Sight question

[syh]

I have a Walther P99, and I've finally figured out what makes me so uncomfortable with the sights. . .

See how the opening on the rear sight doesn't allow for you to see the full front dot when it's aligned with the 2 rear dots. In other words, look at the 2 rear dots, and then between them. See how the black plastic part would somewhat cut off a third dot drawn between the 2 that are there?

Is this common on other guns? Is there a fix to this? Is there a reason to leave this as-is?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ala Tom]

Sorry. I don't see that. Maybe it's just the angle of the photo. There is a gap there. Hold the gun so you put the white dot on the front sight between the two white dots for the rear sight. Focus on the front sight and move the gun so the slightly blurred target image is just above the front dot in between the two rear dots. That will do it. That is the basic three-dot sight system most of us use.

If your sights are adjustable, start with neutral adjustment and then make adjustments as needed after firing at least 100 rounds.

 

[syh]

Thank you for your reply. I am well aware of how to line up the sights. When I do so, the front sight is partially obscured on the bottom of it by part of the rear sights. Look at the picture of the rear sight. Look at the space between the dots. Look at where the plastic ends. It covers part of the front sight when it's properly aligned.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I just checked my P99 and I can't see the issue.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Thank you for your reply. I am well aware of how to line up the sights. When I do so, the front sight is partially obscured on the bottom of it by part of the rear sights. Look at the picture of the rear sight. Look at the space between the dots. Look at where the plastic ends. It covers part of the front sight when it's properly aligned.

If you know how to line up the sights correctly, what difference would it make that part of the front dot might be obscured?...that shouldn't be the parts of the sight you are aligning to accurately place shots anyway

 

[IMTHDUKE]

Put the bottle down, wait 6 hours and try again.

 

[Drail]

Lose the dot sights and try some nice blackened Patridge sights. I never understood why dot sights became so popular. They're really crude and so are the groups most people shoot with them. Try concentrating on center of the top of the front sight and the daylight on each side of it in the notch.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Lose the dot sights and try some nice blackened Patridge sights. I never understood why dot sights became so popular.

I agree, the three dot sights do more to harm good shooting than help...they rank right up there for deceptive marketing with ghost ring or express sights on a handgun (long guns are a whole other subject).

I think their popularity come from folks wanting to read their sights and have more contrasting feedback to line up stuff up...they seem to work better for beginners, until they become more proficient.

 

[hammerklavier]

I like them because the white dots stand out against a black background, and the black sights stand out against light colored backgrounds.

 

[Jeff82]

OP- cut the notch deeper.

 

[Zerodefect]

Lose the dot sights and try some nice blackened Patridge sights. I never understood why dot sights became so popular. They're really crude and so are the groups most people shoot with them. Try concentrating on center of the top of the front sight and the daylight on each side of it in the notch.

+1.

Those stock sights stink! Replace them. The front blade is too thick. And the rear notch is too narrow. And the dots just confuse your eye and slow your aim.

My Stock Glock sights were similar. When I upgraded my shooting improved alot. Mostly way, way faster on target and with aimed rapid fire.


Try a plain black rear sight from Hienie, 10-8, or Warren Tactical (Especially the Dave Sevigny Comp rear). Hienie and 10-8 offer a .156" race cut wide rear notch, go for that.


Try the thinnest front Dawson fibre optic you can find. .110" or thinner.

Thin front sight/wide notch= speed. But if your good at centering the blade in the notch, you ay experience improved accuracy at longer ranges.

 

[ichiban]

Why not just paint over the white dots?

 

[Hoth206]

if you want to try dotless without spending any $$...spray a cotton swab with gun-scrubber and wipe down the dots. Then pick out the white dots with a toothpick. You can always re-paint as needed.

 

[Zerodefect]

My take on sights:

 

[Zerodefect]

if you want to try dotless without spending any $$...spray a cotton swab with gun-scrubber and wipe down the dots. Then pick out the white dots with a toothpick. You can always re-paint as needed.

In IDPA alot of shooters keep a birthday cake candle in thier tool kit.

Light the candle, hold the face of the rear sight over the candle, not in the flame or anything, and let it's black soot cover the rear sight.

That way they can run a night sight rear sight, but have a clean black sight during the day. It's also good if your plain rear sight is reflecting sun glare, black carbon will stop that well.

Masking tape works even better but is harder to control.

 

[Thlax]

In IDPA alot of shooters keep a birthday cake candle in thier tool kit.

Light the candle, hold the face of the rear sight over the candle, not in the flame or anything, and let it's black soot cover the rear sight.

That way they can run a night sight rear sight, but have a clean black sight during the day. It's also good if your plain rear sight is reflecting sun glare, black carbon will stop that well.

Masking tape works even better but is harder to control.

Never heard or thought of that!

 

[9mmepiphany]

Never heard or thought of that!

When I used to shoot PPC, we used to use carbide lamp soot. It was so dark that your black sights really stood out on a black target

 

[Onward Allusion]

File the rear notch down.

 

[Cop Bob]

In IDPA alot of shooters keep a birthday cake candle in thier tool kit.

Light the candle, hold the face of the rear sight over the candle, not in the flame or anything, and let it's black soot cover the rear sight.

That way they can run a night sight rear sight, but have a clean black sight during the day. It's also good if your plain rear sight is reflecting sun glare, black carbon will stop that well.

Masking tape works even better but is harder to control.

Agreed... I MUCH prefer a COAL JET BLACK sight... it stands out well against EVERY background.. because that shade of black is not found in nature...

I still have an old carbide pot in my PPC box.. However I have also found that the cheapest butane cigarette lighters I can find make great soot lamps for darkening sights..

You can try using one to darken or "BLACK" your three dot sights.. careful to use the tip of the flame, or just above the flame.. not too much dwell time, moving back and forth over the sights.. this way you may not even damage the paint... the soot left behind wipes right off with amazingly little effort...

There is also a spray on sight black in a small can I think Casey Birchwood makes it..

 

[Cop Bob]

I would also note, that the older I get... the blinder I get... Everything I carry these days is fitted with Crimson Trace Grips...

 

[syh]

This is an exaggerated example of what I'm talking about.

But tons of good advice. . . thanks for all the replies. It's especially timely seeing as how I'm looking to get night sights soon.

 

[CraigC]

I agree, the three dot sights do more to harm good shooting than help...they rank right up there for deceptive marketing with ghost ring or express sights on a handgun (long guns are a whole other subject).

I think their popularity come from folks wanting to read their sights and have more contrasting feedback to line up stuff up...they seem to work better for beginners, until they become more proficient.

Amen!!!

I think we need a resurgence of folks learning how to use REAL, black, pistol sights that do NOT resemble Las Vegas after dark. Maybe Appleseed for pistols??? IMHO, too many are convinced that they need brightly colored sights to shoot well.

 

[Onward Allusion]

DEFINITELY looks like you can file down the rear notch. The dots are lined up...

This is an exaggerated example of what I'm talking about.