testtest

Rear sights

S

Scevaph

Master Class
Hi all again;

In regard to rear sights - there are all different styles and thoughts. Novaks, ledges, Wilsons etc and they all seem to have their proponents.

What are your preferences, and why?

I'll start : When I got my Ronin I was kinda lukewarm over the Tactical Rack rear ledge sight. I know the supposed advantage of using it to rack your pistol with one hand but it just never had a clean nice look to it. The Narrow (.130) wide notch was also not the best for a quick sight picture with my eyes. As far as the white dots; I found them a distraction so I got rid of them and did much better. I was practically given a Wilson Rear Battlesight with a .145 notch and got it installed. I find the Wilson a vast improvement in looks and sight picture, at least for my eyes.

After getting it on I did some searching and see there are two Wilson Battlesights, The current one like I have and the discontinues Wilson Vickers rear that extends rearward about 1/4 inch or more and also has a more rear sloping face. A second question is what would the advantage, if any, in the Wilson/Vickers over the current Wilson? I like the current one better as far as looks go but will concede there MAY be a slight advantage in a longer sight radius.

The Tactical Rack.
Ronin Stock Rear sight.JPG

Ronin Rear Black Dots 2.JPG



The Wilson
Ronin - Wilson Rear.JPG
Wilson Rear -SA frt.JPG



The Wilson/Vickers
Vickers-FB6-1000x1000-2.jpg




My vote is currently with the Wilson battlesight , clean look and it works. I will admit I have not used a Novak rear.
 
I always thought the NOVAKs were the "cleanest". As for being able to rack the slide using the sights (one hand), I suppose thats a good feature just not one Id worry about and Im pretty sure you can do that with "standard" sights.

...and just because you got me thinking about sights, THIS is my favorite Combat sight

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aka the Guttersnipe Sight, originally designed by Paris Theodore for the ASP pistol, Theres NO front sight. The "tunnel" draws you to the target. Its NOT a precision sight but its FAST on two legged animals. The Sig SAS system is close but not as fast for me

Sorry for the thread drift
 
I insist on a tactical rack rear sight, and night sights on my carry pistols. My old eyes prefer Trijicon HD night sights or similar like SIGLIGHT, with a great big orange dot up front and a wide notch in the rear. I do not like fiber optic sights on a fighting pistol, as I have had too many experiences with the little light pipes falling out under recoil. I have taken up an optic on my current carry 1911 but still have the big irons on there just in case.
 

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I like that Guttersnipe and remember reading about them.

As for night sights; My Ronin actually has a front night sight now. When Springfield put the Wilson on for me they found it shot high with the stock front fiber optic. They did not have a FO front high enough but they did have a night sight with an orange ring, I believe left over from the Vickers Master Class model, so I gave them an OK to put one on.

I am liking it a lot.

Wilson Rear sight picture.JPG
Ronin NS Front 1.JPG
 
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I have come to prefer the Hackathorn style Red Ring fiber front with Night Sight plain black OR brass Bead Front plain rear.

As for a read style “tactical ledge” or not I don’t care gaht whole one hand manipulation is oversold you would use it more if you were reduced to one hand arm for surgery/injury and I will carry a wheelgun in that case. (Not saying anyone else has to you do you)
 
Hi,

Personally, I don't care for blacked out rear sights or U-notch rear sights. Neither are best for my old eyes. I like, at least, three dot sights. My favorite are the Tritium night sights from SpeedSights.

Screenshot_20260215_160837_Firefox.jpg


My EDC units have the green Tritium front sight.

Screenshot_20260215_160800_Firefox.jpg


My range toys have all kinds of different sights but I use these for serious work. ;)



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
HayesGreener said:
I said the same about ACOGs on M4's but quickly became a fan. My classic 1911's shall remain unmolested but my carry gun wears an optic. Don't be a Luddite!😁
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Touche. All my truly for combat pistols wear a Red Dot. I love my 1911s, but I think of them like a 62 Corvette, super cool but ancient compared to a 2026 model. Yep I still carry them, the Commanders are just about perfect for me, and Im currently jonesing for an Officer's Model maybe two but no Red DOT. I dont put a scope on a muzzle loader either (tease)

OH and you might want to consider the XS Express sights. Not for precision but FAST just like sights on Dangerous Game rifles

1771194100930.png
 
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PieterCoetzee said:
Touche. All my truly for combat pistols wear a Red Dot. I love my 1911s, but I think of them like a 62 Corvette, super cool but ancient compared to a 2026 model. Yep I still carry them, the Commanders are just about perfect for me, and Im currently jonesing for an Officer's Model maybe two but no Red DOT. I dont put a scope on a muzzle loader either (tease)

OH and you might want to consider the XS Express sights. Not for precision but FAST just like sights on Dangerous Game rifles

View attachment 104153
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I am considering those for a s&w 3913.
 
