What are you favorite 1911 (Colt) Sights?

Status
Not open for further replies.
rbernie

rbernie

Contributing Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2004
Messages
24,661
Location
Norra Texas
Tell me what fixed sights would be the best thing for me to add to my new2me Combat Commander. (After all, the rear sight launched itself into oblivion at the range this afternoon, so I'm open to all sorts of options.) I tend to prefer solid black rears with a dot front sight. I *don't* think that I have the budget for night sights, altho if y'all make a convincing enough case I might be able to save up a few more pennies as needed.

So far, I've looked at the XS sights. The front dot is BIG (perhaps too big), and I'm not crazy about the shallow V-notch rear - I'd really prefer it with a bit more depth to it.

Anyway - spend my money and tell me why you're ideas are the best. :)
 
Hi

I have a pair of MMC fixed sights on my Series 70. It is a handguns that I always carry. So the sights have taken a few had knocks, but they have not bent moved or deformed in the time that I have carried the hundgun.

I have also found that they do not snag and that I can find and hit my targets very easily with these sights.

wildehond
 
I've handled a few guns with the XS sights with with the Ashleys... They seem like they'd be very quick in a short range defensive situation, but then, in an 'under three yard' situation where you're trying to get the shot off as quickly as possible, sights probably aren't going to play a major role anyway.

I agree with you in that I like black rear sights and an attention getting front sight. I have a couple guns with standard rear sights and a night front sight. I like the profile of the rear Novaks and if or when I ever get my custom commander slide on an officer frame custom 1911 in 9x23 built, it will have a blacked-out rear Novak and bright front night sight... probably a Mepro.
 
If you like a broad flat sight, like a Heine, Millet makes a nice one, as does King's. These fit into the standard Colt dovetail.

If you want to spend more(much)...Heine.
 
Anyone ever heard of MGW?

I have those on my '70 series. They're fixed sort of Heinie "like" and work well for less $. Plus I didn't have to have the rear of the slide cut to install them.
 
I would prefer to NOT have to cut the slide, but if there's a compelling reason to do so - it's always an option.
 
If you don't want to cut the slide, there are several options, including the aformentioned XS's. I like Novak's no-'smithing-required sights because, well, a lot of my other guns have regular Novak Lo-Mounts on them. :uhoh:
 
After trying several combinations, including night sights and three-dots, my favorite Colt is outfitted with Heinie Slant-Pro rear sight and a fiber optic front sight. Works great for these aging eyes.
 
I like Trijicon because it is much easier to do one-hand malf/reload drills with their box-like shape.
 
I like Trijicon because it is much easier to do one-hand malf/reload drills with their box-like shape.
Click to expand...

That's why I put 'em on my latest project gun. :cool:

Why, on "no-snag" sights, are they always "no-snagged" in the wrong direction? Who cares if the gun snags while you're putting it away? Novaks are bad enough, but it seems to me that Heinies are actually backwards, being smoothly ramped in the front and bluff in the back. :scrutiny:
 
Novaks are bad enough, but it seems to me that Heinies are actually backwards
Click to expand...

Well, I think it sorta depends on which Heinie model. Some of them have enough of an up-turn that you can sorta almost grab them, and some of them are this abstract curved surface that isn't good for anything. Old Heinies (not the slant-pro) are actually OK for that, though. Then again, I dunno how many one-handed drills you can do with the Novak's 20-degree slant... :scrutiny:

I've tried lots of sights, and do think the Heinie has the best sight picture. The Yost-Bonitz has a Heinie-ish sight picture on a sight that fits in the standard rear dovetail. You can use it for 1-handed clearing & IIRC can be set up for bar-dot tritium. So I like it. :)
 

Attachments

  • y-b_sight.jpg
    y-b_sight.jpg
    9.1 KB · Views: 47
Then again, I dunno how many one-handed drills you can do with the Novak's 20-degree slant... :scrutiny:
Click to expand...

Somewhere between zero and none. :)

But: A)I'm used to the Novak sight picture since they're so frickin' ubiquitous, and B)I find them to be more "snag-free" from the rear than the current Slant-Pros.

I'm trying a different tack with the Trijicons on my latest gun. I'll see what I think in a few months... :)
 
I like Novaks. I like how the actual sighting surface is inside the sight body, so it seems to stay black and dark under most conditions. I agree they make the one hand drills tougher, but given my limited practice time, I find I get more mileage out of practicing presentations, reloads, Bill Drills, and other basics, than I do out of the more unusual (or unlikely to be used) techniques. I read a synopsis of NYPD shootings, some 6,000 in all, and in no cases did an officer fire with their weak hand.
 
Hey,

If you want some really "snag free" sights get the original factory models!

Seriously though, I believe the "snag free" term comes from being able to execute the racking of the slide while clearing a stoppage without leaving a good chunk of you flesh behind or snagged on the rear sight. That's why they are slanted to the rear.
 
I'm real partial to these fixed sights:

caspianbootfighter.gif

Carved from a chunk of steel, patterned after Novaks, but with a brighter, wider sight window, and radiused a little smoother to clear clothing on the draw from a Milt Sparks Summer Special. :D
 
I've been partial to the MMCs, for fixed sights, since a buddy of mine installed a set back in 1981 or so. Their sight-staking tool makes installing the front sight a cinch. The sights are not too high, not too low; snag free.

Art
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top