Handgun Sights

[ChanceMcCall]

I recently had the experience of shooting a Steyr pistol. The gun itself was not my cup of tea but I was astounded by the trapezoid sights. Where have these been all my life? If I can find these sights with tritium inserts for my XDs and my Glock 30 and my wife's Boberg Bullpup I am going to be spending some money in a big hurry!

These are absolutely the quickest acquisition sights I have ever used since the guttersnipe sights on the ASP. I can't believe that more manufacturers haven't picked up on this. Apparently this old dog is still learning new tricks.

Does anyone here have any experience with these sights? What is your opinion?

 

[tipoc]

I tried the Steyr M when it first came out. A decent gun but I did not care for the sights. They actually slowed me down and attempting a well aimed shot was more difficult. But folks like what they like and if they work for you great!

 

[9mmepiphany]

I found that lining up the diamond caused me to pay too much attention to the rear sight...which played havoc with both my speed and accuracy

 

[bannockburn]

ChanceMcCall

I got a Steyr M9 just so I could try the trap sights and for the fact that the polymer grip frame fit my hand like a glove. I also liked that it had a manual safety though I don't really care for its location inside the trigger guard or for its manual of operation. Just too much going on there especially being so close to the trigger.

I found the sights to be better suited for slower, more precise aiming than your typical set of sights. They also seemed to be sighted in for a center hold rather than a 6 o'clock hold I'm more accustomed to.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I found the sights to be better suited for slower, more precise aiming than your typical set of sights

Interesting, for me it is the opposite.
I have a couple Steyr's, a M40 and an S9 of the latest generation. The are "Glock" no manual safety, no chamber loaded indicator aside from the extractor.
The trapezoidal sights, for me, are very quick to acquire a prefect sight picture. For slow precision shooting I don't do as well as with traditional sights.
I wish they were offered with tritium inserts. I changed the sights on my S9 just because I like night sights on my carry guns.

Aside from the sights, Steyr handguns are top notch. I just bought a Walther PPQ which are known for having excellent triggers. Shooting my Steyr's and the PPQ side by side I can't decide which trigger is better.
Steyr's weakness has been marketing. It seems like their goal is to be the best handgun no one knows about.
I did recently have an issue with my S9 trigger not resetting sometimes. I contacted Steyr customer service and they told me to send it to their facility in Alabama. I only had to send in the modular fire control assembly, not the whole gun. Sig should do something like........ never mind. In any case they had it back to me in about a week. I actually put the fire control from the M40 in my S9 so I could keep carrying it.

 

[bannockburn]

Fine Figure

The trapezoidal sights, for me, are very quick to acquire a prefect sight picture. For slow precision shooting I don't do as well as with traditional sights.

That's what I thought the trap sights should have been for me as well: a quick alignment with the lines on the sides, center up the triangle, and then shoot. Instead I found myself slowing down in acquiring the right sight picture. Probably from all those years of using traditional sights and not letting the trap sights do what they're supposed to do.

Aside from the sights, Steyr handguns are top notch. I just bought a Walther PPQ which are known for having excellent triggers. Shooting my Steyr's and the PPQ side by side I can't decide which trigger is better.

I agree with your assessment that Steyr pistols are first rate (also that their U.S. marketing has been less than stellar), but the trigger on my gun, while definitely better than the one on my Glock 17, is still not quite as good as the trigger on my Ruger SR9c.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have never shot an older Steyr but my understanding is the new generation 4 guns have far better triggers. Gen 4's can be identified by the roll pin under the rear sight.