Plain Black Sights - or what sights are most effective

[metamurph]

I am in the gather all the info I can mode and one of the sources I was reading yesterday is http://www.frontsight.com and one of the positions put forth is that:

If you miss, the only reason you will survive is because your opponent is sloppy. In order to be able to HIT with a handgun, you need high visibility sights and a trigger that provides a clean, crisp trigger break.

But where on the Front Sight should you focus? The Top Edge is the answer.

So with that background information under your belt, allow me to share a little known and rarely talked about (outside of Front Sight Firearms Training Institute courses) firearms training secret that will greatly improve your ability to deliver precision hits with your handgun…

If you have a white dot or any kind of color or shape on the front sight of your handgun, I recommend you Black It Out! I know I just lost any hope of an endorsement contract from the white dot sight manufacturers, but my concern is that you are able to make the precision shot, When You Need It, every time, with your handgun. (More on the tactical importance of this recommendation toward the end of this letter.)

The key to a precision shot with your handgun is 100% of your focus on the top edge of the front sight. If you have a white dot on your front sight, take a look at where the white dot is placed on your front sight…normally it is place in the middle of the sight, and there is quite a bit of sight between the top of the white dot and the top edge of the front sight!

Your eye will naturally focus on the white dot, instead of the top edge of the front sight.

So high visibility sights, in Dr. Piazza's world, are large black sights, no white, etc.  Now part of their program is to make you feel comfortable with pistol accuracy wise out a couple hundred feet at which point, I am thinking I use a different weapon but I think this is an interesting topic of conversation.  Have you ever tested your accuracy with plain black vs. white dot/3 dot/Frame and Dot, etc. and what are the results?  I know that a large number of revolvers are just plain iron sights and from my experience I feel like I acquire and align fast with the glock box/dot combo but I have been quick and accurate with plain black CZ-75s too because the gun just points well and 50' is the end of the range for me right now and using t-2 target with the glock (white) or say a .38 special K frame I am keeping them basically in the 5 ring or higher. So I don't know that I am seeing a difference.

[tombogan03884]

Depends on what you want it for, Flat black sights are fine for targets as they show up well against the target, If you want a FAST sight picture, say for defense or competition, then black is the last thing you want. As for 3 dot, dot and frame etc. whatever you feel most comfortable with.
 I put "whore red" or bright yellow nail polish on the sight so it actually IS highly visible. Brownells and Midway also have florescent sight paint. The ones they sell are about $8 nail polish is $2 or less.
Think about it, BLACK sights on a black gun are NOT high visibility.

[TAB]

What it comes down to is what every your use too.  I personally like 3 dot for "combat/ games", I've tried the fiber optic, but it slowed me way down and I had less accuracy.  One of the guys I shoot with on the other hand, went way up in speed and accuracy.

[Big Frank]

I like a fiber optic or white dot on the front sight only. It draws my eye to where I'm supposed to focus. I like plain black rear sights.

[1911 Junkie]

I personally don't care for dots or high viz sights. 
Keep it black. If you have trouble picking up the front sight try having it narrowed to allow more light spacing.

Of course if you're old and can't focus anymore, you just might need a lighthouse out on the front
of your gun.

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

Metamurph, black sights are the most usable for target shooting with a perfect sight picture in broad daylight. Less than perfect lighting makes the other sights more desirable, something that stands out against the background, like white dots, tritium, red, green, yellow you name it, in a low light situation can be very desirable, sights come down to, what am I shooting at, in what condition, and at what distance, just like optics. At 10 yards on a human sized target, you don't really need sights unless it's dark and you cannot see the slide or barrel to reference your shot, this is where night sights shine. At 25 yards or further, a more deliberate sighting system should be used, plain black and square and adjustable, that provides a good/great sight picture with clear sharp edges. My eye prescription, does not allow me to see the front sight on a pistol, like I used to, so I now use the fiber optic front sight, it is not clear, but focusable in a fashion, it gets my attention, but is not clear.

I hope this has confused you enough

[ericire12]

I have a tritium front site on my carry gun and it works pretty well...... you might also want to consider laser grips

[metamurph]

It seems in many ways with the advancements like CrimsonTrace that a combination plain black for out in the bright light with laser for low light.  Certainly outside at FrontSight's ranges in NV there is plenty of light but it is interesting that they have seen the trend on plane black providing the best results.  It is something I will be watching at the range the next few weeks.

[ellis4538]

Go to a different school and get a different opinion etc.  I have been shooting competition for 25+ years and the green FO FS has helped to keep me in the game because of old eyes.  I have never had to draw and fire at a BG so I can't say about combat but will keep the FO or WD on my front sight until experience has made the decision for me!

FWIW

Richard

[DesertMarine]

I normally do not use dots and colors on pistol sights.  I have tried them but never got used to them.  Seems like if you are going to use high viz sights you would set your sights to the dots or hiz sights rather than top of sight blade.  I can think of situations where you would be better off with high viz sights especially at night.  We used to do a lot of training at night and most shots went high with low hit counts with both rifle and pistol.