fully ajustable sights on auto's

[Hunt480]

I'm kinda new to the autoloader guns even as a long time shooter.I've been into the revolvers exclusively for years especially for hunting. But I recently purchased an LCP for a pocket gun, I like this gun so much I thought I would get me a high capacity auto for home defense since everybody seems to have me outgunned with the capacity thing... But it seems most of these guns no matter what caliber have fixed or just drift ajustable sights only on them so my question is;

Why dont these manufacturers go ahead and put the windage & elevation ajustment on most of their autos ? fixed sights might work fine at 10 yards but?

I know these sights are offered on some guns and 1911's but there are more that don't than do. I know it might not be needed in a defense situation but the gun would be so much more useful for longer ranges like the revolvers. Maybe I've been a revolver shooter to long...by the way I'm not speaking about sights on mouse guns they are fine for what they are...

 

[REAPER4206969]

Because adjustable sights are too fragile for a combat weapon. Modern auto pistols are no-BS killing tools, not sporting equipment. There are aftermarket options however.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Less moving parts less that can break. For the vast majority of defensive situations, the changes in distance are not meaningful for hits.

 

[Control]

If adjustable sights are so fragile, why do we put them on battle rifles like the M16, AK47, and FAL?

I understand that rifles engage at distances where precision matters and it makes sense that you don't need adjustable sights on a handgun due to the most common defense ranges but I always found it strange that adjustable sights are wholly accepted on battle rifles but mostly shunned on defensive pistols due to fragility.

 

[9mmepiphany]

fixed sights might work fine at 10 yards but?

when i'm shooting my 9mm Sig 226 with it's factory fixed sights, i'm shooting dead on at 50 yards and just using a bit more front blade when shooting beyond 100 yards

 

[kmbrman]

Adj. sights on guns?

Even on defense pistols, I prefer adj. sights, mainly because of difficulty finding your favorite ammo. If you have to buy another weight,or brand ,sometimes you will need to re-zero . Adj. sights really make it easier, and you can find tough battle worthy sights if you hunt for the rugged styles to fit your pistol.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If adjustable sights are so fragile, why do we put them on battle rifles like the M16, AK47, and FAL?

two things:
1. the sights on a rifle aren't subjected to the same pounding as those on the recoiling slide of a pistol
2. sights on a rifle are much larger/rugged than on a pistol...imagine the sight from any of those rifles mounted on a slide

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Fixed sights on service pistols are typically regulated for 25 yards. No significant "hold-under" or "hold-over" is needed for targets from contact distance to 50 yards or so, provided they were regulated correctly to start with. Adjustable sights for auto pistols are mostly for target shooting, although some service pistols have them. Many target sights rise excessively above the slide and have sharp edges that can cut your hand when racking the slide or your skin or clothing when carried concealed.

two things:
1. the sights on a rifle aren't subjected to the same pounding as those on the recoiling slide of a pistol
2. sights on a rifle are much larger/rugged than on a pistol...imagine the sight from any of those rifles mounted on a slide

Correct. As well, more revolvers than pistols have adjustable sights, but - similar to a rifle - they only have to deal with recoil in one direction. In rugged use, there is more chance of an adjustable sight shifting adjustment or even coming apart.

 

[mljdeckard]

The sights on combat rifles are shielded from being knocked around. The range on a rifle means that the sights actually NEED to be adjusted. On combat pistols, as long at they were installed correctly, they are close enough for combat accuracy. (Honestly, in the last 20 years, competition has driven quality so high, you won't often find any pistol that won't do 2" @ 25 yards, which is plenty accurate.)

How accurate do you think a combat handgun needs to be? Have you experienced a handgun that wasn't accurate enough?

 

[Runningman]

The main reason why you don't see adjustable sights on autos used for conceal carry is they tend to have the type of edges on them to snag clothing. I prefer adjustable sights on my range guns hands down. Different loads, weight, and brand ect can many times shoot to different POI. Adjustable sights make the correction and easy fix.

I'm not buying the argument adjustable sights are more fragile than fixed sight. Could be lucky but I have yet to ever have adjustable sight fail on a auto pistol or a revolver and I've been shooting many decades.

Yet I've had fixed sights fail on two auto pistols over the years. One of them was a Colt WWII 1911 that the front sight just popped out while shooting.

The other is a 1st generation Glock 17 I bought back in 1986. In the early 90s. It fell from a coffee table on to a carpeted floor and the rear sight just popped out. It would not stay put after that. I put an aftermarket adjustable sight on it more than 18 years ago and many rounds later the adjustable sight works fine.

 

[David E]

fixed sights might work fine at 10 yards but?

If you have trouble hitting with your full size 9mm past 10 yds, it's not because of the sights....

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm not buying the argument adjustable sights are more fragile than fixed sight.

Me either. I've made this point several times before and I stand by it now: in thirty years of le duty that involved a couple of "roll around" scuffles, I've had the so-called "fragile" adjustable sight break only once (a portion of the blade on a Smith revolver getting sheared off) and that was typically at a range so close that, if the gun needed to be fired, no kind of sight would have made any difference anyhow in any kind of a "shoot-out".

