add unnecessary cost to manufacturing that would need to be passed on to the buyer.

Greg

07-29-2016, 06:35 PM

I hope they don't up their game. Factory Glock dovetail protectors are easy to remove, and don't add unnecessary cost to manufacturing that would need to be passed on to the buyer.

I have to agree. I like being able to buy sights that work for me instead of getting dinged an extra 50 bucks for 3 dot sights which I generally detest.

pastaslinger

07-30-2016, 02:02 AM

If you're really cheap you can get defoors for around 30

Good sights like Dawson's are only $80

Stock Glock sights are sized in a really screwed up way. They are also not durable- try racking the slide on the plastic rear and see how that works out

HopetonBrown

07-30-2016, 04:34 AM

They are also not durable- try racking the slide on the plastic rear and see how that works out

Dave Spaulding said they last on average 11 rackings off gear before flying off.

peterb

07-30-2016, 06:02 AM

The stock sights are great for experimenting at low cost. Go at them with a sharpie, paint, nail polish, file --- figure out what works for you before you spend the money on aftermarket sights.

In my case, black Sharpie on the rear and orange-over-white nail polish on the front seemed best for my old eyes, so I ended up with the CAP front and a plain black rear.

Hi-Point Aficionado

07-30-2016, 07:38 AM

Yes and yes. Dawson Precision...The perfect impact policy is no joke.

I was surprised to find that they don't have a set already sized for a full-size USP in 40 S&W. The set of flat blacks I ordered from the available options that seemed like it would work best was 6" low at 20 yards and they have a custom height front queued at the mill to cut for me. I absolutely will be doing more business with them in the future.

pastaslinger

07-30-2016, 08:34 AM

Dave Spaulding said they last on average 11 rackings off gear before flying off.

They can also just straight up deform

JonInWA

07-30-2016, 09:11 AM

I'm not so quite ready to be automatically dismissive of Glock sights-albeit the steel ones. I've done some decently fast and accurate shooting with them over the years-especially on my G17 and one of my G19s. While when push comes to shove, I'll admit a preference for Warren Tacticals and Warren-Sevigny Carry sights, as well as Trijicons, a set of Glock OEM sights, especially in steel for durability is actually pretty viable. I've done passably well with them in GSSF and IDPA.

The seem to be at their best with Glocks that I naturally index with, so that I can concentrate on the triggerpull and sight picture. My G17 is probably the best for me with the Glock sights.

Best, Jon

BillSWPA

07-30-2016, 09:23 AM

Every time a sight thread comes up here or elsewhere, it becomes readily apparent that different people find that different sight setups work for them. Given that many purchasers will just change their sights to something else, and that whatever Glock picks will invariably leave some purchasers unhappy, I think they did a good job of providing something that works well if not changed, and hasn't cost the purchaser a lot of money if they are changed.

Several years ago I met a Glock representative at a shooting range. He was not hesitating to perform multiple slide racks by hooking the rear sight on something. Many aftermarket options have a stupid ramped front surface that will not hook on much of anything. This includes the sights currently on my guns, which were selected for visibility as the first priority.

Tamara

07-30-2016, 10:12 AM

I'm not so quite ready to be automatically dismissive of Glock sights-albeit the steel ones.

There's nothing particularly wrong with the Glock factory night sights. Pretty sure the OP and everybody else was referring to the plastic dovetail protectors.

BWT

07-30-2016, 10:39 AM

I know people hate the factory sights. (I actually shot better than I normally do the last time I used them. How about them apples. :confused:)

But, I kind of see the Glock Facotry as the A2 grip on most AR15's. They know there are literally hundreds of alternatives. They know that better sights will cost more. They know that most people will probably replace them.

I'd rather pay $525 for a gen 3 or $550 for a Gen 4 knowing I'm going to replace the sights rather than get tritium sights from the factory and pay $600-625 for a Gen 3 or $625-650 for a Gen 4. That I could rather spend on the night sights.

