Glock 43 sight issue

[Wisco]

I've got a Glock 43 that I got with XS night sights. The pistol shot extremely low. I'm talking 6+ inches low from 5-10 yards. Sight picture is big dot on top of white post, front sight covering the target center.

The XS sights have a taller front than stock, and a lower rear.

I asked XS what gives. Told them my issue and what I think is the problem is. They told me to learn how to shoot their sights and why I was absolutely wrong about sight heights - sight height is irrelevant when going from one type to another. End of their assistance. They did really seem to think I was an idiot who can't adapt to new sights and tried to talk me into believing the sights are fine and I can't use them properly, but can work on it.

I reinstalled the stock plastic sights and they're on POA/POI.

I've still got my G19 with Meprolights (from 2011 that are brighter than the new XS) that I can carry while I wait for the Ameriglo sights to arrive (that I should've ordered to begin with instead of taking the sights in stock where I was in person).

There is a question in all this: does anyone use the XS sights and have a similar issue? Proper aiming with each sighting system, but different POI? The XS folks at the end said this happens with other people often...lots of inadaptable idiots like me it seems.

And it's not crazy that raising the front sight and lowering the rear will result in a POI shift downward? I've been shooting iron sights for 25 years....maybe I've just been lucky when adjusting...

Edit: at what distance are these guns regulated? I've never had cause to ask, besides my G19s have been more or less dead on from 5-25 yards...

 

[CNobbe]

They take some getting used to. I bought a used 1911 that had them and I found I had to use more of a Sig sight picture. Putting a taller sight on a pistol with a low bore axis doesn't make much since to me. My 43 has standard TFOs and it shoots the same it did with stock sights.

 

[HeavyDuty]

I used to use XS Big Dots on several guns and never had an issue with combat hold regulation. Did you purchase the sights and install them, or did the gun come used with them? I'm wondering if they were the wrong sights.

 

[Wisco]

They take some getting used to. I bought a used 1911 that had them and I found I had to use more of a Sig sight picture. Putting a taller sight on a pistol with a low bore axis doesn't make much since to me. My 43 has standard TFOs and it shoots the same it did with stock sights.

It's definitely a different sight picture with XS, but even using a different alignment was still low. I had to float the big dot well above the post to hit where I wanted.

I added Ameriglo Hackathorns this morning and shot it - almost dead on.

 

[Wisco]

Did you purchase the sights and install them, or did the gun come used with them?

I bought the gun used and they were the only new night sights the shop had on hand, so I said "what the heck" and tried them.

The rear is clearly the right width, but the front is tall.

These sights are also listed at for the 42 and 43. I don't know the dimensional difference between the two, so maybe that comes into play.

 

[d2wing]

I was having the same problem with my new H&K USP. I measured the sights and compared them to my S&W that I shoot very well. Turns out the S&W sights are about 1 mm lower on front. I like many people pull down when I shoot it seems and the sights allow for it. So I tried a different hold with more support and more trigger control and found the gun to be very accurate as long as I concentrated on sight alignment, hold and trigger control. I want to practice more before I decide to change sights.

 

[HeavyDuty]

Good move on the Ameriglo Hacks - I've been using their pro I-Dots for a few years but recently tried their Hacks on my 19. I like them so much better than I-Dots that I just changed my 43 over to them last week.

 

[Zerodefect]

Throw them away. I'm sorry you wasted money on those. The front is too tall. XS big dots are one of the worst sight options out there.

Try Dawson sights for the Glock 43, if you want to ty something different than the Hacks: https://dawsonprecision.com/glock-43-black-rear-fiber-optic-front-carry-fixed-sight-set-310-052/

Shoot the pistol. If it's high or low at 10 yards. Enter how much in the sight calculator that'll tell you how much higher or lower your next sight should be. It's not uncommon for me to buy a 2nd front sight for pistols I want perfectly dead on. Often, the 1st wrong sight can be used on another Glock later.

 

[Wisco]

The front is too tall. XS big dots are one of the worst sight options out there.

The 43 sight was way too tall. XS customer service told me how I was all sorts of ate up for not being able to use it properly.

I'll never buy another XS product, ever.

I had a small dot set on a G19 for a while. Accurate, but not ideal sighting for that gun. I figured the G43 was a little more "point and shoot" than aiming, but I found myself still aiming...

 

[Wisco]

Good move on the Ameriglo Hacks - I've been using their pro I-Dots for a few years but recently tried their Hacks on my 19. I like them so much better than I-Dots that I just changed my 43 over to them last week.

When my meprolights ever finally die, I'll probably buy the Hacks for my two G19s.

 

[RainDodger]

Going back to the original post... "sight height is irrelevant when going from one type to another"

How could anyone say that, unless I am totally not seeing the intent of the sentence. If your pistol is shooting 6" low at 5 yards, the front sight is too tall

 

[Wisco]

Going back to the original post... "sight height is irrelevant when going from one type to another"

That's what XS told me. I told him he was wrong. He then told me I didn't know how to properly align their sights. I ended the conversation at that point - I don't pay companies to provide me junk products then tell me how incompetent I am.

 

[HeavyDuty]

Sight height *is* irrelevant - so long as both front and rear sights are consistent. I still think you got the wrong XS sights, someone got them mixed up in the store or they were improperly packaged with a too-tall front. I used XS Big Dots for several years and never had a set that wouldn't shoot to POA.

I've corresponded with them on and off over the years, and they've always been professional and courteous. I think they didn't understand your situation.

 

[Wisco]

I think they didn't understand your situation.

The person clearly didn't understand although I explained in grueling detail that the XS sights had a taller front and just a little shorter rear than the stock sights.

I was met with, and I paraprahse...you just don't understand how to use XS sights, the height difference can't be responsible for a change in POI, learn how to use them, you're using the wrong sight picture, XS sights are the best thing out there, but others have had the same problem because they can't adapt either, our sights are dim because of the big white dot, etc.

It was just a steady stream of "the customer is wrong" or "the customer is stupid". Unacceptable.

I had heard great things about their customer service, so I was optimistic, but their customer service is sorely lacking and their product is far from a good option for handgun sights.

 

[HeavyDuty]

Ugh, not good. Not good at all.