1911 Carry Guns w/Adjustable Sights?

[TK73]

Hi, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have noted that back in the earlier days of IPSC and "combat shooting" quite a few shooters who stuck to the motto "shoot what you carry and carry what you shoot" seemed to pack 1911 custom pistols with adjustable match sights on the order of BO-MAR BMCS, S&W "K" frame rear sights, Wichita or whatever.

Anybody still out there routinely carrying a 1911 pistol with adjustable match sights for self-defense?

If you do, why?

Thank you very much for your response.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's TK 73-

While not the correct answer to your question, if I were to carry
a 1911 style .45 Auto it most definitely would be my WW-II G.I.
Springfield. This gun has proven utterly reliable, even with the
tiny military sights; that you don't have to worry about bumping
and knocking off the firearm.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Dave Sample]

90% of the guns I built for the "Gamers" had Bo-mars. For the SWAT type guys I liked to use the MGW fixed rear with a stake on front that they sell as a set. I had the same sight picture of a set of "Bombers" but they were tough and did not tend to leave you at a bad time. The fronts come as an .055 or .125 tenon and I knew how to install them. On my carry gun, a LW Colt Commander, I have an MGW front sight cut down to about .180 and a standard rear Colt sight that come on the newer Colt ' 80 Series low end shooters. All three have the exact same sight picture but the latter is tougher and I can cock the gun on my belt if need be or on a table edge. Carry Toy Guns was some of the BS that went around back them but no serious CCW type carried the guns they shot at various matches. The more parts on a gun you are using for carry, the more Mr. Murphy loves you. This is where the KISS program comes into full play!

 

[TK73]

...if I were to carry a 1911 style .45 Auto it most definitely would be my WW-II G.I. Springfield. This gun has proven utterly reliable, even with the tiny military sights; that you don't have to worry about bumping and knocking off the firearm.

Dear Ala Dan:

I absolutely agree with you. For typical self-defense scenarios that take place at close ranges adjustable target sights can be considered out of place and they can even pose a serious hindrance for quick presentation of the gun. I have never carried a 1911 w/adjustable match sights but I suspect they could become quite uncomfortable for extended periods of time (sticking in your hide).

Still, I mostly shoot and train at 25 meters and I am simply feeling much more comfortable with an "accurate" (most are good enough) sidearm that's perfectly regulated for longer distances as well. Unfortunately, I rarely encounter a pistol/revolver with fixed sights that shoots to point of aim with the typical service ammo I intend to use in it.

Sole exception so far has been my Mauser P.08 that was perfectly regulated (for me) the way I got it - but this is a recreational shooter, not a serious self-defense gun (although, I wouldn't hesitate to put it into service if nothing else would be available; there are far worser guns out there! )

Many thanks to Ala Dan and to Dave as well for your comments.

Stay safe!

 

[cratz2]

The 1911 I've carried the most as a carry gun was a 1991A1 which had standard 'larger than GI' sights but not adjustables.

I did carry a Springfield Target Loaded Stainless with adjustable Bomar type sights for a few months. I didn't have any real issues carrying the gun - ie, sights didn't snag on clothing or anything, but I did have to file down the far left side edge of the rear sight... It was just way too sharp against my side when carried IWB under my shirt. Also very slightly knocked the edges off other parts of the gun.

I also carried my Gold Cup with an Eliason (sp?) sight for about a week.

While I would never opt for adjustables on a carry gun, but I wouldn't not carry a gun with adjustables as long as it was reliable and I could carry it safely.

 

[Country Boy]

They're not "match" sights, but the MMC sights on my 1911 are built like a tank, and give me the option of hitting the target at longer distances.

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

I regularly carry a Kimber Gold Match that came with adjustable sights or, more recently, a Kimber CDP II Compact that I retrofit with adjustable sights. My reason is that, after many years of bullseye, I've come to rely on the precision available. Furthermore, with a fiber optic or tritium insert, I find them just as fast for target acquisition and sight alignment.

 

[Mad Man]

They're not "match" sights, but the MMC sights on my 1911 are built like a tank, and give me the option of hitting the target at longer distances.

I've got these on one of my 1911s, and I concur.

http://www.mmcsight.com/




Caveat: They're "fully" adjustable, but...

...unless they've changed the design since 1998, the windage is adjusted by moving the entire sight assembly left or right in it's dovetail cut. Elevation is easier to adjust, since it's done with a tiny allen wrench (included).

 

[Mad Man]

[BLOCKQUOTE]
http://www.precisionsights.com/novakadj.html

NOVAK'S® "EXTREME DUTY" SIGHT

ADJUSTABLE SIGHT FOR AUTOMATIC PISTOLS

New from NOVAK'S®! For 25 years, the name NOVAK'S® has been associated with the very best in custom pistolsmithing. That even includes prototype and design specifications for major manufacturers like Smith & Wesson. But most shooters know NOVAK'S® for the fixed sight system most commonly specified for installation on custom pistols. NOVAK'S® fixed sights are standard as original equipment on many of the best makes and models sold in America - Springfield, Smith & Wesson, Colt, etc. The Lo Mount NOVAK® system is on the pistols used by the elite FBI HRT and SWAT teams, as well as the Texas Rangers. Often imitated but never equaled, NOVAK® sights are the world's standard of excellence. NOVAK'S® now takes excellence in sight design and manufacture to new heights.

NOVAK'S® introduces it's "EXTREME DUTY" line of FULLY ADJUSTABLE rear sights with the snag-free contours that made the fixed-sight system a necessity on pistols carried by professionals worldwide. Now it is possible to precisely adjust your NOVAK'S® sight system with a screwdriver to deliver point-of-aim, point-of-impact performance with any load or bullet weight. Such convenience has never before been available in a practical, real-world, no-snag rear sight system. NOVAK'S® adjustable rear sights are available with options like the highly regarded Trijicon tritium insert night sights.

PLEASE NOTE: Because NOVAK'S® "EXTREME DUTY" ADJSUTBLE SIGHTS do sit higher on the slide than standard sights you may need to replace you front sight. If your pistol currently shoots 4" or more low, you should not have to change the front sight. If you pistol currently shoots on target, we recommend changing to a higher front sight.

FEATURES:
»NOVAK'S® famous Lo Mount Profile.
»Micrometric adjustment for elevation by hardened click screws. Driftable for windage.
»Lockdown screw for strong locking in the dovetail grove.
»Machined from solid steel using state-of-the-art CNC milling.
[/BLOCKQUOTE]


For some strange reason, I can't find anything about these on Novak's web site.

Does anybody have more information about these?