Primitive Irons vs Fancy Optics

[AJMD429]

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This may be the best pistol sight setup I’ve seen yet; it has the advantages of the handgun red-dots, but no batteries, less obstructive view, and (for me at least) is way easier to ‘acquire’, plus costs $200 less than a decent electronic dot sight. Works in all light levels, down to and including flashlight-time.

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One might expect that the front sight would have to be made taller, with a ‘suppressor height’ sight or something like that, but clearly from this rapid-fire seven-yard target the height of the sight is just about right. I drifted it in from the right and didn’t quite center it on the frame and it looks like I need to move it just a tiny bit to the left and it will be right on.

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What I like is the extremely rapid speed these sites enable. Snap shooting is a breeze but the inner circle provides precision aiming if you have just an extra half second or so. This photo doesn’t really capture the effect fully but you can see how a more visible front sight that you’re focusing on along with your distant target, would make it so much better.

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I definitely plan to replace the front sight, probably with a fiber optic sight, which will almost replicate the effect that the electronic red dot sights produce, only in a much more durable, battery-free, set up.

[AJMD429]

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I got the fiber-optic front (unfortunately guessed the wrong height, so have to get a lower one - it will only be 0.07" taller than the original factory front sight, which was a fairly standard little nub labeled 0.180" in the parts diagram (1911 9mm double stack Rock Island). So any concerns one might have of the sights protruding too much or unnecessary, because the front sight doesn’t have to be unusually tall, and the rear sight certainly protrudes less than the red dots do.

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I really like that the set up I have obstructs much less of the view than a red dot sight does (and I think I would feel the same way even if the red dot was not set up to co-witness with the factory iron sights).

So I'll order a 0.250" one (I had mistakenly ordered a 0.275" one) - from Fusion Firearms - https://fusionfirearms.com/1911-fusion- ... ont-sights

I got the Marble's Bullseye sight from Brownells - https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/rif ... ear-sight/

The front sight went in the dovetail mount (I know other 1911's may have different styles of attachment) perfectly. It is very tough steel holding the fiber-optic, so hand-filing for 5 minutes and a brass punch to drift it in place was all that was needed.

Not only is this complete set up for less than $60 (about $22 for the Marbles and $30 for the Fusion) instead of several hundred, but it requires no batteries, and is extremely durable. Most important advantage for me though is that since I’m really not used to red dot sights on a handgun (although I really like them on a long gun), I find the Marbles/Fusion set up extremely fast to acquire. I think the reason is that with the electronic sights you don’t really see the red dot until you’re nearly lined up, whereas with the setup I have, the red ‘dot’ is visible even before it gets into the ‘window’.

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(note on the photo above the fiber-optic sight is not centered on the slide; once I realized I ordered the wrong height, I decided not to fully seat the sight, in case I needed it elsewhere, and just filed it enough to start into the dovetail and shoot a group for height-only)

Definitely the FASTEST handgun sights for my old eyes…!

[Sarge]

That is an excellent, practical middle ground between conventional iron sights and electronic dots. Kudos, Doc.

Addendum: This solves another issue I've noticed with optics on pistols- that piece of plastic is a lint/rain/snow magnet. The Bullseye resolves it entirely.

Doc if you have no objections, I'd like to use your "Less obstructed view vs red dot" image, with attribution of course. If you agree, please let me know how you'd like it attributed. If not, that's cool too.

[AJMD429]

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No problem quoting or forwarding or whatever. I'd be interested in other people's experience if they try this setup.

I plan to get it in the hands of a friend who shoots competitively to see his thoughts.

All I know is it works for me so far (need to replace the front sight with a lower one - I overestimated the increased height the Bullseye rear would require - turns out it was only 0.07" taller than the original rear sight (it is about 0.25" from the centerline to the BOTTOM of the dovetail. The factory sight was 0.25" from the top of the open blades to the bottom of the dovetail, although it was rated as a "0.180 inch" rear sight. Confusing, but the bottom line is that although the Marbles rear is a taller sight than the 'open' type ones, it is about like a 'full buckhorn' only you can see through it far better.

[Sarge]

Thank you Sir, PM answered.

[Grizz]

RE the Marble's Bulls Eye sight, I had one on the century ltd 22 that i had to remove because the replacement eyeball lenses no longer worked with it. the problem seemed to be that the 100 yard gong was an easy ding, and the 50 yard target an easy miss. which is whyfore i put the Skinner peep on, that appears to work for me.

I like doc's photo of the bulls eye on the pistol, i might think about that for the back door xd, with the outer ring removed . . .

[Oldncrusty]

I like it, I like it! Thanks for sharing.

[Sarge]

Here you go, Doc!

https://www.thesixgunjournal.net/a-cave ... ol-sights/

[AJMD429]

Here you go, Doc!

https://www.thesixgunjournal.net/a-cave ... ol-sights/

Thanks for sharing. Your posting is more organized and readable than mine...!