Success with XS Sights

[Exchipy]

I’ve had a prejudicial preference for Patridge/Baughman, square top, square notch, handgun sights since the mid ‘60s. It took some doing to lure me away from them (partially, at least).

I had been losing track of the black Baughman front sight on my 66-3 when attempting to rapidly engage multiple targets; it was being obscured by the rear blade. Thought I’d try a set of XS Standard Dot Tritium Express sights:






The front sight was then easy to follow, without being overly large so it could also be precise (sorry no target to show).

The sight picture is just as depicted on the XS Sight Systems website:




That installation worked out so well I started adding XS Tritium Dot front sights to my J-Frame guns:


640-1 with Gold Dot .357MAG 135s.



60-4 with Gold Dot .38SPL 135 Short Barrel +Ps. The tall XS Tritium Standard Dot front sight had been intended for my 696 44SPL, and the rear express sight is a home-modified V-notch blade with the V made much wider.



642 with Gold Dot .38SPL 135 Short Barrel +Ps.


When shooting at these targets, two hands standing, at 50 feet, the front sight obscures more than just the black bullseye. Actually, with the shorter sight radius of the snubbies, the front sight obscures nearly the whole target. This actually serves to make aiming easier: Just center the dot at the bottom of the rear notch and maintain an equal halo of target paper around the top and sides of the front sight, then exercise your best double action trigger technique. And,

Voila!

You get centered hits in groups very much smaller than the area covered by the front sight. It works if you let it. But, with snubbies, don’t be discouraged by the one that wanders away from the others.



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[ContinentalOp]

I had XS Big Dot sights on a Glock 23 I used to have. They certainly work well for fast, close range shots. They didn't work so well for me when I wanted to shoot at longer distances or more precisely. I sometimes wonder if it would've been better with their standard dot. But they can be effective, and if they work for you, that's all that really matters. And judging by the targets, they work very well for you. Nice work!

For me, I've found that I like the square post/square notch sight, but I like a good amount of daylight. Plain black rear sights, with a tritium and/or orange front sight works well for me. I've thought about having the front sight on my 642 reprofiled to more of a Patridge/modified ramp profile to cut the glare of the full ramp and thinned down so I can get more daylight in the notch.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Only have one; on a Sig 245, fast and nice for close in work/self defense distances.

 

[mckenney99]

I put a set on a Kahr P380 that gets carried as a backup gun every now and then. Didn't know if I would like them or not but they are very quick acquisition sights and plenty accurate enough out to 7+ yards on that little gun.

 

[Rodan]

I have used the Big Dot on my Kahr PM9 for ~20 years, and I put a set on my Shield 9mm as soon as I had test fired it. I really like these for close and fast. I tried them on a duty gun ~15 years ago, and didn't like the lack of precision past ~15-20 yards so I just keep them on the close up guns.

I have wondered if the standard dot would have produced better results at distance....

 

[Exchipy]

I had XS Big Dot sights on a Glock 23 I used to have. They certainly work well for fast, close range shots. They didn't work so well for me when I wanted to shoot at longer distances or more precisely. I sometimes wonder if it would've been better with their standard dot. But they can be effective, and if they work for you, that's all that really matters. And judging by the targets, they work very well for you. Nice work!

For me, I've found that I like the square post/square notch sight, but I like a good amount of daylight. Plain black rear sights, with a tritium and/or orange front sight works well for me. I've thought about having the front sight on my 642 reprofiled to more of a Patridge/modified ramp profile to cut the glare of the full ramp and thinned down so I can get more daylight in the notch.

For precise work, the BIG DOT is just too BIG. I believe the Tritium vial is the same size in both, so it don’t matter in the dark.

It takes tons of dry firing to develop good double action trigger skills. My 45th wedding anniversary is coming up and I’m surprised, what with all those years of annoying click-click-click-click-click (well, you get the picture).

