handgun sights

[coldsteelfan]

have an xdm 40. anybody familar with Dawson sights or xs big dot? need easier visibilty, slightly older eyes.

[Gcompact30]

I love them.... I get on the front sight quick and hit the target every time. Excellent for home defense OR CCW. YOU CAN'T MISS THAT BIG AZZ FRONT SIGHT ON XS BIG DOT. ITS HUGE.

[sneakerd]

I used to have the 24/7 XS Express nites on several of my combat pistols. After a while I decided they were not precise enough for my style of shooting. I prefer Heinie Straight 8s.

[CO-Exprs]

Dawson fiber optics sights are the preferred sights for USPSA competitors. They are both excellent target sights as well as being very visible (due to the fiber optic). They can be had in a multitude of different widths, heights and profiles. You will have to take your XD to a gunsmith to have the old sights pressed out (springfield really gets them in tight), so you may as well pay to have the new sights installed. It doesn't cost much. My local smith charged me $15 for the entire job. Big Dot sights are highly visible and extremely fast, at the expense of precision. Dawsons are better all around sights, especially if you are accostomed to sights of traditional configuration.

If you are looking for night sights, Heinie straight 8's are my favorite. The two dot system is faster to line up, especially if you are cross eye dominant and Heinie had the forsight to make the front dot larger than the rear to maintain aspect ratio. Some of my fellow Wilson owners will call me a blasphemer, but a new set of Straight 8's will be riding my slide soon.

[coldsteelfan]

thanks for responses

[enthusiast]

I love them.... I get on the front sight quick and hit the target every time. Excellent for home defense OR CCW. YOU CAN'T MISS THAT BIG AZZ FRONT SIGHT ON XS BIG DOT. ITS HUGE.

Which sight are you using, the big dot or the standard dot?

[sneakerd]

Based on the quote that you posted- he's using the big dot.

[Hoser]

Dawson makes good adjustable sights.

I have a set of my Glock 17 and they are just tall enough to see over a can. The clicks are solid and they hold a zero very well.

However, I dont like adjustable sights. Give me a Heinie rear with a .105 wide front sight and I am happy.

[YammyMonkey]

An overlooked use of the Big Dots is as a training tool. If you're having issues tracking the front sight in recoil, the BD can really help you wrap your mind/eye around that process. They can be shot with precision, but you have to be more careful about it.

There are at least 2 people who have official advanced FAST scores from Todd Green's AFHF class using Big Dots. Mine was in the low 5s range I think. That said, I'm shooting Warrens in the Straight-8 tritium format & really like them.

If you can get your mind around just focusing on the front sight the BDs will serve you well. Think of it like a (cheap, robust) red dot for the pistol & that might help.