Heinie Sights are always high for me. What about you?

[ASH556]

After having an Ameriglo rear drift to the edge of the dovetail on my G45 MOS during a Gabe class last September, I switched my Glocks to Heinie's MOS Ledge sights to make use of their dual set-screw rear sights. While Heinie says, "All Heinie sights are designed to “cover the target”. POA/POI" I find this to be otherwise. Here is a 25yd group with my MOS Glocks using the MOS Ledge Heinie sights; note the 6:00 on the black hold:

G45:
https://i.imgur.com/TH9Hg33.jpg

G19 (with a shank):
https://i.imgur.com/LIBQzzG.jpg

So now a couple weeks ago I got a nice classic P226 from a member here and it has Heinie Straight 8's on it. How do those hit with a 6:00 hold on the black? And guess what, 124 + P GDHP hits about another 2" higher!

P226:
https://i.imgur.com/J9Vsv4u.jpg



I find this to be VERY aggrevating! I just want the damn sights to hit where they're supposed to. It's less of an issue on the MOS guns because they're backup sights and the RMR's are easily tuned to hit exactly where I want them to, but the P226 is another story.

Even more aggrevating is that not only are the Heinies not POA = POI, they're not even 6:00. They're freaking worse than that! 6:00 hold still yields high hits. I emailed Heinie about the MOS sights when I got them and their response was nothing helpful. Makes me want to just go Dawson with their Perfect Impact Guarantee for everything!

[Up1911Fan]

That's one of the reasons I prefer Dawson's. I can swap to a different height front to get the zero I want, and the rears have a set screw.

[Rock185]

FWIW, I've routinely had factory, Novak and Heinie fixed sights shoot high or low. I have many times changed the front, and/or drifted the rear, to get POA/POI where I want it.

Thing is, when a manufacturer, factory or aftermarket, decides on sight dimensions, etc., they do not know what ammo you'll be using at what distance, your trigger press, style of shooting, eye sight, sight picture, etc., etc. In short, the sights are "ballpark".

I've dealt with Dawson, they can fix you up.

[1911Nut]

I have had similar experiences with sights from different manufacturers on different pistols.

I've even seen issues with different POI with the same sights on identical pistols. IIRC, in every case the issue was with a higher POI than desired.

Happens with Dawson sights, too, but with their perfect impact guarantee, they have a solution that doesn't cost you.

I've resigned myself to expect that every time I get a new (to me) gun or new sights, I expect to go through a period of trial and error until I find the correct front/rear that works for that specific gun.

In the infrequent instances in which that has NOT occurred, I have been pleasantly surprised.

[ASH556]

I appreciate the feedback gents. I was beginning to think it was just me, but it seems that if one is a serious pistol practicioner then it is simply part of the process. How has it not been improved before now? It must simply be that most do not require it. Who cares where the sights hit if you never shoot it beyond 7 yds or worse, at all.

[DDTSGM]

OP - I have one set of Heinie Straight 8's on a Hi-Power. I noticed that when you set the front dot on the base of the rear sight notch - as you would when making the '8' in dim light - the front sight blade was below the shoulders of the rear sight. Probably not explained clearly, but this would cause you to shoot lower than if you were using the front sight blade rather than the dots. In other words, if using a traditional sight picture this would cause you to shoot high.

Is this perhaps what was going on?

FWIW, my Heinies were too dim to use effectively from the get go, but I have no idea how old they were as they were installed when I sent the slide off to be milled.

[Eyesquared]

This kind of thing is one reason I prefer adjustable rear sights whenever available. Some of my pistols exhibit pretty significant POI shift just by changing the projectile weight. The Dawson Glock adjustables are pretty good.

[GJM]

20 years ago, I told Richard that he needed a taller front sight on his 1911 sights, as mine hit high with his sights, and he said my eyes were messed up!

