Best Aftermarket Night Sights?

[jlh95811]

What are the best aftermarket sights for polymer pistols like an XD 45? I want to upgrade my XD with some night sights but have no idea which ones work best and/or are the best quality. I kinda like the look of the XS sights

A little help?

[TannerBoyl]

I don't think there is a whole lot of difference in terms of quality between major night sight manufacturers. If you like the looks of the XS night sights, then those are the ones you should get.

I had a SIG P226 with XS sights on them, I don't care for the bar-dot sights so I replaced them with three-dot Trijicons (which are my favorite).

I have a set of Tru Glo tritium night sights on my Glock 17. They came with them pistol when I got it back in '94. Fourteen years later, the lamps still glow, but very faintly.

On all of my other pistols, I either have Meprolights (who now makes Siglite night sights) or Trijicon. I prefer the Trijicon night sights. They're not as bright as the Meprolights, but I feel that I can focus a little better on the front sight due to the silver metal tritium borders.

[tmuller]

+1 for Trijicon

[TonyM]

+1 for Trijicon

+2.

I had a set last just about 15 years before they got a little too dim and I replaced them.

[Ballistic043]

there are going to be SLIGHT differences in the design from each company.
but generally you are right, its the same tritium and same basic concept.


but overall, i prefer meprolights hands down.


Not ONLY does meprolight use a bigger tritium capsule (appears brighter, easier sight recognition) but there is also a thick, inlaid plastic ring that encompasses the dots, making them very easy to use during regular light conditions.

trijicon capsules are alittle smaller, and supposedly with a 'painted' ring around the sights. alot of people complain they are not as bright and apparently the 'ring comes off with regular gun solvent'

oh, i forgot to mention, meprolights are way cheaper than trijicon

[Greg-Dawg]

Trijicons.

[tcop143]

I have a couple of pairs of Truglow TFOs (green front, yellow rear) and I absolutely love them. I can pick the front sight up very quickly and I love how they adjust for varying light conditions. The front sight appears to be brighter in low light than the rear, which again makes front sight aquisition that much faster.

[jlh95811]

I have heard that the human eye can better line up vertically than it can horizontally. As such it seems that vertical aligning sights would be picked up faster than standard horizontals.

[gmcal]

I have heard that the human eye can better line up vertically than it can horizontally. As such it seems that vertical aligning sights would be picked up faster than standard horizontals.

I had some XS Big Dots on my Glock 19 and couldn't shoot accurately or consistancy at only 10 yards. I switched to Meprolights, which use the 3 dot pattern, and got my accuracy and consistancy under control. IIRC, I paid over 100 to get the sights and have them installed. Then about 80 to replace them with the Meprolights. Definitely try them first, if possible.

[SVRider]

My favorite night sights are the Heinie Slant Pro Straight Eights.

The two dot setup is much faster (to me) than the three dot, and the silver ring around the front tritium vial really draws my eye to it in the daylight. When it's dark, the front vial is slightly larger, again drawing your eye to the front sight.

I have them on two of my XD45's.....(and my Nighthawk)

The other XD's will have to wait until they go back to Springfield Custom....

[SVRider]

I had some XS Big Dots on my Glock 19 and couldn't shoot accurately or consistancy at only 10 yards.

I've heard from many that the XS sights obscure too much of the target....

[gmcal]

I've heard from many that the XS sights obscure too much of the target....

I would agree with that. I also thought the vertical bar on the rear sight was too small in comparison to the front dot, and had a difficult time with the rear sight "notch". Just not a good fit for me.

[randy]

Be aware removel of the sites from an XD can be a real pain. Some smiths charge more for changing sites on a XD.

[homerm14]

My favorite night sights are the Heinie Slant Pro Straight Eights.

The two dot setup is much faster (to me) than the three dot, and the silver ring around the front tritium vial really draws my eye to it in the daylight. When it's dark, the front vial is slightly larger, again drawing your eye to the front sight.

I have them on two of my XD45's.....(and my Nighthawk)

The other XD's will have to wait until they go back to Springfield Custom....

Agreed! The straight eights are the way to go.

[pistolero805]

I've got both mepros and trijicon. I prefer the trijicon, they seem a bit "sharper" and not as "fuzzy".