What night sights do you prefer?

I'm looking to pick up a Glock 17 and was thinking about whether I wanted to do for sights. I like night sights on my handguns, but I'd never had them put on before...I usually just get whatever is offered from the factory. For example, on my Sig 220...I just got it with the Siglite Night sights.

However, I've noticed my vision just isn't what it used to be. Its not THAT bad...but I do have an astigmatism and its getting harder and harder to get, and maintain, my focus on the front sight. Once I do get that front sight to crisp up, if I hold that sight picture for more than a short time...I tend to lose focus. I especially have a problem keeping my groups tight at longer ranges. Once that front sight goes fuzzy...I tend to pattern instead of group.

So, for my new glock, I figured I'd ask and see what you guys like? I've heard some say the Trijicon HD Night Sights are great. I've never shopped for sights before (beyond what is offered from the factory) so I'm not sure what might help me, and what might make things worse.

I started running into eye issues a year or so ago. I'm 39. Red dots sucked at pistols with the standard 3 dot set up was hard for my eyes to keep focus on the front sight; they kept wanting to focus back on the rear sights.

I solved this by going to a night sight front and flat black rear sight.

This gives me the dot up front to focuse on with a black background (rear sight) to frame it by.

I really like the Glock Night Sights ( Tru Dots) they have a nice big cylinder when compared to my Trigicons that my SA Loaded bare. Now saying that I have to disclose that those two are the only two I have experience with but hey for $57 installed you wont go wrong with Glock OEM............

For me, the 10-8 sights works the best. A single tritium front dot within a serrated front sight. Plain black serrated rear sight. I find as I get older this combo allows me speed up close and precision shots at longer ranges. I have that set up on all of my Glock's but one. The only reason that one is different is because it came with factory Meps. The pistol was at a really good price and I didn't see the practical need to swap out a perfectly good set of sights.

I like the Meps for how bright and large the dots are. But standard Meps seem to have very little space in the notch for the front sight (like the front sight need to be a bit thinner. I like the sight picture of standard Trijicons better. If I could have Trijicon sights with Meprolight dots/tritium vials, I'd be super happy.

I like the Ameriglo Hackathorn sights. It's a night sight up front with a big orange dot around the lamp and a plain black rear. Nice simple sight picture, and the orange front makes them easy to see at speed. I just wish they were available for Sigs and HKs.

Trijicon HD

Trijicon HD night sights. Shot with them last week and they are fast and very easy to pick up.

yeah, trijicon hd

I have Meprolights on my USP and like them a lot.

Another vote for Trijicon HDs. I have them on my M&P and love them.

another vote for trijicons

Thanks everyone.

Looks like I'll end up going with those Trijicon HD's. After viewing that picture of them (Thanks asicsaug!) it really looks like it might help to "trick" my eyes into focusing. My problem is almost exactly what JoshAR stated above...



I'm 41 and it looks like maybe those Trijicon HD sights might really work to trick my eye into focusing on the front sight. Right now, I can focus on the front sight a little easier if, instead of using an isosceles stance and punching the gun way out...I either bend my elbows more and bring the gun in closer or use a weaver stance with more of a bend to my weapon-side elbow to bring the gun closer in. With the gun closer to my face...I can focus on the front sight a bit better.

I've never had "aftermarket" sights put on a firearm before. Is it a big deal? Do you guys think this is something I can just ask my LGS to do for me when I purchase the pistol? Is it something that I might risk losing accuracy with on the pistol because I'm sacrificing the originally tested front sights for something the factory didn't test? Please forgive the questions if they are silly....I've never tried this before and am looking for info.

Thanks!

Installing them is not a big deal, and most gun stores should be proficient at it. If not find a local gunsmith and it may cost $20-40. Also look in the Glock subsection as there is a sight thread. It will show some more photos of the HDs in both colors.

I've tried quite a few sight arrangements and I'm really liking the Trijicon HD's in yellow. I think they would be even better if the rear vials were yellow and the front sight was serrated too.

If you have a file/stone, vise, and a plastic or brass punch you can do it yourself.

Installing sights on a Glock is easy provided you have the right tools (a rear sight pusher costs about $130 and a hex nut driver costs about $15). I'd be concerned if the rear sight was installed without zeroing it with live fire.



If the rear sights were the same color and design as the front sight there would be no contrast and it's the contrast that helps focus the eye on the front sight, which is where most schools tell their students to focus. Certain colors attract the eye and stand out. This is why blaze orange and bright yellowish green are used as safety colors by emergency crews, construction crews, hunters, bicyclists, and on marine emergency equipment. Serrations serve to reduce glare and make the rear sight appear darker, which makes the front sight appear even brighter. Adding serrations to the front sight and bright colors to the rear sights would defeat the driving force behind the design; quick and easy sight alignment.

Don't overcomplicate it. People always go crazy trying to figure out a better night sight solution before they even get experience with basic sights.