[gunslinger2401]

OP, I registered to the site just to say I've had the same exact experience with Heinie's MOS specific sights. I tried them for the same reasons you did. They shoot very high and are frankly unusable. I emailed them and their reply was not helpful. They don't accept returns on sights that have been installed and do not offer taller front sights. Very frustrating given their relatively high price. I've since installed Overwatch Precision's MOS "Have Blue" sights. Similar concept to the Heinie MOS sights but with POA=POI.

[ASH556]

OP, I registered to the site just to say I've had the same exact experience with Heinie's MOS specific sights. I tried them for the same reasons you did. They shoot very high and are frankly unusable. I emailed them and their reply was not helpful. They don't accept returns on sights that have been installed and do not offer taller front sights. Very frustrating given their relatively high price. I've since installed Overwatch Precision's MOS "Have Blue" sights. Similar concept to the Heinie MOS sights but with POA=POI.

Thanks for the input, I’ll check those out!

[CCT125US]

My experience as well. Along with notches not cut center.
You want a notch that's centered, go with 10-8.
88859

[HCM]

My experience as well. Along with notches not cut center.
You want a notch that's centered, go with 10-8.
88859

For years, the fudd lore rumor was that Heinie intentionally cut the notch on Glock rear sights off-center to compensate for Glocks “inherently shooting left.” This was then cited as “proof” it was an inherent issue not shooter error.

[CCT125US]

For years, the fudd lore rumor was that Heinie intentionally cut the notch on Glock rear sights off-center to compensate for Glocks “inherently shooting left.” This was then cited as “proof” it was an inherent issue not shooter error.

Exactly. I have an email from a CS representative stating that. I kindly pointed out the sight was for an HK, and should be cut centered. I was then refused a replacement and refund.

[CraigS]

Some Beretta 92 models are sold w/ what they call a 'drive the dots' set of sights. You have to cover the bullseye w/ the front sight. Dumbest dang thing I have ever heard of. I had to get taller rear sights for both of our EIIs. All of our pistols are set so POI is right at the top edge of the front sight.

[ASH556]

OP, I registered to the site just to say I've had the same exact experience with Heinie's MOS specific sights. I tried them for the same reasons you did. They shoot very high and are frankly unusable. I emailed them and their reply was not helpful. They don't accept returns on sights that have been installed and do not offer taller front sights. Very frustrating given their relatively high price. I've since installed Overwatch Precision's MOS "Have Blue" sights. Similar concept to the Heinie MOS sights but with POA=POI.

Based on this post I picked up 2 sets of these to replace my Heinie’s. Got them in yesterday and installed this AM. These are PERFECT! I like the thinner fronts, but most importantly, they are the correct height. My RMR’s are zeroed on the X/10 ring at 25yds. I installed these Overwatch Precision “Have Blue” sights and set the rears such that the dot is centered on the front post. Having done that, when aligning the irons, the dot (which is zeroed as mentioned) sits dead on the front sight post blade. Of course I’ll put them on paper to confirm, but this pretty much shows they’ll be good to go. Well done Overwatch Precision! Thanks to gunslinger2401 for the recommendation!

Of course it’s hard to get the phone to take the pic just right, so forgive the fact that the pic shows the dot about half a blade off.


89148

89149

[gunslinger2401]

Glad I could help

[ASH556]

Almost a month later and the first occasion I've had to go to the range was today. I ended up with a lane at the indoor range that had very poor lighting, so please excuse the poor shooting, but overall I'm pretty satisfied with where things are hitting. Very much so with the Glocks anyway, which is what I care about the most.

These Overwatch Precision Have Blue sights are giving me exactly the hold I want, which is tops of blades splitting the "X" ring. I installed them and matched them up to the dot on the bench. Put them on paper today and confirmed what I'd hoped. Again, forgive the misses...range lighting.

https://i.imgur.com/fYEb5me.jpg

On the Sig P226, the Heinie Straight Eight's were also high, so I did some math and got a new front from Dawson. Again with the range lighting and also I wrote the wrong score on the target. I was down 7, and my brain made me write "97." Anyway, POA = POI.

https://i.imgur.com/quxpljo.jpg