Best Glock Sights
Glock’ Perfection’ is a fun marketing moniker that clearly doesn’t take Glock pistol owners into account. Most people who purchase a Glock can’t help but tinker with it. Gaston’s perfect pistol is incredibly simple and popular, which has generated a massive aftermarket for the series of plastic fanatics. You can swap out every single part and replace it with an improved, perfected, or tactical doodad and gadget. Heck, you can build a Glock without using any actual Glock parts. Personally, I think there is only one upgrade you absolutely have to make to the pistol, and that’s the sights.
Stock Glock Sights Suck
I don’t have a nice way to say it. Why Glock ever produced them beyond the Gen 1 model astounds me. Stock Glock sights are cheap plastic doodads. The sight picture generally kind of sucks, and recently it seems they are applied by drunk monkeys.
Seriously, one day at a local gun store, we pulled out every Gen 4 and Gen 5 gun, and not a single one had centered sites. It’s like Glock knows you’re gonna rip them off anyway, so they don’t even try. Glock’s plastic sights are quick to break and not made for rough handling.
A few drops and falls, and you’ll find yourself with a broken front sight, sawn-off rear nubs, and collapsed sight channels. They just suck and always have and as such, an entire cottage industry has popped up to solve this Glock fed problem. Today we are going to help you solve your sighting system dilemma and steer you in the right direction for the best Glock sights.
Best Glock Sights
- Trijicon HD Night Sights
- Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sights
- AmeriGlo Defoor Tactical Sights
- AmeriGlo Combative Application Sights
- Taran Tactical Ultimate Fiber Optic Sights
- Viking Tactics Glock Sights
- KNS Switch Sights
- Trijicon RMR
What Good Makes Good Sights?
Before we dive into what makes the best sights, we have to talk about what makes good sites in general. Pistol sights are all relatively similar in design, and knowing what makes good pistol sights will guide you to what makes good Glock sights.
First, you want to look at what the sights are made from and what your intended use is. Metal sights provide you a much more durable option, and durable sights are a must-have for a concealed career or duty pistol.
If your gun is dedicated to defense, you need to choose the most robust sights on the market. You want sights tough enough that you can rack the firearm with them if necessary. If the fight goes to the ground and your Glock becomes an impact weapon, you want your sights to take that abuse. Maybe you’ll drop your gun or fall with it; you want sights that can take that fall.
Obviously, you want sights that are easy to use and easy to use, which means easy to see and easy to align. Most Glock sights fit this bill generally. You might find yourself more partial to one design or another. Easy-to-see sights often utilize various colored options that make the sights quick to find and focus on. If you wear glasses or have vision problems, you may need to find a specific set of colors that work best for you.
You want to find sights that fit your specific needs. I mentioned durability for a defensive gun, but there are factors to consider. Small Glocks designed for close-range might be better suited by distinctive sights when compared to precision-based competition guns. Sights exist for various roles and disciplines. On our best sight list, I’ve included some to fit most users’ needs.
Different Glocks use different Sized Sights.
Glock is famous for its interchangeability between parts and guns. Most Glocks utilize the same size sights, but the various frame sizes require different sight sizes. Glocks fall into one of three frame types.
Standard Frames – These are the majority of your Glocks. It includes the double-stack 9mm, 40 S&W, 357 SIG, and 45 GAP frames. This consists of the 17, 19, 26, 23, 22, 27, so on and so forth.
Large Frames – Large frame Glocks include the 10mm and 45 ACP variants. The sight channels for large frame Glocks are the same size as the standard frame, so standard frame sights will fit, but this is not advised. The height of large frame Glock sights is taller than standard frame sights. Using standard frame sights will result in a low point of impact for Glock large frames.
Small Frames – Small frame Glocks include the single stack 9mm and 380 ACP Glocks. For Glock, this includes the Glock 43, 42, 43X, and 48 series pistols.
