Which Sights for My 1911Sc

[pajohnohio]

I have purchased and test fired my new 1911SC and must say that I am very excited about this new weapon thus far. It came with standard Novak white sites, which I do not like at all. Currently, I shoot Novak low tritium on my Baer and am good with those. I painted the area around the tritium bright orange for faster aquisition. Works well.

Now comes the new gun. I am researching and soliciting opinions as to what sites are working well for you all out there. I am liking a couple thus far.

Heinie Straight 8's in Tritium
Ameriglo
Dawson Fiber Optic
XS Big Dot Night Sites

Let me know what you guys/girls are using and why...

Much appreciated

~Peace~

[Pointblank]

So far I've kept my 1911Sc stock except for the grips.

[Harlie]

Takes a S&W 3rd gen 9/40 series sights. Any tritium of good quality will work, especially if used for CCW. Would seem that the fiber optic/tritium combination is the berries, only a guess.

[Harlie]

Also to prevent gouging or scratching ramp and area below ramp, don't use CMC mags or Colt. The sharp followers will cause this due to the Alloy frame. Ideally use any magazines that have a rounded front follower.

[Paladin1]

Does anyone know if there is a fiber optic/tritium sight available for the Sc? I'm having a set of TFO's put on my XD-9 and would put them on my Sc too but they don't appear to come in a cut that will fit. Are there any other options that folks know?

[warmrain]

I have Meprolights on some and XS 24/7 on others.

The Meprolights are the brightest of all the sights I've seen and are easy to shoot accurately with to 25 yds. and beyond.

The XS sights are among the weakest I've seen (though that may not be bad, I trained with them and in a darkened, not black, room they were just fine).

The XS are much quicker to acquire a sight picture than the 3 dots Meprolights. They are easily accurate out to 15 yds. and if you adjust you sight picture (as XS describes) they are good out to 25 yds., maybe more. I prefer the XS for self defense use mostly because I don't expect to be using them beyond 10 yds. or so and the quickness to acquire the sight picture is a real plus.

I can use them out to 25 if I need to, but that is very unlikely in a true SD scenario. I trained with a Kahr MK9 (3" mini 9mm) with the XS 24/7 big dots. My first PD qual test was about 480/600 (I honestly forget). When I learned to instinctively adjust the sights for the 25 yd. part of the qual I shot the second test at 588/600. The sights can be that accurate.

[warmrain]

Also to prevent gouging or scratching ramp and area below ramp, don't use CMC mags or Colt. The sharp followers will cause this due to the Alloy frame. Ideally use any magazines that have a rounded front follower.
Right, you need a "skirted" follower (e.g. Wilson). The old Kimber mags were CMCs, the new ones have skirted metal followers (the Wilsons are glass reinforced polymer). There are some threads about this here somewhere; maybe the Kimber forum...

[zork51]

And will be facing the same dilemma. My gunsmith say he's been installing a lot of the XS 24/7 Big dot and I'm kind of leaning that way. A previous post on this thread said the Meps were the brightest. I can't speak for either of these from personal experience.

XS also makes a standard size dot, but I have never seen anyone post about that one. I have read that most who have the Big Dots really like them.

I have 2 Sig 229's with Trijicon 3 dot green and at dusk the front sight is hard to pick up. Next to my bed at night however they glow nice. I also have a Surfire flashlight next to it.

It's really hard to say, just like holsters and "the perfect" firearm what will be best set of sights for you. Best to look as much as you can.

I guy on another forum actually offered to meet me at his range and let me try the XS after I had posted to see if anyone close to me had them, but I never made it out to see him. He works with security and raves about the XS. He's a big monster with some high caliber firearms.

I'm going on the XS site right now to look.....................

Let us know what you decide

[jacII]

Pajohn:
Why not just replace them with a set of Novak's tritium sights ? I have an Sc "Commander" as well and ordered a tritium front sight from Novak's website. It's a "drop-in" installation. I kept the non-tritium rear sight that came on the gun as I just want a "quick reference" to ensure the muzzle is on target in a low light situation.
Joe

[zork51]

I will check out all the other options. I talked to XS today and they don't have a set for the 1911 right now. They said they probably will within 2 or 3 months.

They also said they're not sure if they will make a Novak style because they won't be able to offer tritium vertical bar on rear or go with more of a straight up design to offer the bar.............

[pajohnohio]

Anyone have any experience with Fiber Optics?

[Pointblank]

I had them on a Glock 26 once. I didn't like them. They seemed to need quite a bit of light to be visible. I pretty much stick with Trijicons or Mepros if I want aftermarket sights.

[Harlie]

Are available at CDNNinvestments, front only at $20 and frt & rear $60, 3rd Gen 9/40

[POPO22]

I was out at the dept. range a few days ago and a couple of the "range instructors" had "TruGlow" fiber optic/tritium sights on their guns. I wasn't really experienced with the fiber optic's, but I have to say that I was pretty amazed at how bright they were in daylight.

They told me that in "low light" conditions they were pretty much identical to normal nightsights, but in the daylight is when they really "stood out". I am 49 years old and have definitely noticed my visual acuity diminishing over the past few years. They told me that the brighter the circumstances, the more light they gather. This particular day was fairly overcast (what I would consider to be a DULL day), but these sights "stood out" very well.

One of the instructors is a little older than I and said he has experienced the same diminishing vision, and that the addition of the fiber optic's have substantially enhanced his shooting. He said the "front post" was the most noticable change and "just jump out" at him. He says it is much easier for him to "pick it up" and get back on target following recoil (but he said it did take some getting used to, because he started firing earlier after "picking up" the front sight, out of habit I suppose).

I don't know what weapon "cuts" they come in. The two I saw were both on Glocks (sorry), but I am having a gunsmith research to see if I can get some that will accomodate the dovetails on my Para. I think the SA's usually come with the Novak sights, and I understand that they have a special "cut" which is exclusive to their sights. If interested I'll let you know what I find out, and whether the dovetails on my Para are a standard "cut". ;)

Good Luck

[zork51]

Does the sight also work for total darkness like night sites do?? I'm definitely interested.
Got to the Smith and Wesson Shooting range yesterday, and I had a hard time with the standard white dot. The gun shot res gets all over this gun...........I did ok, but with the black shoot n see targets and dim light........But of course THAT's the condition you want to practice in so front sight is critical.

I have Trijicons on my Sigs and they work great as nightstand buddies. But I do have trouble picking up even those in dim light.

I saw what I believe was a Dawson front fiber optic at a gun shop which is great for day and low light, but doesn't work for total darkenss........This sight was red and had a nice glow to it though for target.

Please do keep me posted. I'm having hip surgery in 20 days from now, so I will have PLENTY of down time for several weeks here in snowy Mass..........

Off to work now and it's storming out there. See you

thanks in advance

[POPO22]

My understanding is that the "fiber-optic" sights (without the tritium inserts) do not illuminate the sights in total darkness or very "low-light" conditions. They are only for enhancing the existing sunlight or ambient light.

They will need the "tritium" inserts, then they will act just as any other "nightsights" in low-light conditions. I understand that Dawson Precision offers them in contrasting colors (front and back sights), I don't know if "Truglo" offers that option.

Once I find out whats available to fit my Para (and get them installed) I'll let you know.Good luck on your surgery.