Third Generation sight replacement

[fws19]

Hello all,
I am a big fan of the third generation series,but at almost 50 those Novak sights are getting harder to see. Any replacement sights you guys like that are a little "bolder"? Specifically , I have a 5906 and a 4566 that I am hoping for replacement sights. I'm not sure about the XS sights, never having shot them and was hoping for a traditional sight picture. If you have a favorite, were they user installable? Thanks in advance, its my first post and I am stoked to be here.

VR, fws19

 

[SW CQB 45]

Hello all,
I am a big fan of the third generation series,but at almost 50 those Novak sights are getting harder to see. Any replacement sights you guys like that are a little "bolder"? Specifically , I have a 5906 and a 4566 that I am hoping for replacement sights. I'm not sure about the XS sights, never having shot them and was hoping for a traditional sight picture. If you have a favorite, were they user installable? Thanks in advance, its my first post and I am stoked to be here.

VR, fws19

I have always liked for duty sights, .125" rear notch and .125" front blade width. it gave me a good balance of accuracy and quick sight alignment......at least till my eyes got up in age.

I always got my shots off quicker with a Glock than I did with my 1911 duty carry. Could not figure out why as the majority of my training is with a 1911.

finally figured it out. the Glock had a wider rear notch. I have since got a wider rear notch for my 1911 (.140") and painted my front sight with the wife's nail polish. every now and then it needs a touch up but that much cheaper that buying those older eye sights like XS, Hackathorn, Ameriglo, Trijicon.

I run a factory springer tritium front (.125") and a plain 10-8 rear (.140"). I argued with myself about going with the wider notch .156" but was not willing to give up any long range accuracy with the wider window.

Years ago, I ran on the streets (plain clothes) a 4013TSW....very accurate and could easily ding steel at 50 yds. I bought some XS Big Dot front and single bar rear and could no longer ding steel at 50 consistently. they were fast sights, but did not like the lose in long range accuracy. I sold those sights and returned to factory. its a trade off, fast up close but lose a little accuracy at distance compare to the traditional sight.

if memory serves me right, the factory SW rear novak is .125 notch. see if novak offers a wider notch and paint your front sight.

good luck

 

[gboling]

Welcome to the forum. I replaced the Novak sights on a 5906 and a 4566 TSW with Millett adjustable sights just because I prefer adjustable sights. I got them through Optics Planet. The front and rear sights were sold separately. These sights fit either gun. They are user installable but may require minor filing. The instructions were very good.

 

[ugrey]

I am 50 plus and night sights in low light are GREAT without glasses. They look kinda like 3 small fuzzy green tennis balls that are very easy to line up.

 

[grif684]

Welcome to the forum, before changing your sights, try changing the dot colors, a bright yellow or green seem to be more visible than white for old eyes, this has been discussed on this forum many times, and it's a cheap thing to try, you have nothing to lose.....if it doesn't help, you can swap sights then.....be safe...

 

[fws19]

Thanks for the insight. Sounds like a change in rear sight width and color change is in order. I should have mentioned that both of them have night sights that are approaching the worn out stage, so I was going to replace them anyway.
VR
fws19

 

[SW CQB 45]

Thanks for the insight. Sounds like a change in rear sight width and color change is in order. I should have mentioned that both of them have night sights that are approaching the worn out stage, so I was going to replace them anyway.
VR
fws19

another area to consider when you replace your night sights.....

3 tritium vials cost more (3 dot or similar)
2 tritium vials cost less (2 dot or bar dot)
1 tritium vial cost even less (front night sight only)

MY OPINION
I am not a fan of 3 dot. it slows me down and I find the two rear dots distracting. When I ran a SW CQB on duty, I ran Novak rear tritium bar with a Night front. it was a good balance of speed and accuracy.

Since I mainly run 1911 style or a Glock, I prefer a single tritium dot front sight and a plain rear. I have been running most of my guns this way for many years. During night quals, I have no issues with accuracy.

In fact my duty issues G21SF and my DWCCO both came with 3 dot night sights. I took a black sharpie and darkened the rear sight and it works better for me.

again, my opinion....just a few more options.

 

[andrewb70]

Look into XS big dots sights.

Also consider the following. In an actual emergency, self-defense situation any sights will probably be relatively useless. Just yesterday I was in a self-defense class and part of the training was shooting in low light. Our first exercise was to shoot in very dim light, such as you might encounter in a parking lot. Our second exercise was individual. The range was pitch black, the instructor would come up to you, shine a tiny bit of light over your head and I had to draw and fire at center mass and and the occasional head shot.

Ironically, I did better in the low light exercises than I did with normal range lighting. I found that once I let my training take over, the gun pointed right at the target. I shot faster and more accurately when I didn't even bother focusing on the front sight. In other words, presentation of the pistol and trigger control seem to be more important than double checking sight alignment. At least for me...