Avoid Gimmicky Sights
Before we dive into the Best Glock sights on the market, let’s talk a little bit more about gimmicky sights. Lots of gimmicky, inefficient sights exist. Some border on Ok; some are just kind of crazy. If the sights look funky, they likely are. Glocks do not need massive front sights for ‘speed’ shooting, and they don’t need Ghost ring rear sights either.
Most pistol sights are not sexy and exciting. They seem normal because they are normal. Normal is as normal does, and sights follow a particular trend because that trend works. The standard front sight post and rear notch works, and it always has.
Best Glock Sights
Best Duty Grade Glock Sights
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Trijicon HD Night Sights Review
Trijicon makes the best duty-grade sights on the market, and they are trusted by police and military forces across the world. At their core, Trijicon utilizes metal to make the sights nearly invincible. It’s a worthwhile upgrade for those looking for a go-to war-worthy set of iron sights.
The Trijicon HD Night Sights come with a Tritium lamp in the front sight and two in the rear. The front sight also incorporates an orange or yellow high visibility insert for quick sight acquisition during daylight shooting.
The rear sight is serrated for a glare reduction, and the front of the rear sight features a good hook to it for racking the slide off a belt, table, or other nontraditional surfaces.
Trijicon HD Night Sights Pros and Cons
- Rugged Design
- Day and Night Sight
- Made For Most Glocks
- Expensive
Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sights Review
Suppressor height sights are a must if you are shooting with a can or rocking a red dot sight. With a can, they make it easy to engage without a big round suppressor in the way. With red dot sights, they give an effective set of backup iron sights. The Trijicon Bright and tough describe themselves well.
They are made from steel and designed to take a beating. They can survive everything a Glock can and most certainly outperform the stock Glock sights. The internal tritium lamps provide a very bright sight picture that gives you night sight performance in any low light situation.
Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sights Pros and Cons
- Perfect for Cans and Red Dots
- Glow Brightly
- Expensive
AmeriGlo Defoor Tactical Sights Review
These blacked-out sights provide speed and intuitive design in high light situations and work brilliantly in daylight and with a weapon or handheld light. It’s a simple but efficient setup. Ameriglo constructs the Defoor Tactical sights from metal, and they are dang near invincible. Not only are they easy to use and well made, but they are also very affordable.
AmeriGlo Defoor Tactical Sights Pros and Cons
- Easy To Use
- Durable
- Affordable
- Works best paired with a light
AmeriGlo Combative Application Sights Review
A little Glock works best with a big front sight. Small guns work best for concealed carry, and concealed carry often means close range. At close range, speed matters, and the AmeriGlo Combative Application sights deliver a massive yellow square on the front sight with a green tritium insert in the middle. The front sight is no larger than the standard front sight, but the high visibility portion is a bit larger than most.
AmeriGlo mills the CAP sight from US-Made Bar Stock steel for the utmost durability. AmeriGlo makes outstanding sights, and when you’re carrying a Glock 43 or Glock 42, then the AmeriGlo CAP sights are an awesome choice.
AmeriGlo Combative Application Sights Pros and Cons
- Fast On Target
- Made From Steel
- Affordable
- Square Notch Isn’t Conducive to Speed
Taran Tactical Ultimate Fiber Optic Sights Review
Taran Tactical carved a place out in the industry they refuse to leave. From John Wick to 3-Gun, the Taran Tactical brand embraces the Glock pistol with love. This includes the Ultimate Fiber Optic Sights for Glock pistols. The front sight comes in high visibility red or green and is backed by a blacked-out massive rear sight.
The combination is all about speed and precision, and the Taran Tactical Fiber Optic sights are perfect for competitive shooting environments. When you need to lay down the lead and need to do it fast, these sights have you covered.
Taran Tactical Ultimate Fiber Optic Sights Pros and Cons
- High visibility front sight
- Durable Design
- Rear sight allows racking off belts, tables, etc.
- Expensive
Viking Tactics Glock Sights Review
Kyle Lamb founded Viking Tactics after a special operations career, including time in Delta Force. Sgt Major Lamb knows his business, and now as an instructor, he teaches and advises. He also designed the Viking Tactics Glock sights that combine day and night sight capability unlike any other sighting system on the market.
