xs u-notch picture request

[Revolver Ocelot]

I saw a picture on another thread and it got me thinking about an xs front sight combo vs a novak front sight combo for one of my handguns.

I'm looking for some pictures of the sight picture on handguns that have something along the lines of a tritium front sight and u-notch rear sight, or an xs front sight and u-notch rear.

Just looking for ideas here, if anyone has pics of anything like that please post them, and the dimensions of the front and rear sights if you know them.

Thanks,

-Ocelot

 

[hariph creek]

Interesting...tagged to see what you get...

 

[mdauben]

I've got one. I'll try and remember to photograph the sight picture and post it when I get home tonight.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I've seen a couple pics, one being a 1911 I see on google images that appears to be a u notch that is .156 with an unknown xs dot size, and this one:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=189732&d=1381191088

that is a big dot with a u notch that has been milled to .175

but I am really after ideas for what dot size works with what rear sight size.

no one ever seems to post the specs on their sights :/

 

[Inebriated]

I kind of like the sight picture of the Glock posted above, but I have to wonder, why not just use a standard wide rear and narrow front? It's just as quick for my eyes (everyone is different, of course), and more precise when it needs to be.

I've got a pic of my 21 with a .156" rear and .100" front fiber optic, if you're interested in seeing what that looks like.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I'm just looking to see the amount of space on either side of the front sight when you line the sights up based on the width of the front/rear. If you have pictures post them, it's a step in the right direction.

By chance does anyone know the width of an xs big/standard dot?

they'll be going on a cz that is getting the slide milled for 1911 style sights.

I found the width of the xs sights, the are .110 for standard dot, and .161 with the big dot.

I wish I knew what the width was on these sights, the picture is just about perfect in my opinion.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...F4x5djsyM/s800/XS247WD_10-8_sight-picture.jpg

 

[Inebriated]

What is the distance between your sights? I've got a pic of the same 10-8's on a G21, 19, and 26. Since I know my fronts are .100" and rears are .156", and now know that the XS Big Dot is .161", I can make something up in Photoshop that should approximate what having a Big Dot with a .156" rear would look like.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

inebriated, that is awesome. My sp-01 tactical is said to have a 6" sight radius, I don't know if that is exact, or rounded up, once the slide is remilled to accept the 1911 sights it'll probably be closer to 6.25" assuming the original measurement I have is accurate.

I also saw this: http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/322033-hard-chromed-shield.html

completely different gun and sight radius of course, but nice sight combo with a .140 ameriglo front and .156 u notch rear. Again, I'm just trying to get ideas on sight front sight/rear sight width that comes up with the type of sight picture I am after, it is definitely harder when there isn't anything made for your specific gun, after I get the width I will have a whole new battle trying to figure out what height I will need.

 

[Inebriated]

As soon as I get to a computer, I'll do the picture for you. My G19 also has a 6" sight radius, so I'll use that one.

 

[Inebriated]

Okay, so here are the pics... First is my setup. 10-8 .156" rear with .100" front. The second is the same pic, but with a .161" front. The width of the front is 22 pixels, so if 22px = .1", then 35.42 = .161". So I put a .161" circle on the front sight. That SHOULD be pretty close to an actual sight picture. Whether or not the heights will work out for you, I cannot say. Also, this may not be the exact spacing you'd get. But like I said, this should be pretty close to what that setup would look like.



Personally, I still like the narrow front sight. Allows for more precision, and to my eyes, just as quick as the standard XS setup.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I've seen a couple pics, one being a 1911 I see on google images that appears to be a u notch that is .156 with an unknown xs dot size, and this one:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=189732&d=1381191088

that is a big dot with a u notch that has been milled to .175

but I am really after ideas for what dot size works with what rear sight size.

no one ever seems to post the specs on their sights :/

Awerbuck has an XS big dot and a U notch on the non-functional 1911 demo gun he runs for his classes. He said if you want a u notch in the bac, you need it to be 3/16ths of an inch which is likely the same measurement as in the message I have quoted here from above.

 

[rbernie]

3/16 = .1875

I'm using a .175 with the XS big dot and it works but leaves only a wisp of light around the front sight in the rear notch (despite the perspective differences that make the gap look bigger in the Glock pic above).... I can see how Awerbuck would recommend slightly larger.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

Thanks for the reference pics, I used them to figure out (more or less) what a .125 front sight, and .140 front sight would look like in the same notch. I hear people suggest that there has to be atleast 30/1000s difference for you to achieve any real speed out of your sight acquisition, but to me it looks like half of that is more than sufficient.





what are your thoughts on speed vs accuracy with some of these sights?

 

[Inebriated]

Sights are largely personal. I've done a lot of experimenting with them, and settled on one style (and I still think I'd like to try a Trijicon HD front , go figure). My best suggestion is to figure out what you think looks best, and spend a few minutes in the garage, do a mock-up, and see how it goes. Seriously, just whittle on a small piece of wood, and play with different notch and post widths, colors, etc, and see what style works better for your eyes.

In my own experience, speed ultimately comes from repetition. A lot of time handling your gun, whether in dry fire or live fire, will give you a very natural feel for that gun, and let you point your gun in a way that has you front and rear almost perfectly aligned. That keeps you from having to fish for your front. I focused a lot on that, and it did wonders for me.

As for styles, again, everyone is different, but in general, I personally prefer the 10-8's shown. I like the wide rear which helps me in tracking the front sight during recoil, as well as seeing its silhouette when working with a flashlight. The green fiber optic really catches my eye, and I don't get distracted by rear sight markings, so it just works for me. It also simply "feels" like I can be more precise with the narrow front, so I naturally shoot better because I'm not having to think about it. But like I said, take some of the common styles, and just play around in the garage to find a style that you think will work for you. It'll save you a ton of money, and give you a good idea of how your eyes work.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I'll give that a try, I'm thinking a .015 difference between the front and rear sight will cut it for me, but I'll try some other things.

I have heard of the trijicon hd sights, but was turned off of them because I hear the rings around the tritium vials are painted on and end up peeling off over time, I can't help but wonder if the ameriglo sights are the same.

 

[9mmepiphany]

A lot will depend on how you perceive your aligned sights...consciously or subconsciously.

I remember when I started shooting small bore rifle, we would filled the aperture with the bull and any light leaking around the sides would indicated that you were off a bit.

When I started shooting handguns, I carefully adhered to the instruction of leveling the tops of the sight blades and balancing the light on either side in the rear notch. This is still the favored method for precision shooting.

My first foray into subconscious sight alignment was ghost-ring sights on a rifle. Peering through the rear aperture and letting your eye center the front post just takes a shift in mindset and acceptance.

You do the same thing when shooting a handgun at speed. You train your eye to recognize when the tops of the blades are level and subconsciously balance the light on either side on the front blade...this will keep all your shots around 1", certainly inside 2", at 5-7 yards in excess of 3 shots per second...given correct trigger management technique.

A wider rear notch and a narrower front blade allows you to perceive that alignment faster. With my 4.5" barreled M&P9, I'm running a Dawson .10" fiber optic front paired with a 10-8 .140" rear notch (.04" difference) and have seen an increase in speed from the stock .125" front without any degradation of accuracy

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

went to the local gunshow today, and a buddy of mine (local holster maker) had his glock 19 there with a set of ameriglo sights on it with the .140 front and .180 rear. I really liked that set up and I think it's the one I'd like to pursue putting on my cz. just have to see what combo of sights I'll need to get milled in so the height is right.