Let's talk about Third Generation autos and Big Dot sights.

[Guevera]

Being, of course, unable to leave well enough alone, (and acknowledging these are rather short-range sights for a short-range pistol) I was curious about the use of Big Dot sights on a S&W 457 auto. I see that they are available from the manufacturer, but their is no image available from them of the sights installed on this particular pistol.

A couple of questions:

Has anybody had any experience with Big Dots specifically on a 457?

Has anybody got a picture of Big Dots on a 457 or similar Smith?

If I do go this route, is this something I need to have installed professionally? Or can I go into shade tree gunsmith mode and do it without killing $100+ worth of sights?

Your thoughts, caveats, etc. appreciated.

 

[TercGen]

I have some XS Big Dots on a 457 and couldn't be happier with them. It did take me a few trips to the range to get accustomed to them at first, but now it's like using a reflex sight - very fast, natural target acquisition with a less obstructed field of view. I'm able to shoot faster with good defensive accuracy (2-3" groups @ about 7 yards) than with traditional 3-dot sights.

These are the only XS sights that I have and the Big Dot for the .45 is nice, but I plan on trying the Standard Dot for any 9mm/.40 in the future.

As far as installing the sights, XS provides the tools and instructions for self-installation. You will have to remove some material from the bottom of both sights, and I wound up having to remove some from the far back side of the rear sight as well (not in the instructions). I carefully used a fine diamond stone for this.

If you're not comfortable with installing sights yourself, a gunsmith should be able to do it for you.

The only other advice I would give you is to buy them directly from the manufacturer to ensure you get recent production sights. Never buy night sights from Midway - they consider any sight that has not been sold to be 'New,' regardless of how old it actually is.

 

[Knife wounds]

I have big dots on "wolf" that was hard chrome plated. I love them and would recommend them. Along with a springco spring. I would take a picture of the actual sights for you but I cant get to him at the moment.

 

[Mainsail]

These are the Big Dots on my XDs- not quite what you were hoping for I know. Some complain about the dot size completely obscuring the target at 50 yards, but the XDs isn't a 50 yard gun. It's also not a range plinker, as you can see what it does to my hand after 100 rounds....

 

[Model 52]

I recently bought used set of XS Big Dots for short bucks, dated 2011, with good glow on the Trijicon Vials. I have not yet put them on my 4516-2.

I am very tossed on the sights, I taped them on my 4516-2 for tests of visibility and point. They are quick, but in my opinion are good only for CQB. The front sight is to large for precision shooting at a distance. But CQB is not precision at distance, but rather close up.

I am not totally convinced on Trijicon Night Sights.
The very low level of light needed to be able to see the vials glowing, may be to dark to make a positive ID on the target, even thogh you can see the sights.....not good. I really like the Fiber Optic and Crimson Trace on my 5904, but I digress.

I guess I will put them on my 4516-2 for real shooting evaluation but first I am going to make a change in the sights. The Front Big Dot has a white ring around the Trijicon Vial. I am going to use bright red nail polish and make that white ring bright red. The rear sight is going to get a small vertical green nail polish on each side of the Trijicon vial. Thats what I am used to and what I want.

My only concern is that on my range, I do like to do distant shooting. Once I put the Big Dots on my 4516-2, accurate distant shooting is out of the question......I think.

Model 52

 

[18DAI]

Model 52 nailed it. The Big Dots are OK up close. Not so good at distance on the one way range. Regards 18DAI

 

[XAVMECH]

XS Big Dots

As an "old-timer", these sights have a certain appeal. I find I shoot better with a little extra visibility in the front sight dept. I've used Hi-Viz fiber-optic, paint, etc. I finally started using the XS Big Dot on my SIG239, my S&W360, and my Kimber Pro Carry 9mm. True, they may not do much for distance, but on these guns, which are carried, they provide good close in target acquisition and accuracy. Not to mention the night sight capability - also important. As with any sight, proper tooling and procedures are a must, these little buggers are expensive. For something with greater distance shooting possibilities, there is a hybrid front sight that I have on my SIG 938 that is fiber-optic insert in front of a trijicon light tube. Strange combo as they're co-axial, rather than concentric - however it is a more compact arrangement, offering more precision. I would also point out that I tend to install only the front sight with the XS thus far, on the three guns. I may install the rear on the Kimber - I'm waiting for some more range time. Of course, with the 360 - the front is all you're working with

 

[WTN1271]

Check out this link. Great work on a 457 by a SWF member. In the middle of the thread are nice pictures of 457 with XS sights installed. Been considering night sights too, I think I would choose standard dot as I am used to Trijicon sights.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...457-makeover-bmcm-inspired-many-pictures.html

 

[Guevera]

Check out this link...

Thanks for sending that link, which I have bookmarked I enjoyed it so much. I remember when this was first up on the site, but I had forgotten his work was topped by Big Dots.

 

[TercGen]

Though I haven't tested it out yet, the instructions say to place the Big Dot underneath the target/POI at longer ranges, so it should not obscure the target. I'll have to try this out the next time I am at the range, and report back with accuracy.

 

[KurtC]

The Standard Dot is fine. It is already twice the size of a typical tritium front sight. This photo is focused on the wrong end, but that is a Standard Dot out front.



The Big Dot is more suitable for a shotgun or something with a bayonet on the end of it.

 

[brentb636]

Now installing a bayonet on the rail of my 4513TSW !

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

I haven't used them on a 457 but on a Walther P99 AS and a CZ P-01. At 15 yards and under shooting fast at a IDPA target, they work great and I seem to do better while moving than with standard sights.

I'm seriously thinking of adding the standard dot set to my 4516 but would try the big dots if I found them at a deal.

 

[stealth01]

I'm older than dirt... the Big Dot XS sights for thoracic cavity/ocular cavity shooting are outstanding!! Drive that big dot to the center mass, dot the "I" and squeeze the trigger! I set the tactical range targets up for 2 second exposure (the target turns from edge to "face" for two seconds and then back to edge.) I can easily triple tap at 15 yards... If you want to shoot small target groups these sights are NOT for you, if you want to pick up on a target with lightning speed and nail it... well, then you might want to look at these. I have all of my 1911s equipped with Big Dots!