The Viking Tactics Glock sights combine tritium lamps with high visibility fiber optic inserts. The inserts sit on top of each other. The top sights are your daylight sights, and the bottom is your tritium lamps. These all-metal sights give you a versatile and intuitive option for your Glock pistols.
Viking Tactics Glock Sights Pros and Cons
- Works regardless of external lighting
- Super Durable
- Easy to use
- Not MOS Compatible
KNS Switch Sights Review
Do you run your suppressor only occasionally? Maybe you don’t want to deal with having super tall sights when you swap to concealed carry. You don’t want to deal with the limited holster options, mechanical offset, and other downsides. Well, the KNS Switch sights allow you to swap between suppressor height sights and standard sights on the fly.
Users can fold these all-metal sights up or down with ease. In either configuration, the KNS Switch sights provide massive high visibility white dots for easy engagement. The KNS Switch Sights make it easy to have it all and to do it all. They are an awesome option if you want to use a can occasionally or have a clear sight view through your red dot optic.
KNS Switch Sights Pros and Cons
- Standard and Tall sights all in one
- Versatile
- Easy to Use
- Expensive
Trijicon RMR Review
The best sighting option for your Glock pistol isn’t a set of iron sights, and it’s a red dot sight. The Trijicon RMR provides you with the toughest mini red dot on the planet. It’s trusted by SOCOM and the USMC. The RMR provides you with an extremely durable sighting option that works regardless of the time of day or night.
A red dot will allow you to engage further, faster, and with more precision. The Trijicon RMR gives you a sighting option that allows night-vision use and makes it super easy to get on target. The Trijicon RMR is the best sighting system you can use on a Glock pistol.
Trijicon RMR Pros and Cons
- Durable
- Allows Faster Engagement
- Allows for More Precision
- Allows for Longer Range Shooting
- Expensive
Buyers Guide – All About Glock Sights
So we have a good smattering of the best Glock sights out there. Now what? Well, let’s go a little more in-depth with Glock sights. The following section will address and focus on the features that arise from the sights I’ve chosen above. But first, how do we install Glock Sights?
You’ll Need Tools!
Front Sight Tool
To remove the front sight, you’ll need a specialized driver. This swallows the little tiny nut that holds the front sight in place and allows you to loosen old sights and install new sights. This is a specialized tool but is easy to find and remove.
Rear Sight Pusher
The rear sight has to be pushed on and is held in place by the sheer will of friction. You can hammer it one, but you’ll likely damage your sights doing so. A sight-pushing tool allows you to push your sight into place without damaging the sights. It also allows you to make fine adjustments to your Glock sights and ensure they are properly centered.
Quick Fix For Tools – TruGlo Glock Sight Installation Kit
Here is a quick and easy option for installing Glock sights. TruGlo combines a Glock front sight tool and a rear sight pusher in one convenient package. It makes swapping sights easy and effective. This set can be used for standard sight, suppressor height sights, and red dot-equipped guns.
U or Square Notch?
One thing you’ll notice about rear sights is their shape. Typically they come in either a U or a Square shape design. While it might not be the biggest consideration, it certainly is one you need to consider. Let’s talk about the two differences here.
A U-shaped rear sight provides a rounded shape in the notch of the rear sight. Front sights typically use a round insert to catch your eye, be it a tritium lamp, fiber optic front sight, or high visibility insert. A round shape fits into a round hole, right? U-shaped rear sights provide a quick and intuitive means to drop the front sight into the rear U-shaped sight.
U-shaped sights are favored by shooters who want speed. Sharp corners often draw the eye and can distract a shooter when trying to find the front sight. Additionally, round corners are smooth and cut down on snag when drawing your weapon.
Square notch rear sights lend shooters the most precision possible. Square sights force you to align your sights correctly and draw out as much precision as possible. The square design allows you to find the highest degree of sight alignment for as much precision as possible.