 

[Lobster Picnic]

The XS Big Dot works great on my 351C. Very quick on target and easily seen in low light.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The only Glock in the house is my wife's G-17 that has "Big Dots". She tries to use them as target sights and fails. I show her to point and click (I usually get an X)

They are not that good for slow aimed fire, but are the bomb for combat sights!

Ivan

 

[LCC]

At 70, with corresponding eyesight, the XS Big Dot has become my go to sight for self defense revolvers. Provides fast acquisition when needing hits, not a precise bulls-eye.

 

[bangbig]

XS big dots on all my SD guns. No problem at 10 yards or less.

 

[REP]

I’ve installed XS Sights on semi autos, revolvers, AR15 pistols and rifles. I have not found any other open sights that are as fast on target for me. This S&W 351C is the latest to get one it came with a XS solid white dot but a replaced it with a tritium tube model.

 

[studenygreg]

I never liked the idea of the xs sights, but I've been looking for something to replace the weak FO sight on my 340pd.

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[studenygreg]

On the j frame. Can you explain how the sights line up and how it correlates with poi?

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[REP]

On the j frame. Can you explain how the sights line up and how it correlates with poi?

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The 351C has a u notch rear sight that is just a little bit bigger than the front dot and half the dot is above the top of the rear sight so the dot cradles in the u notch. Changing to the sight to one with the tritium tube puts the tube on center of the u notch both horizontally and vertically and even improves it’s performance. On my 442 I had to mill the intergal front sight down so the XS sight could be bonded with some J.B. Weld epoxy and with the square notch rear sight the bottom of the dot lays on top of the bottom of the square notch and just centered up for windage.Will add picture later. You just lay the dot over intended destination.

 

[Exchipy]

On the j frame. Can you explain how the sights line up and how it correlates with poi?

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With the standard sized dot front (not the BIG DOT), the dot will nestle down in the 1/8” rear notch with the top extending above the sides of the notch. If the front sight has been correctly installed, the POI will be directly behind the center of the dot at 50 feet (see targets above). No 6 o’clock hold with these guys; just bottom the dot in the notch and center it on the target.

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[studenygreg]

With the standard sized dot front (not the BIG DOT), the dot will nestle down in the 1/8” rear notch with the top extending above the sides of the notch. If the front sight has been correctly installed, the POI will be behind the center of the dot at 50 feet (see targets above). No 6 o’clock hold with these guys; just center the dot on the target.



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Perfect. Thank you. I'm going to give them a shot.

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[Exchipy]

Perfect. Thank you. I'm going to give them a shot.

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Keep in mind that there are two kinds of J-Frame front sights: The easy one needs just a hole drilled for pinning it in place of the original sight. The not-so-easy one requires that a competent machinist mill away the original fixed front sight to the precise dimensions specified in the instructions, then the XS front sight is simply epoxied onto the resulting stud.

In the photos above, the 60-4 and the 640-1 are both pinned, while the 642 is milled and epoxied.

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[studenygreg]

Keep in mind that there are two kinds of J-Frame front sights: The easy one needs just a hole drilled for pinning it in place of the original sight. The not-so-easy one requires that a competent machinist mill away the original fixed front sight to the precise dimensions specified in the instructions, then the XS front sight is simply epoxied onto the resulting stud.



In the photos above, the 60-4 and the 640-1 are both pinned, while the 642 is milled and epoxied.



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My 340pd is pinned. Thanks for the info.

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[REP]

XS How To - Revolver Sight Alignment - YouTube

 

[Rich_White]

I’ve installed XS Sights on semi autos, revolvers, AR15 pistols and rifles. I have not found any other open sights that are as fast on target for me. This S&W 351C is the latest to get one it came with a XS solid white dot but a replaced it with a tritium tube model.

I replaced the bead sight on my Mossberg Shockwave with the shotgun version of the sight and it's the best sight I've ever used on one. If you have a newer Remington or Mossberg shotgun (or shotgun shell firing "firearm") with just the bead sight, it's a good upgrade over the bead in my opinion.