There's no free lunch in this equation. Glock also does (ETA:) pistol models with factory night sights. The sights appear to be $75.

http://www.glockmeister.com/GLOCK-Factory-Night-Sights-65mm-Green_Green/productinfo/GNS01/

So, we pay let's just say an extra $60-70 for our Glock with night sights. We replace the sights with our $110~ sights and then we go to sell our old sights.

Well, those sights may cost $60 to manufacture and install from the factory but you and everyone else in the USA is probably doing the same thing and re-selling those sights. Supply and Demand those sights are worth $25-30 max. Which at that point you question why even bother re-selling it? Postage will be $8-10.

So, you just have a built in extra $60-70 on every model that you're probably going to discard anyway. I'm not a fan of using the factory sights and candidly you can add $30-50 for a sight installation to the price of any sights (or if you buy a sight pusher you can add $100 but then if you have a lot of glocks maybe it makes sense).

I think for all of those reasons plastic sights still make sense on a factory Glock. With the FBI continuing on with the Glock, SOF continuing on with the Glock, and the Glock 19 and 17M coming out. There will only be more aftermarket sights coming available.

Just about every major shooter/trainer has a set of sights for the Glock. Proctor, Hailey, Defoor, Vickers, Warren, Vogel, Sevigny, and I'm sure I'm forgetting others.

So to me, put cheap sights on it; it's the A2 Pistol Grip of the pistol world IMHO.

God Bless,

Brandon

BillSWPA

07-30-2016, 12:13 PM

JCS

07-30-2016, 12:34 PM

I've been using stock Glock night sights for awhile and finally ordered the ameriglo pro I dot sights a couple months ago. They shipped on 7/4/16 and got lost. Optics planet said they can't do anything until it's been 14 business days since the last shipping update. So I have to wait until Monday before they'll move forward.

I really see the value of having a different color front sight. Having 3 white dots is harder to pick up.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

BWT

07-30-2016, 12:40 PM

Re: cost: I have found that a sight pusher is a very good investment. The first one I bought paid for itself a few times over before it stopped working, and the newer version I bought appears to be more durable. I will be as or more accurate in centering the sights as anyone I have paid to install sights, and I have had a gunsmith claim that my gun was sighted in with the rear sight practically sticking out of the side of the slide.

Agreed, I bought a sight pusher. I figured I owned multiple Glocks (and a SIRT) and paying the guy to install new sights cost the same. That combined with some needed drifting on one particular pistol and I took the plunge.

I was already buying red picture for the front sight and bringing it. Eventually I bought the front sight screw driver as well.

That combined with I think at least one more Glock is in my near future. It simply makes sense.

God Bless,

Brandon

Chuck Whitlock

07-30-2016, 01:08 PM

So, you just have a built in extra $60-70 on every model that you're probably going to discard anyway. I'm not a fan of using the factory sights and candidly you can add $30-50 for a sight installation to the price of any sights (or if you buy a sight pusher you can add $100 but then if you have a lot of glocks maybe it makes sense).

My LGS will install sights for free if I buy through them, and so far they have found the sights for cheaper than I could. Win/win for me.

Tamara

07-30-2016, 01:22 PM

My LGS will install sights for free if I buy through them, and so far they have found the sights for cheaper than I could. Win/win for me.

Most places I've worked would install sights for free while-U-wait (if possible) provided you'd bought the gun and the sights from us. If you bought just a set of sights, we'd do those for a minimal fee (and again while-U-wait, if possible). If you came in with a gun and a set of sights you'd bought from the intertubes, well, that was "check it in and pay shop rates."

BWT

07-30-2016, 01:25 PM

My LGS will install sights for free if I buy through them, and so far they have found the sights for cheaper than I could. Win/win for me.

Sounds like TX and IN are amazing. The shop I bought My Glock 19 through changed my sights twice and charged me twice. Glocks were only $30 because of the dovetail and I brought my own Loc-Tite.