PieterCoetzee said:
Touche. All my truly for combat pistols wear a Red Dot. I love my 1911s, but I think of them like a 62 Corvette, super cool but ancient compared to a 2026 model. Yep I still carry them, the Commanders are just about perfect for me, and Im currently jonesing for an Officer's Model maybe two but no Red DOT. I dont put a scope on a muzzle loader either (tease)

OH and you might want to consider the XS Express sights. Not for precision but FAST just like sights on Dangerous Game rifles

View attachment 104153
Click to expand...
Had a set of those on my first Ronin. Had to call XS after measured the dovetail to get a set big enough to fit. They worked great. On the new Ronin I ordered the sight set that comes on the emissary from Springfield .
 
PieterCoetzee said:
Red Dots are the way to go; but I just cant get myself to put one on a 1911, its kinda like putting racing stripes on a Bentley
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Have a Holosun EPS 6moa red dot optic on my SA Operator AOS really like it. Also have lightweight DW 1911 Vigil and SW 1911PD that aren't optic ready and really do not want to have them milled. Would love to have a SA TRP CC AOS but it won't fit my budget right now. My primary EDC is an Sig P-220 Legion SAO 45acp with Sig Romeo X Enclosed Pro green 6moa dot. Don't feel under gunned at all just like 1911's.
 
rcurtner said:
Have a Holosun EPS 6moa red dot optic on my SA Operator AOS really like it. Also have lightweight DW 1911 Vigil and SW 1911PD that aren't optic ready and really do not want to have them milled. Would love to have a SA TRP CC AOS but it won't fit my budget right now. My primary EDC is an Sig P-220 Legion SAO 45acp with Sig Romeo X Enclosed Pro green 6moa dot. Don't feel under gunned at all just like 1911's.
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Should have added all my pistols with dot optics have co-witnessing iron sights.
 
Ameriglo Trooper (3-dot) sights for my Glocks, and Novak 3-dots for the 1911s. 3 dots also for the Sigs and 3rd Gen S&Ws.

When it comes to defensive handguns / personal protection, I just prefer the 3 dots - they provide horizontal and vertical alignment and allow me to shoot quickly and accurately.

2-dots in low light and I get vertical stringing in low light.
 
Help me understand the virtue of NIGHT SIGHTS. Yes I know they let you see and align the sights; but Im not sure I get being able to see the sights if I cant SEE and IDENTIFY the target. When theres enough light to see the target, Ive always been able to see the sights.

I had to have Night Sights back in the was it 80s or 90s and It was cool seeing the dots when the gun was on the nightstand but I just dont get the real virtue. A flashlight seems more practical plus the value of blinding the threat

None of this means I dont want Night Sights. I just want a good reason
 
PieterCoetzee said:
Help me understand the virtue of NIGHT SIGHTS. Yes I know they let you see and align the sights; but Im not sure I get being able to see the sights if I cant SEE and IDENTIFY the target. When theres enough light to see the target, Ive always been able to see the sights.

I had to have Night Sights back in the was it 80s or 90s and It was cool seeing the dots when the gun was on the nightstand but I just dont get the real virtue. A flashlight seems more practical plus the value of blinding the threat

None of this means I dont want Night Sights. I just want a good reason
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I have the same thought about night sights. When the sights on my Ronin were changed they were my only option from them in the right height. I like them more for the fluorescent orange ring than the Trit. Also, needing to get new Trit every 10 years or less was a mark against for me. Truthfully, at 73 with Age related macular the tritium glow does not show up as much with my right eye.
 
Hi,

PieterCoetzee said:
Help me understand the virtue of NIGHT SIGHTS...
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I'll share my thoughts, what I've noticed in my training. When doing low-light exercises, where the lighting is uneven, sporadic, perhaps constantly changing both around you and the targets, with sights that create their own illumination there's no worry about having enough light reflecting off the sights to enable you to see them. Sure, you've got a flashlight but you're not going to use that to illuminate your sights. When you're in total darkness using a Harries hold on the flashlight, it's not going to let you see your sights as well as you might want to.

That's what I've noticed during classes. Granted, the advantages may be apparent only in unique situations but I'm confident I'll be able to line up my shot no matter the lighting conditions, indoors or out. Thankfully I've never had to find out in real life.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
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