Glock sights. Why the hate?

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I like the Glock ball-and-cup sights and wish more pistols had them. They seem to aim more easily than the normal 3-dot sights: point the front sight and dropping the ball in naturally follows suit, while I always have to stop and correct the 3 dot sights. Granted, the 3 dot is probably my least favorite sight in general, pistol or rifle.

No opinion on metal vs plastic sights. I've never worried about it, but I don't use my pistols hard enough to see a difference either.

A little locktite goes a long way. When you clean it check it over.

Actually the stock Glock sights are one of the few handgun sights that I can still see reasonably well. Plus it does not take a hydraulic press to move the rear sight for windage.

Hi Everyone,
I too really like the sight picture of the stock sights on my Gen-5. For whatever reasons, I find them to help in shooting accurate and have fast target acquisition for me.
I don’t find the rear outline to be distracting at all. To me, I focus on the front sight and the rear outline works like equal height & equal light,,only it’s equal between the white blurred outlines
And when the lighting doesn’t show the outlines, you still have the traditional sight picture!
I have other Top of the line after market sights and night sights, but prefer the Glock OEM stock sights for many conditions.
I do find that they loose their luster during fading light conditions. Also, I worry about the durability of one hand slide manipulations etc.
Overall I think that it all comes down to the individual and preference. And I would also bet that everyone’s eyes adjust and work differently with different sight configurations..so what works for one may not work for another.
Then the other big consideration for me is rather the setup will be utilized primarily for a range gun or a EDC self defense tool and what you’re comfortable using for that scenario.

Just my thoughts,,
Btw, enjoyed reading all your posts on the subject

GunnyUSMC said:

I hear this from time to time, but you have to ask a few things. How many different models have those other companies put out to compete with Glock that are no longer on the market.
And how much have they dropped the price on the guns they still offer.
The FNS sold for just over $600 when they came out. Now you can find them for just above $400.
I bought a Beretta APX when they first came out for just above $500. Now they are in the $400 range.
Glock hatter have a hard time with the fact that Glock makes a good gun that has proven itself. I’m starting to see Glock hatters like Democrats and Glocks like Trump. No matter what Glock does, the hatters will just hate it because it’s a Glock.

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I get what you are saying. I am not a Glock Hater nor in love with them either. Actually thinkin of getting 43 as we speak. As far as sights, I do not like plastic sights on any gun, and hate a U-notch rear sight. I just blacken out my rear sights.
I understand that there are Glock haters just like there are haters of other guns as well. But to compare them to Democrats is a low blow. I mean really low.

Ernie Bass said:

I get what you are saying. I am not a Glock Hater nor in love with them either. Actually thinkin of getting 43 as we speak. As far as sights, I do not like plastic sights on any gun, and hate a U-notch rear sight. I just blacken out my rear sights.
I understand that there are Glock haters just like there are haters of other guns as well. But to compare them to Democrats is a low blow. I mean really low.

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I call them like I see them.

Glock night sights are good. why don't people like them?

JERRY said:

Glock night sights are good. why don't people like them?

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They’re not good. The problem isn’t the night sight part, the tritium vials are fine. The problem is the daytime part: they’re three white dot sights. That’s not a good daytime sight picture. What you want is a much brighter front sight that draws your eye quickly; fluorescent orange or green works well. Then you want a flat black rear sight that doesn’t draw your eye but helps you line up the front sight quickly: I like a U-notch rear sight.

Theohazard said:

They’re not good. The problem isn’t the night sight part, the tritium vials are fine. The problem is the daytime part: they’re three white dot sights. That’s not a good daytime sight picture. What you want is a much brighter front sight that draws your eye quickly; fluorescent orange or green works well. Then you want a flat black rear sight that doesn’t draw your eye but helps you line up the front sight quickly: I like a U-notch rear sight.

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what happens when you have to shoot in reduced lighting and can no longer use the rear sight and can scantly see the front sight?

JERRY said:

what happens when you have to shoot in reduced lighting and can no longer use the rear sight and can scantly see the front sight?

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You use the tritium vials in the front and rear sights.

I was referring to the daytime sight picture in that post. Too many people just buy “night sights” for the sake of having night sights, and they don’t think about the fact that 99% of the time they’ll be shooting in conditions where tritium isn’t needed. So the key is to find sights that have a good daytime sight picture like I described in my previous post. And if they also have tritium vials, that’s a bonus.

Theohazard said:

They’re not good. The problem isn’t the night sight part, the tritium vials are fine. The problem is the daytime part: they’re three white dot sights. That’s not a good daytime sight picture. What you want is a much brighter front sight that draws your eye quickly; fluorescent orange or green works well. Then you want a flat black rear sight that doesn’t draw your eye but helps you line up the front sight quickly: I like a U-notch rear sight.

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News to me. Ive been using three dot sights since they first showed up, and before they were even lit.

I also use them instead of a traditional sight picture from about 10-15 yards and in. Ive never had any issue shooting well with them either.

I keep hearing people saying you need to black out the rear sight, and I just dont get it. Youre giving up half the equation.

Three dots gives you a complete and useable sight picture. "Straight 8's" or similar, blacked out sights, etc, dont. With the three dots, I get both horizontal and vertical alignment, and I can and do use just the dots alone to shoot with, even at extended distances, if I need too.

Another advantage to them is, I dont need to have suppressor sights on my handguns. I can "shoot through" my suppressor using the standard night sights. I just use the three dots and shooting both eyes open.

JERRY said:

Glock night sights are good. why don't people like them?