God Bless,

Brandon

ETA: I take that back it was my Glock 17 through them and they changed the sights twice on. They changed my Glock 19 sights as well. Same story. After my rear sight was off and needed to be adjusted on the 19; I just figured after trying to punch it. I'm bringing Loc-Tite because my front sight had come loose; they don't provide it. The sights aren't on and I'm paying $30 a pop. A MGW sight pusher made sense especially after I bought a SIRT.

The shop caught fire and closed down now anyway, so it's a moot point anyway and most shops in my area don't offer sight installation services here.

I will say; I do regret that because they also installed a trigger in my AK, and did a number of transfers for me (including an SBR).

http://www.jamesfirearm.com/

Chuck Whitlock

07-30-2016, 01:37 PM

Most places I've worked would install sights for free while-U-wait (if possible) provided you'd bought the gun and the sights from us. If you bought just a set of sights, we'd do those for a minimal fee (and again while-U-wait, if possible). If you came in with a gun and a set of sights you'd bought from the intertubes, well, that was "check it in and pay shop rates."

One gun was bought from them, one was not. To be fair, I've purchased/transferred a few guns from/through them, and frequent the indoor range, so I am a repeat customer.

Tamara

07-30-2016, 01:46 PM

One gun was bought from them, one was not. To be fair, I've purchased/transferred a few guns from/through them, and frequent the indoor range, so I am a repeat customer.

...and for repeat customers, we'll do our best to hook a brother up. :)

ReverendMeat

07-30-2016, 01:46 PM

Sounds like TX and IN are amazing. The shop I bought My Glock 19 through changed my sights twice and charged me twice. Glocks were only $30 because of the dovetail and I brought my own Loc-Tite.

The place I worked for in Oregon would do Glock and M&P sights for free if you bought either the gun or the sights from us. And really, even if you didn't, we'd still do them if it was slow and we were bored.

Sometimes people wouldn't feel comfortable letting us do that so they'd try to tip us. Odd, but I'm not complaining.

BWT

07-30-2016, 01:57 PM

The place I worked for in Oregon would do Glock and M&P sights for free if you bought either the gun or the sights from us. And really, even if you didn't, we'd still do them if it was slow and we were bored.

Sometimes people wouldn't feel comfortable letting us do that so they'd try to tip us. Odd, but I'm not complaining.

This is a complete side tangent. But I moved back into SC in 2003. There was only one indoor gun-range and there was a gun club in my area. I thought for sure moving from Atlanta to SC there would be so many more gun stores. There weren't (at the time). You basically could not shoot without being a member somewhere, knowing somebody with land, or going to an open to the public competition besides a 15 (maybe 10?) yard indoor pistol range and DNR ranges.

There are now approximately 3 in-door ranges in town and the number of gun stoors has gone from like 1-3 to approximately 9-12. It's insane to watch the amount of gun stores coming here and I'm thrilled to see it.

There's not really many gunsmithing services offered here yet, and I don't see that improving with Obama's latest Executive Order. Basically, it's either forcing people out of the market or forcing them to spend large sums of money and make a major commitment. Basically killing organic small businesses from developing or individuals from testing the waters at gunsmithing.

God Bless,

Brandon

HopetonBrown

07-30-2016, 11:11 PM

I install the Glock sights for the guys that work at my local range/shop.

BWT

07-31-2016, 12:36 AM

I install the Glock sights for the guys that work at my local range/shop.

That's awesome.

Candidly, I never felt entitled to free sight changes for my pistols and I know they're a small business so I didn't mind paying them. In fact, when I went into the store I'd try to find ways to spend money or at least minimize the sales staff's time if I knew I was just browsing.

The business burnt down and hopefully I can help others or myself with a sight pusher. We'll see how it goes. I realized if I ever grew tired of my Warren Tactical Sights; I'd pay pretty much what I paid for the Sight Pusher having the sights re-installed 3 times (maybe four or more here in the near future). Candidly, I'd lend the tool out and I almost have offered here but I think someone installed the sights for free before I could offer.

Anyway, I apologize for the drawn out hijack of this thread.

God Bless,

Brandon