The standard Trijicon or Mepros are just fine. Glock factory NS are nice too (meprolights)

Trijicon HD's with orange front. Best sights I've ever used!

Ameriglo Pro Operators.

Honestly, I prefer a TLR1 as my night sight.

I prefer the Warren Tactical 2 lamps.

Replace TLR with X200 and this is me in a nutshell.

In order to need night sights one has to meet three requirements:

1) Be able to see the target in the ambient light of the surroundings. Light from a weapon light or flashlight washes out the tiny bit of light provided from the Tritium.

2) Have low enough light at the shooter's position to see the glow.

3) Have a target far enough away that acquiring the sights and making a well aimed shot is necessary.

Given how rare the convergence of these three factors are in defensive shooting situations, I wouldn't get too caught up in dropping the serious cash it takes to acquire a set. If you can afford it, awesome, but I would wager you would get more from the same money spent on training ammunition, or a nice Surefire handheld or part of the price of an X300.

One thing I will say that is imperative of a sight change on the Glock is to replace the sights with metal sights, and make sure the rear has a nice, large, flat front edge that will make it easier to grab on your belt, holster, or other hard object if you have to do one-handed manipulations.

back in 04 I bought a set of trijicons all green when faced with the same question. When new they were so bright they hurt to look at with night adjusted eye..buy 3 years they were perfect now after 8 years they are still perfect

I have mostly Novaks with trijicon tubes,I'm thinking about trying out the HD's on my glock.The meps aren't made to the same quality standard as the trijicons,they just epoxy the vials in the sights(no protective sleeves,ect)I've had 2 front mep sights go dead within months,never had a problem with the trijicons.

Exactly! That's why I would like the rear tritium vials to be yellow so there is no confusion as to which dot is the front sight in low light. I'd still like to see a serrated front sight. I don't like the glare the front sight post attracts from time to time. Plus, the yellow/orange circle is so bright I don't think it would degrade effectiveness.

What's over complicated about trying to find a better sight setup and why restrict yourself to basic sights when there are options such as the HD's?

That sounds like exactly what I need, and after reading these posts and checking out the pictures in the glock sights thread....those Trijicon HD Night sights sound perfect. Thanks!

Aside from cosmetics, is there any difference between the orange front/green rear and yellow front/green rear?

Because they do exactly the same thing, and people kid themselves into thinking that several variations of gee-whiz sights are going to make them better shooters. I'm not discounting that some variations are actually improvements, but until shooters at least get proficient with the basic trij and mepro sights, they really will not benefit much in practice. It already is evident that there are many over thinking the problem in this thread

Right on

In my Glock Armoring days (1997 to 2003) the trijicons were bullet proof and very visible. During my extensive range time with my Glock 19 and 22 as well as my Trijy equiped 1911's i never had an issue.

Trijicon HD. I like them the best.

The yellow paint will glow for a longer amount of time when charged with light.I picked up a orange set on my way home yesterday and installed them on a g19 last night.I did have to stone a few thousandths off of the rear sight to get the sight started right,I don't have a sight pusher so I used a rawhide mallet with the slide in a padded vise.There is no set screw on the rear sight,so I used green locktite in the dovetail.Anyhow,I went out this morning to try them out and I really do like them,the black rings on the rear sight make the bright orange on the front sight really stand out,the wider notch makes for a faster sight picture.I only fired 100 rounds,but so far I really like these sights.

Heinie Straight Eights.

For the win!

I love the Straight Eights. The stacked dots is much easier to use for me than standard three dot sights.

TFOs are really easy to see. I have them on a G30. I like TruDots also.

For me as well.

Meprolite.

Is the clear coat on your orange dot concave or does it completely fill the hole? The reason I ask is because I've had both colors. The clear coat on the yellow sight was a thin, concave coat while the orange was completely filled with clear coat and reflected light so easily making it impossible to see the orange.

It appears to be a bit concave,unless I hit it with a flashlight I don't see the orange in complete darkness,in daylight it really seems to stand out.

Yes sir. Although i currently have warren/sevigny carry sights that are 2 dot sights that i like a lot also. Some others that i have that are ok to me are trijicons and mepro's. I wont be buying anymore 3 dots though. 2 dot or blk/blk from now on.

Meprolights, front green rear set orange. I've had several and this works the best for me.

I like Ameriglos for their service and the fact that they are assembled in the U.S.

I had Meps on my Glocks until I tried a G22 with TruGlo TFOs and I was sold! They are hands down the best night & day sights you can buy for your Glock. The daylight makes the FO glow during the day and the tritium inserts make them glow at night. They are fantastic!

Another vote for Trijicon HD here.

Just wanted to say "Thanks" for all the great responses and info. Good info, choices, and opinions in here. Thanks!

Gotta vote for the Trijicon HD sights....excellent set of sights indeed.

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