Front sight choices/replacement for 1911.

[dadman]

The front sight for my Auto Ordnance 1911 came off and is missing in action.
The handgun is pretty much stock, but has a few upgrades, and didn't cost too much to begin with.
For an inexpensive front sight replacement, I was considering the following from Brownells:

MGW, Improved Ramp Serrated/White Dot/Narrow Tenon

Ed Brown, Modified Ramp/White Dot, Narrow Tenon

The rear sight is stock with no dots or bars.
Would a plain sight do ok?

 

[stans]

What rear sight is the pistol wearing? Standard military small sight or a larger, more modern sight?

 

[dadman]

Standard military small rear sight.
Is either manufactuers narrow front sight compatible with the standard rear sight?
Is it possible that when aiming the newer front sight will fill too much of the rear sight?

 

[stans]

With a standard military rear sight you will have to use a military style front sight, otherwise the front sight will be way too wide and waaaaay too tall. Now might be a good time to upgrade the rear sight to something a little more modern. I like King's Tappan and King's Hardball sights and they come as a set.

 

[dadman]

Thanks for the helpful info.
Talked with Tech. at Brownells. He confirmed the same thing about mixing sights.
Decided on the MGW three dot front & rear sight combo to get the Auto Ordnance up and running with cost in mind.
Wanted to go with the Xpress Sights Big Dot, but will do that later to a better handgun purchase in the near future.
Meanwhile, going through .45/1911 withdrawls!

 

[Southern Raider]

The front sight for my Auto Ordnance 1911 came off and is missing in action.

Now you know why I spend a few bucks and install front dovetails on my slides. The 1911 sight tenon is a lot like the plunger tube staking operation - When done as Browning intended, it's fine, but it's a good place for a shortcut to be taken or a less experienced assembler to make a mistake.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

My gunsmith is going to charge me $40 to cut the dovetail and touch up the finish (he says refinishing the slide won't be necessary unless he screws up). Then I can put whatever I want into the dovetail. I like this arrangement much better than staking the sight in place.

 

[dadman]

My next 1911 will have a dovetailed front sight.
When the front sight came off during shooting, it was kind of suprising. Was aiming and trying to figure out "What's wrong with this picture"?