Glock steel sights worth it?

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Hammer059

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Is it worth the trouble of putting steel sights on my Glock 17 Gen 3? Will they really be more durable than the stock plastic ones?

I'm talking standard Glock sights, but steel instead of plastic. I don't mind paying the money if there will be an increase in durability… but if not I won't bother.

Has anyone actually had any issues with the stock plastic sights not being durable enough?
 
Yes!
Well worth the money!

The plastic front sight on my Model 23 was loose and wobbly from the get go.
New steel Meprolite night-sights cut group size measurably.

And they can easily be knocked off the gun by a hard bump.

Getsum!!

rc
 
Thanks for the response Rcmodel.

Does Meprolight make sights that have just the regular white dots? I don't want all kinds of crazy colors.

I had Truglo TFO green night sights on my Glock 26 in the past and I hated them. The dots were huge and the blades seemed bigger; it made accuracy past ~15 yards a problem. I definitely don't want bigger dots or wider blades, if anything I'd prefer the same size or smaller.

I'm happy with the stock Glock sights, other than I wish they were steel from the get-go.
 
I can't stand the Glock rear white outline, so I replace the whole set with a big white dot out front and a plain black in the back (both in steel).
 
I can almost tolerate those plastic guide rods for a while, but they just need to stop with those plastic sights.

And Meprolight does make white three dot sights, I installed a set on a 1911 for a friend not long ago.
At least they're white until it's too dark to see that they're white. ;)
 
Matrem, I like that idea. If they were white and then glowed a different color in the dark I wouldn't mind that, in fact it would be an added bonus. Problem is all my shop carries are the Tru Glo with the HUGE dots, and I don't wanna order something to find out they have oversized dots and/or sight blades.

I think I'll just order the exact same Glock sights, except steel.

I might even order two sets of the steel sights and the tool to install them. That way I have a backup, and I don't like the idea of letting someone take my gun into some back room and bang it around without my supervision. I'd rather do it myself. How hard is it to change Glock sights on your own?
 
I recently had night sights installed on three Glocks. The LGS put them on for free when I purchased the sights from them. I considered doing it myself. I did some research. Some people were able to remove the rear sight and install a new one using a non-marring punch. Others weren't. There is a specific sight pusher tool, but it cost almost as much as a set of night sights.

On my 2G Glocks, the front sight was held on by a very thin hex nut. Again, a special tool was recommended. I couldn't get on the nut with any of my existing drivers.

Although I could have bought the sights cheaper from other sources, the free while-I-waited installation was definitely worth it to me.
 
Yes, steel sights will be more durable. I highly recommend Trijicon HD's and Warren Tactical's. I really dig the U notches.

Removing the factory sights is a breeze. You will need a somewhat fine tool to unscrew the front sight though. Installation is another matter. A vise and a file is a must. Some sights slide right in while others must be filed quite a bit. Loc-tite is also a plus.
 
Another reason to get the steel sights is the plastic front one will suffer from repeated draws from the holster, as with dry fire practice.
 
Everyone complains that the standard Glock plastic sights are "terrible". I've never really had trouble with them other than the front dot is too large. I just shoot to the center of the dot or the top of it depending upon how the gun shoots. I prefer Trijicon night sights (not HD) and they do provide a better picture. But the plastic ones are serviceable until you can get better ones.
 
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Several weeks ago I was told that glock front sights were prone to coming off so I asked here and was told that the newer ones had the front sight held on by a hex nut and I didn't need to worry about it coming off. What changed since then?
 
Everyone complains that the standard Glock plastic sights are "terrible". I've never really had trouble with them other than the front dot is too large.
Click to expand...

I never had trouble with the plastic ones either other then wearing the edges roundish on the front sight, but have heard of enough people that did that I decided to change them. I came into a set of factory night sights, which are better in that they are steel, and are tritium. I really cant believe I didnt get night sights ages ago. I think any defensive gun should have them, unless it never ever gets dqrk where you are.

Several weeks ago I was told that glock front sights were prone to coming off so I asked here and was told that the newer ones had the front sight held on by a hex nut and I didn't need to worry about it coming off. What changed since then?
Click to expand...

I may be mistaken but dont think anything changed. I know for sure they used the screw in the late 80's. The teeny tiny screw that holds them on arent that impressive in any event, and are still holding a small piece of plastic on. Hitting it against things or dropping it can still make it disappear.
 
The new Glock 23 I bought in 1995 had the front sight barely held on by what appeared to be melted plastic on the peg through the slide.

As noted, it was loose the day I bought the gun brand new.

rc
 
Yep, one of the fellas I shoot with has Ameriglo night sights on his G19 as well as his G26.
Both sets actually have "Trijicon" written on them.
 
The only night sights I'm interested in are ones that are white dots during the day, and don't have ridiculously big dots/blades. And steel, obviously. I don't care what color they are at night, but the TruGlo TFO's I used to have on my Glock 26 were horrible for shooting accurately. Both the dots and the blades seemed huge. Mine need to be white when they aren't glowing, and definitely no bigger than the stock sights dot/blades
 
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Ther factory ones look similar to the factory plastic sights. I dont care for the huge dots either.

You may find someone that took the factory night sights off that would make you a smokin deal.

If you get different sights, be sure you get them thge same height as what you have if you like the way its sighted in. Glock rear sights have marks on the side of them for the height. No marks, one mark, two marks, etc. Mine had the same mark, and hit exactly the same elevation.
 
No. Given asking prices for those guns with plastic frames they should at least throw in metal sights. Why give them extra money for what you should get for "free" in the first place.
 
I might even order two sets of the steel sights and the tool to install them. That way I have a backup, and I don't like the idea of letting someone take my gun into some back room and bang it around without my supervision. I'd rather do it myself. How hard is it to change Glock sights on your own?
Click to expand...

It's not too hard. You don't even need a special "tool." I just use a screw and a couple of blocks of wood in a vice (see pic below). You might ruin the plastic rear sight this way, but take off rear glock sights only go for a buck or two if you had your heart set on re-using it someday. Installing a new rear sight requires slowly filing the bottom of the sight until it fits, and tapping it in. The rear sight is a wedge, which comes a bit big, so you just need to run it across a flat file until you can pound it in. A good $10 file is much more important than a special "tool."

Will they really be more durable than the stock plastic ones?
Click to expand...

I saw a rear plastic glock sight break once upon a time when someone was practicing one hand manipulation drills and was racking the gun on a window sill with the rear sight. Outside of this situation, I don't know how often they break.

Personally, I always change the glock sights anyways. I find the stock sights way to cluttered. I want black sights, not (black-white-black-gap-black-white-black-gap-black-white-black). I like the Heinie/Sevigne sights the most: http://www.heinie.com/glock-sights/. The tijicon inserts are almost invisible during the day.
 

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