Fixed sights have their place only in situations when anything bulkier or having sharp edges might impede the draw from locations other than that of a holstered weapon. Sights that can be adjusted to conform to poa with poi, especially with reloads and/or when using different bullet weights, afford an advantage that no fixed sight can offer.

 

[EddieNFL]

IMO it's one of those, "Used to be, " things and many folks just never catch up. I know people who still believe a Glock will pass through airport security. More moving parts is a truism, but it that's a real concern, there are a large number of handguns to avoid.

 

[Deanimator]

Because adjustable sights are too fragile for a combat weapon.

They don't seem to have been "too fragile" for the S&W Models 15, 19, 27, 28, 66, 67, 586 or 686.

I've got Pachmayr adjustable rear sights on my Browning Hi Power and Glock 22 and after more than ten years a piece neither shows the SLIGHTEST sign of failure.

I want to adjust my sights to the point of impact, not my point of aim to my ammunition.

 

[bigfatdave]

If adjustable sights are so fragile, why do we put them on battle rifles like the M16, AK47, and FAL?

Not exactly the same design as a handgun adjustable sight.

Aftermarket rifle adjustable sights:

Notice the shielded nature of the mechanism of each sight, front & rear.

Aftermarket adjustable sight for a 1911:

Notice the sharper edges, the exposed nature, and the (relatively) delicate mechanism. Also notice the added bulk over a low-profile sight.

Now, there are plenty of aftermarket sights out there for just about anything, so why not select your own and upgrade, instead of counting on the factory to put on the exact ones you want.
The joke would be on you if the factories started adding (and charging for) the wrong design to their pistols. As it is now, you get a plain-jane set of sights for fairly low cost (compare to the cost of adding night/target sights) and the ability to upgrade to exactly what you like when you're ready to do so.

 

[bwsmith2850]

Most guns are designed with defensive use in mind. What works for a 'recreational' gun may not work for a fighting gun. Look at IPSC guns for what works for competition. Then think about trying to carry one. The fixed sights work for both uses.

Fighting revolvers are different animals than autos. I have adjustable sights in my S&W revolvers 2 of which were duty guns with a lot of 'mileage.' They work fine but the blades do tend to get dinged up. The fighting auto's sights are subjected to some handling that there would be no conceivable reason to do with a wheel gun (or a rifle).

One handed reloading and malfunction clearing an autopistol are accomplished by hooking the rear sight onto a holster edge, boot heel or other hard object and pushing the gun down to cycle the slide. For that to work the sight needs to be solid, it can't move around when you try to hook or rack the slide. This can move and break the fixed sights. An adjustable sight would need to be very robust, therefore very large and hard to conceal, to stand up to that kind of abuse without, well, adjusting or breaking at the hinge on the front of the sight.

 

[Lastmohecken]

There is nothing wrong with adjustable sights, if they are good quality and installed correctly, but most aftermarket adjustable sights for the common crunch tickers, etc are a bit fragil and often sit higher on the gun which is not good. Those types of guns, don't really need adjustable sights, anyway, as a good set of fixed sights if regulated correctly is all that is need in a combat pistol.

The reason most defensive pistols other then custom or higher end 1911's, have fixed sights is mostly price. It's cheaper to design and provide a gun with only fixed sights, and for most people that is all that is needed.

However, a good set of BoMar sights installed correctly on a 1911 are pretty much bullet proof, and on the guns I have owned with them, I can't ever recall having a single problem even after thousands of rounds. However, if you have a Colt Gold Cup, you may experience problems with the pin on that sight, after excessive round counts, and also any 1911 that has a staked in front sight, may eventually end up getting launched over one's shoulder some day.

What agravates me is the cheap plastic sights that come out on many guns now days. I have seen those get damaged on several occasions.

 

[REAPER4206969]

They don't seem to have been "too fragile" for the S&W Models 15, 19, 27, 28, 66, 67, 586 or 686.

Just two posts up is a report of them breaking.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

you don't want adjustable on a defensive/combat autopistol.

save those for the range/competition toys.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Some of Smith & Wesson's old style autos had this adjustable rear sight:



I had a 5904 with this sight myself. This was a pretty good design, having a degree of shielding for the sight and no sharp external edges. But it still adds bulk to the slide and doesn't have any better sight picture than a good fixed.

 

[Hunt480]

Fixed sights have their place only in situations when anything bulkier or having sharp edges might impede the draw from locations other than that of a holstered weapon. Sights that can be adjusted to conform to poa with poi, especially with reloads and/or when using different bullet weights, afford an advantage that no fixed sight can offer

I agree...they may have there place but fixed sights are not for me.
Then you get the drift ajustables only guns. Why not just go ahead and put the elevation ajustment on it to.

 

[Ala Dan]

The only sem--auto I own with fully adjustable sights is a Browning Hi-Power~!!

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Anyone considering adjustable sights I suggest they consider if it's rugged enough to snag the rear sight block on a belt to rack the slide one-handed in case of an injury.

None of my working pistols have adjustable sights. I've never noticed a need for them.

(I did have an adjustable rear sight on my S&W model 28 Highway Patrolman .357 Magnum revolver that I carried on patrol back in the 80's.)