Competitive shooters favor square notch sights to improve their precision and accuracy. The same can be said for duty guns that give shooters a nice, long sight radius for precise engagement. Combining the square notch sights with a long sight radius delivers a very accurate handgun.
Do You Need Night Sights?
Night sights provide glowing sights when light gets low. Often tritium is utilized to make these sights glow brightly, even in the dead of night. Night sights have grown and evolved over time, and most modern sights use a high visibility insert for day shooting a tritium lamp for low light shooting.
Do you need night sights? That’s a good question. Many feel you do not. With the presence of weapon lights and handheld tactical lights, the need for night sights has shrunk. Weapon mounted lights and handheld lights often wash out the glowing of tritium anyway.
That being said, I like night sights. I find them handy in situations where the light is merely low and not entirely dark. If I’m being attacked, my attacker can be evident even in low light, and I don’t need a light to know he’s a bad guy. I’ll need to be able to see my sights to accurately engage the bad guy.
Additionally, you could be in a low light situation, but the threat can be in standard lighting conditions. Again a light won’t help you, and you’ll need to be able to align your sights, and the glowing tritium vials of night sights can help with you.
To the question, do you need night sights? I don’t think you need night sights, and it’s not a requirement. I find them handy but wouldn’t get wrapped around the wheels with it. If you find sights that work for you and are not night sights, then use what works.
Suppressor Height sights
Suppressor height sights sit higher than most sights. The idea behind the sights sits in their name. Suppressors often block the use of your sights due to their bulk. Suppressor height sights sit higher and allow you to see over your suppressor.
When you rock a red dot, you’ll also want suppressor height sights so you can cowitness should something happen to the red dot. This provides an on-pistol backup set of iron sights.
What’s important to consider when you start shooting with suppressor height sights is mechanical offset. As you get closer to the target, you might appear to be hitting a little low on the target. For close-range shots, you’ll need to compensate for that mechanical offset. It can be tricky to get used to, but not a significant issue beyond super close range.
Suppressor height sights come in a few different sizes. Some are taller than others, and like rifle sights, you can choose between a lower third co-witness or a full co-witness. A lower third gives your optic a more clear view but doesn’t provide a super clear iron sight picture. A full co-witness obscures the view through your optic a bit more but provides a crystal clear sight picture.
All About Glock Sights
“Almost Perfect” isn’t as good a tagline as Glock “Perfection,” but it’s a little more honest. Glock pistols are undoubtedly good guns, but man does their sighting systems suck. Why Glock adheres to those little plastic pieces of rubbish is a mystery to me, yet here we are. The good news is you can purchase a multitude of different options to improve your sighting system.
Accessories
If you’re just starting out or this might be your first handgun, then there are definitely some things you should also consider so as to not only get the most out of your gun, but keep it safe and those around you.
- Gun Cleaning Kit: Responsibly owning a handgun also includes knowing how to care for it. And that means breaking it down, cleaning it, and reassembly. You’ll need to ensure you pick up a top notch cleaning kit so you can ensure you get all the gunk out of places gunk doesn’t need to be. We recommend the Gloryfire Universal Cleaning Kit.
- Shooting Glasses: If you’ve never shot a gun before, then you may not be aware of reasons why you’d need safety glasses. But all it takes is one piece of hot brass in your eye and you could be looking at serious injury. Check out our article on the Best Shooting Glasses to determine the right fit for you.
- Hearing Protection: It’s pretty obvious, but…guns go bang. And it doesn’t take much to start causing hearing damage. Protect your ears and hearing by picking up some premium ear pro. There’s many different great options available too. Find out the best for you in our Best Shooting Hearing Protection review.
- Storage: Finally, if you’re going to be a safe gun owner, you’re going to want to properly store your gun. Head over to our review on the Best Biometric Gun Safes for some reviews on our top storage options.
Glock Sight Installation
Below is a great short video by Brownell’s on the installing your Glock sights. If you’re interested in checking out there Glock Sight options, click here.
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