fixed or adjustable sights

[ORlaw]

Just curious what is more common for LE use. Fixed or adjustable night sights? (I have a Glock 22 duty weapon). I've heard different things from different people, that it comes down to personal preference, etc. But I was just wondering what is more common? Advantages or disadvantages to either? When in doubt, this forum is a great place to turn to! :D

Thanks!

-Orlaw

[kennethm3]

Fixed sights will take a beating. Adjustable sights are for target shooters.

[JimSpoor]

Fixed sights will take a beating. Adjustable sights are for target shooters.

Ditto. could not have said it better.

[dmclark]

Fixed for sure. Really no need for adjustable sights. All that means is they can UN-adjust in rough handling. DM

[bkc2a]

Fixed for combat/self defense. I have Heinie slant pro night sights on my G17 and find them to be excellent. Adjustable sights are good for some types of competition but you have to adjust them from time to time.

[jts]

As everyone said, for combat go with fixed. I'm not a fan of the low profile melted down combat tactical sights (sarcasm) for a number of reasons although I do have a custom 1911 that came with them unfortunately. The rear sight shouldn't be so low profile that you aren't able to do a combat reload or conduct immediate action one handed by racking it on your holster, belt, mag pouch, etc. As for snagging on your gear/clothing, I've never had an issue with standard stock Sig 228 sights jamming up my draw, etc. and I've had a LOT of rounds downrange. Not bragging or being arrogant, just stating my experiences.

I've only seen the Heinie slant pros but have never shot with them or tried doing disabled officer drills with it. bkc, what is your experience with regard to this on your Glock?

[JSavage]

Well, someone has to do it......

I've got a number of sidearms, both fixed and adjustable. One of my favorite carry weapons is a Colt Officers model (series 80) with adjustable sights. I've got to tell you, I've never had to re-dial these sights. 500 or so rounds and a couple years of very frequent carry and, not a problem. Fixed sights are nice enough but, why not a GOOD adjustable sight?

For me the difference is 10 in the ring at 35 yrds with my G23 or 6 in the ring(that's all it holds) at 50 yrds with my Colt Officers. Not the same round, though, nice to be able to stay tight from that distance.

Before anyone jumps on me for this, yes I know this isn't hollywood and your not Mel Gibson making a 1000 yard shot with a .22 short, through a house window, out through the key hole, under tha baby carriage, between the womans ankles, and into the perpetrators left eye. I'm tossing this out there for thought and conversation.

Jim

[LA Express]

Before anyone jumps on me for this, yes I know this isn't hollywood and your not Mel Gibson making a 1000 yard shot with a .22 short, through a house window, out through the key hole, under tha baby carriage, between the womans ankles, and into the perpetrators left eye. I'm tossing this out there for thought and conversation.

No, I think you make some solid points and it's good to hear a different perspective, especially from one who's had success with adjustable sights. What I would ask is, what sort of "punishment" have you put your adjustables through? If significant punishment, then I'd say your point is stronger. But I'm not familiar with too many adjustable sighted pistols that are meant for all of the wear and tear that's dished out in the world of LE. Not that I'm an expert, by any means, and not that they aren't out there. The mantra I always heard, from some very knowledgeable folks out there, and the one I tend to agree with, is: Adjustable for competition, Fixed for LE. Just my opinion.

[dmclark]

JSavage makes another point and it's most welcome. I ASSUMED that when the question was originally asked, it was regarding LE and LE carry. If we're talking 10 rings, then maybe we should review our answers.

However, if we're talking operational, drop the piece in a chase, and take down a perp, then I'm sticking with the fixed sights.

I LOVE the sights on an old 6" K38 S&W I've got. Great sight picture, etc. However, I wouldn't want to drop in on the driveway and bet my life on the sight picture. But it's a FUN gun to shoot at 10 rings with SWC! DM

[jts]

I have to agree with LAE. Fixed sights are nice on game guns and/or target guns but I'm more interested in combat shooting as opposed to bulls eye shooting - 2 very distinct things. When I was the firearms instructor at my last office (collateral duty) I would often tell my fellow agents that one should not confuse high qual scores with combat shooting ability. Put those same agents that normally shoot a 200 (perfect score on our qual course) on the square range and run them through an IDPA stress course on steel and they'd see what I was talking about. Not referring to you specifically JSavage but I was just making that statement to illustrate a point between the two mindsets of "gamers" and combat shooters. Again, knowing a bit about your background and being very respectful of it, I am not being derogatory to your experiences with adjustable sights.

There is a lot of abuse of our weapons in the LEO world as DMClark said, even with us feds :) and the sights are one of the first things I often see get damaged - from the tritium sight vials breaking to the entire rear sight coming out of the dovetail. But I will admit that I've never owned a gun with adjustable sights (other than my Ruger MKII) so I have no idea as to their durability on a combat gun. It just seems logical that they wouldn't be as durable as fixed sights.

[JSavage]

My Colt has been refitted with a Caspian adjustable combat sight. It is designed to enclose the working parts withing a "frame" that sets into the sight dovetail. If a drop was going to move the sight, it would have to move it within the dovetail. That kind of movement would affect a fixed sight as well as an adjustable. I would actually go so far as to say that a small but signifigant movement of the dovetail could be readjusted to zero with an adjustable sight without the need for a drifting tool or an armorer.

That is not to say that every adjustable sight is this good, most aren't. As a matter of fact, my Ruger MKII has such a high and sensitive sight, that I don't even holster it, for fear of pushing it out of zero.

I've not looked for a similar sight for either of my Glocks. I would imagine that there is one somewhere. I do know that Caspian, Les Baer, WIlson, and others make great, low profile, protected combat adjustable sights for 1911 frame colts and similar.

As far as punishment, I wouldn't say that I have ever dropped my Colt, though I've had it quite a while. I have tossed it into the range bag with 3 boxes of Silvertips and thrown it in the trunk for a trip to the range. Carried it hunting in thick bush. Not babied, but not beaten either.

Jim