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Cuz it says 'Glock'....

JERRY said:

what happens when you have to shoot in reduced lighting and can no longer use the rear sight and can scantly see the front sight?

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Try it. Highly trained shooters are switching to plain black rear sights very often right now. Especially for low light training.

3 dots are cluttered and slow. Sloppy and obsolete. I won't buy a pistol with 3 dot sights, without already having replacements on hand.

Zerodefect said:

Try it. Highly trained shooters are switching to plain black rear sights very often right now. Especially for low light training.

3 dots are cluttered and slow. Sloppy and obsolete. I won't buy a pistol with 3 dot sights, without already having replacements on hand.

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I disagree... Some people might be different and it might me a preference thing, but trying to line the sights up in low light is much, much slower vs having 3 dot sights. I prefer 3dot day/night sights. During the day, the rear is basically dulled out and the orange, green, or yellow ring around tritium on the front sight pops out to the eye.

Fair enough, everyone's eyes are different.

But try to stop lining up the sights. Why are the sights out of alignment? Fix your grip and draw first, then give a plain black rear another try. The biggest hurdle with a plain black rear in low light, is the skill level it requires. It's absolutely in the 10,000 draws and dry fires club.

It's also worth mentioning it that front night sights come no thinner than .125". You might find that a thinner front works better with a flashlight.

FFGCOLORADO said:

Cuz it says 'Glock'....

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Lots of people just don't prescribe to them being the best the market has to offer. Are the stock plastic sights and even Glock night sight usable and do they work? Yes. Are the ideal and/or better than the steel EOM or other aftermarket night sights on the market?

Do people pay a premium for Glocks? Yes. Does the fact that there's a fanbase of people who'll pay a premium for a simple, low part count, mostly polymer design down to the sights that has been around for a while thus doesn't cost the company much to produce is proof that Glocks are better than what other companies have to offer, no IMHO.

When it's all said and done, you have one side who doesn't prefer Glocks for various reasons, and they have no problems letting everyone know what those reasons are. On the flip side, you have those who are Glock fanatics, and they'll love and will argue and rrationale that everything Glock does and releases is the best thing since sliced bread...

Me personally, I'm don't think they're all that great other than having great customer service and a lot of aftermarket support. Other than that, I just feel you get more for your money with the competition. I don't hate them, and I don't think anything is wrong with them or those who love them...

I've never had a problem with the OEM sights on my G26.

I have no problem with Glock stock sights and usually shoot Glocks as well as I shoot anything. I feel that the Glock sights are misunderstood and used improperly. Here is a video that will convert all of you who don't like Glock sights.

Zerodefect said:

3 dots are cluttered and slow. Sloppy and obsolete.

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I suppose its what youre used to.

Are you basing this on actual use with both to know, or on what?

I have a number of guns that dont have removable/replaceable sights, and most of those have a dab of bright nail polish on the front, and just a black rear, and Im nowhere near as fast with them as I am with the three dots, and I shoot both on a weekly basis. I also dry fire with both extensively.

And those sights without the night sights are limiting in overall use, in all lighting. Night sights are not a "night time only" sight. Plain black target sights SUCK against any kind of dark background or target.

As far as sloppy and obsolete? This was shot at about 10 yards. Each shot from a low ready presentation, using only the three dot night sights (cant see the target through the suppressor).


Same thing here, plain three dots, just shot more quickly and in 2-3 round bursts from a DA first shot.


This was the same thing, DAO with the bright front sight and plain rear....


All of the above were shot quickly and at about the same speed and tempo, and generally, 1-3 rounds at a time.

IMHO the stock Glock plastic goalpost sights are fine if you don’t need to drift your rear sight, I happen to need a right drift on my Glocks so I want a sight with a set screw to keep it in place. Plus I like a F.O. front & blind rear sight combination which works well for my eyesight and the lighting conditions I shoot in.

marvin02 said:

I have no problem with Glock stock sights and usually shoot Glocks as well as I shoot anything. I feel that the Glock sights are misunderstood and used improperly. Here is a video that will convert all of you who don't like Glock sights.

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I think the main issue that people have with the stock Glock sights is that they're plastic and not that they aren't adequate enough to hit what you're aiming at on the range. IMHO and for the price Glocks sell for, the civilian version should ship with the steel bar Glock sights especially being that Glock sells their Blue Label with night sights for less...

They work fine and are adequate, but many people like having stronger and more robust steel sights. That, and the fact that all other duty grade handguns also ship with steel sites also plays a role in people's bias.

marvin02 said:

I have no problem with Glock stock sights and usually shoot Glocks as well as I shoot anything. I feel that the Glock sights are misunderstood and used improperly. Here is a video that will convert all of you who don't like Glock sights.

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Ha! Just in case other people missed it, that’s a joke video. He’s making fun of the crappy stock Glock sights.

Theohazard said:

Ha! Just in case other people missed it, that’s a joke video. He’s making fun of the crappy stock Glock sights.

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Is he making fun of the sights, the attitude toward the sights, or the people with the attitude? Hidden in there is actual info on using them. When I bought my Glock 17 I found that video and it stuck in my brain like a burr. Everyone who owns, wants to own, or hates Glocks should watch it.

Besides - it's just fun.

Drop in the bucket!

Hate is a strong word- this is more about an owner's preference. Consider that basic sites keep the unit cost down, and thereby makes the item more affordable for the shopper. Given that a significant number (I'm guessing) will upgrade the sight(s), this makes the entire process of changing out sights more affordable for them, and provides a functional sight system for those that keep things OEM.