SIXGUN SIGHTS

[JimT]

The poll on Blackhawk and Vaquero got me to thinking. Looking at the comments, most choose adjustable sights because they test ammo, shoot different loads etc. And that's great.

I have never made it a secret that I like fixed sight sixguns. I prefer them for my carry guns and for general use. I am not saying they are better than adjustable sighted guns, and I would never say that! It's just that if I have a choice I will take the fixed sight pistol over the adjustable sight one. It could be my preference is due to growing up on Colt single actions, Smith & Wesson Victory Models and 1858 Remington cap & ball pistols.

A lot of my life was on a ranch and living in the mountains. In the “back country” I wanted things that would not come apart easily, that lasted, would not get out of adjustment and worked everytime I needed them. The fixed sight pistols fit the bill for me.

I carried Colt single actions and Colt copies. When I got a 454 Casull I got a fixed sight one. It never let me down. The Ruger Blackhawk .45 that I used was modified so that the rear sight was no longer adjustable and was locked in place.

Again, I am NOT saying these were “better.” They were and are what I prefer. Do I have adjustable sighted pistols? Of course! I just don't adjust them. I don't test various loads and ammunition much anymore and if I do, I just find where they are hitting and put a spotter on the target to aim at rather than messing up my sights.

Am I weird about this? Probably. That's what is great about this country. You can be as weird as you wish. Just look around when you go to town.

As to what is "the best" ... the best is what you choose and learn to use to the best of your ability. It is not what marketing propaganda is trying to sell you. From what you all post on here, I believe there are a bunch of us who understand that.

[Griff]

Thank you Jim. I've had & have adjustable sighted handguns... Ruger Blackhawk, Mdl 19 S&W, and a Colt Gold Cup. But, for working guns... I'll stick with fixed sights also. Modify 'em to shoot to POA, add an insert to enhance visibility, sure... 3-dot combos, great... but maintaining that durability of the fixed sight is important to me. I even prefer a fixed rear sight in the backstrap of the firearm, like the Colt SAA, S&W 65 and others... the dovetailed sight on a 1911 is somewhat less durable in my mind. I've never had one shift on me, and somewhat strangely now that I think about it, I never had to shift one from its centered position, even when shooting out to 50 yards!

[JimT]

I shot this target with my fixed sight Freedom Arms 454 Casull.

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[jeepnik]

I prefer adjustable sights because they are generally easier for me to see. As to needing the adjustability, I pretty much find a load that does what I want, and stick with it. I am not someone who makes up different loads just for stuff and giggles. So once I settle on a load and adjust the sights they stay there.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I like these sights.

[Galloway]

I believe Keith said if fine shooting was to done a sixgun should have good adjustable sights. That said i think plenty of things can be done without fine shooting.

[Ysabel Kid]

I like any sights I can actually see!

Well put Jim. I guess it's like ice cream. You can like one flavor over another, or like them all.

[Scott Tschirhart]

That being said, when I was doing police work I preferred fixed sights particularly on a SAA (yes I did carry one) or a Smith revolver.

A 3 inch Smith 13 or 65 is pretty much the perfect gun fighting gun in my opinion. Nothing to knock out of line or break.

I can’t tell you how many times I have seen an officer with a Smith revolver in his holster with a broken rear blade.

[Twodot]

That being said, when I was doing police work I preferred fixed sights particularly on a SAA (yes I did carry one) or a Smith revolver.

A 3 inch Smith 13 or 65 is pretty much the perfect gun fighting gun in my opinion. Nothing to knock out of line or break.

I can’t tell you how many times I have seen an officer with a Smith revolver in his holster with a broken rear blade.

hope it wasn't the same guy, more than once.
..

[Tycer]

I did upgrade my Blackhawk rear sight to the Bowen NM Field Sight. I never really thought about rear sights fixed vs adjustable. Just whatever came on the sidearm. If adjustable I often upgrade.
Gonna try the blue paint though.

[AJMD429]

.
Given my druthers, I do prefer fixed metallic sights.

The ones like the Vaquero has are good enough for most self-defense issues against human or animal, or for euthanizing livestock, or just practicing shooting rocks so you can do the other things better. I'm not a good enough pistol shot with anything other than a 22 Target Pistol to really have needed adjustable sights other than a couple instances with a torqued barrel - one I tightened the barrel a few degrees and 'fixed' and the other was in the other direction so I didn't want to mess with shimming or whatever, and the gun was a 'shooter' vs 'collector', so I just filed one sight of the Patridge front to make it more of a 'blade'.

I have been experimenting with the Marbles Bullseye fixed sight version along with a front fiberoptic on my CCW gun(s), and I am convinced they have all the attributes of a red-dot that are good but none of the bad (batteries, fragile, bulky), and the fiberoptics are overall not usually fragile and are still useable even if the fiber breaks out. The rear Bullseye sights are strong enough I'd not expect one to break anywhere near as easily as a regular adjustable rear open sight, much less a red-dot. And they are way faster to acquire for me than the red-dot, because you can already see the front 'dot' even before it is in the 'window' of the rear Bullseye sight.

[Safestuffer]

I recently bought a SAA that came with a slight modification that makes a HUGE difference, especially outdoors.

Just a small sliver of gold embedded in the front sight

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[Lastmohecken]

I have some of both. I am ok with a fixed sight if it shoots true. But I like adjustable sights also. It depends on the use and application. But I have seen several fixed sights that did not shoot to point of aim. And frankly for me, I fix them or trade them off. Keep the ones that shoot straight.

[Malamute]

Having the sight exposed to damage was a holster problem, not a sight problem.

Ive carried and used Smiths pretty hard, particularly the 29 i bought new in 82. The only time the sight was damaged was camping (actually lived in a tipi and out under the stars for most of 5 or 6 years, the 29 was carried daily in all weather including riding on the motorcycle a lot in all sorts of weather, shot a fair bit but hardly ever actually cleaned, only a brushing off now and then with a toothbrush when the dust got fairly heavy), climbing over the tailgate of my truck with it stuck in my waistband, it fell out and hit the channel steel bumper and cracked the sight. It was still usable, but I replaced it. Thats the only one I ever damaged, but none of the holsters I made or bought had the sights hanging out exposed to damage banging into things.

Ive taken to painting front sights super bright neon orange, Salon Perfect Traffic Cone to be exact. With a heavy white base coat and light top coat of orange, its brighter in poor light than the fiber optic sights Ive seen. Even the fairly thin Cimarron/Uberti Old Model P tapered front sights show up pretty well in dusk light.

I generally prefer adjustables, not because I want to change them much, just to get them hitting exactly where I want, then never touch them again. Some rugers had the rear sight sitting too high when zeroed, so Id run the rear down to bottom, raise it 3 or 4 clicks, then zero the front sight with a file, that made the rear sit as low as it could and still have a little room to adjust. Better support, less likely to get knocked about. some work with a swiss file could get the rear a bit lower than OEM, they have rough castings in places, and some room to lower them a bit regardless. Smiths with the rear too high, they have several rear blade heights to help with that. Im not above filing a front on a Smith if need be either.