Of course, there are numerous other situations when night sights would be handy, but I thought I would share my experience.

Andrew

 

[Dave Nash]

Hello all,
I am a big fan of the third generation series,but at almost 50 those Novak sights are getting harder to see. Any replacement sights you guys like that are a little "bolder"? Specifically , I have a 5906 and a 4566 that I am hoping for replacement sights. I'm not sure about the XS sights, never having shot them and was hoping for a traditional sight picture. If you have a favorite, were they user installable? Thanks in advance, its my first post and I am stoked to be here.

VR, fws19

"fws19":

Only have a moment but the current XS webpage has links to a number of articles about their products and how they relate to certain applications. If you are interested in them (I think they are great but that is obviously a subjective and not a technical opinion), they should help you learn more about them.

Not included in their reprints is a good overview with some decent pictures about the company and the theory behind the sights themselves over at the NRA's "Shooting Illustrated" site: XS Sight Systems | Shooting Illustrated

Finally, as your are used to the Novak's on the guns you already have, you might want to look at their standard width gold or brass bead front but with the wide notch all black rear that Wayne is now showing on his site (Genuine Novak Sights) that Wiley Clapp, the gun writer who is using them on the guns he is doing with Colt, often refers to as "the old geezer sight". For while they are faster than the standard width for most everybody, he also recognized that they are often a lot better for you, him and people like me who do not have the visual acuity we once had because our lenses have begun to harden with age.

This is something along the same lines as part of what has already been passed on to you so well by "SW CQB 45" in this thread. (Please note that I am not a big fan of three dot sighting systems either.)

A call to Wayne's shop will get you a lot more information about them and a quick scan of any of the more detailed articles on Mr. Clapp's Colt-produced Commander will tell you all about them (and their benefits) as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[fws19]

Thanks guys for taking the time to answer. I was especially interested in the
new Novak sight. I am certainly not against the XS concept, but don't know anyone who has a set so I could shoot it and decide for myself before buying them. I am flexible with the 5906 since it is a fun gun, but I have carried the 4566 as a duty gun in the past and am thinking of going back to it, so I wanted to give some thought to the replacement sights.

 

[tom-tom]

My 60 year old eyes like a green front sight. The brighter, the better. I use plastic model paint (usually Humbrol equal parts #38 lime and #208 Signal green) that's dirt cheap and when it wears off, just use a toothpick to re-apply.For the rear sight, I don't like white dots anymore. Black works best for these old eyes.

 

[ck-]

I have a s&w 4053 third generation pistol, that I ordered a set of meprolight green/green novak replacement sights(new) from numrich gun parts. These are the night sights,with white outlines, they sold for a price of $74.95 plus shipping extra. You will never beat that price!! I'm over 60, and night sights are on all the 11 pistols I own!! Their the only way to go as far as I'm concerned!

 

[GaryS]

I was going to ask very similar questions about night sights for my regular self defense carry firearms, but this will save me the redundancy.

Looking at a couple of the responses, I see that they mention paint or coloring for sights. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for brands?

Thanks.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I used my wife's nail polish.

I found some neon yellowish green.

My front sight nicks the holster on the way out.....so I have to touch it up every few months.

find what color works for you.

it does not need to be gun specific.

I am cheap....and when I run out of this color.....I am sure she has another color that may disappear from her stash.

 

[ThorOdinson]

Anyone know where rear sights adjustable for windage and elevation can be had for a 4566. S&W never made them except for the 10mm.
Have always had them.????????

 

[Ruger Nut]

Is there any prep work that needs to be done to the sights before applying paint/nail polish?

 

[SW CQB 45]

I used a toothbrush to knock off any dirt and rubbing alcohol on a qtip to remove any oil.

if the first qtip looked dirty, I hit it again with another alky soaked qtip.

since me eyes are around 50, I had to use a magnifying glass to get it just right (meaning the painting part) for my taste.

reference rear adjustables for a fixed sight SW, I cant recall the company off hand, but I think it was LPA that made some for that particular rear dovetail. I actually have a set of plain black target rear adjustable but have not put eyes on them for sometime.

 

[WTN1271]

I haven't tried these yet but I plan to purchase a sheet or 2 to try various color combinations and layouts. They are not expensive and seem to offer a good way to experiment before investing in true night sights. Just another option.

Nitesiters Handgun Night Sights

 

[dkals]

Anyone know where rear sights adjustable for windage and elevation can be had for a 4566. S&W never made them except for the 10mm.
Have always had them.????????

I used these for my 5906. Precision Sales International, Inc.

For the front sight I went with a Dawson Precision fiber optic.