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Glock pistols are some of the most popular handguns in the United States and around the world. But as good as Glocks are, their factory sights are just as bad. When you buy a gun, you want it to be perfect (unless you’re buying a Hi-Point). Glock might be as close to perfect as a gun can get, except for their factory sights.
Glock sights aren’t inherently bad, it’s just that they don’t live up to the high expectations that Glock has set for themselves. It’s like putting hubcaps on a Porsche.
The biggest reason why Glock factory sights are disliked is that generally, most factory iron sights are disappointments, regardless of the brand of gun.
Most factory sights are either black on black or white on white, which don’t contrast very well with each other. Night sights on the other hand are a huge improvement because they do two things: contrast well between the front and rear sights and they draw your eye to them with bright colors and bright illumination.
If you still have the factory sights on your Glock, you’re not alone. Don’t feel like an outcast. Just know that there are better options. Let’s look at some reasons why you might want to replace them.
What We Will Cover
Factory Sight Durability
Let’s face it, Glock factory sights are just not that durable. They do not compare favorably to other pistol brand factory sights, such as Smith & Wesson or SIG Sauer. And when compared to aftermarket night sights, Glock factory sights just can’t compete.
Glock factory sights are plastic. Now, keep in mind that Glock was one of the first successful polymer-framed pistols on the commercial market. Having plastic sights on a steel slide, however, just feels cheap.
Are Glocks accurate out of the box?
Glock factory sights are just as accurate as any other iron sights. The problem is not accuracy, the problem that most people have is that they do not draw your attention. The Glock factory sight design is a white dot on the front sight post and a white “U” outline on the rear sight.
Gen 4 and Gen 5 Glocks can be ordered with upgraded night sights from the factory; a huge improvement.
Again, and I will come back to this repeatedly throughout this article, Glock has a reputation for poor factory sights but the real problem is that almost ALL factory sights fall short.
The white-on-white sight pattern is just not ideal for rapid target acquisition, which is something that every defensive shooter should care about.
So while accuracy with Glock factory sights may be the same, the time it takes to acquire your sight picture is longer with factory sights than with enhanced night sights.
Are Glock factory sights adjustable?
Glocks can be purchased with both fixed sights and adjustable sights. This is a bit misleading, however, because even fixed sights can be moved by a process called drifting. When we talk about Glock adjustable sights, we are talking about the rear sight only. It is adjustable for windage, in other words, for left and right movement of your shot group.
For fixed rear sights, the process is not as quick, and certainly not as precise, but you can still end up with the same result. The process for drifting your fixed rear sight is the same as when you replace your rear sight, which we will discuss in a moment.
Are all Glock sights removable?
All Glock handguns come with removable sights. It’s not a difficult process, although there are some tools available that make the job much easier. You can use basic tools like a punch set and rubber mallet, to more specialized tools such as a sight pusher and front sight tool, or take it to a gunsmith.
We will discuss the tools needed to replace Glock factory sights in a paragraph below.
Should you replace them?
In a word, yes. I want to differentiate between the words “Should” and “Must”, however. Glock factory sights are completely adequate for anything short of competitive pistol shooting. The casual gun owner who takes his or her gun out of the safe once every six months for a trip to the range will be just fine with factory sights.
That doesn’t mean that it’s not a good idea to upgrade. It’s a very good idea, especially if you carry a Glock for self-defense, such as a Glock 19 or Glock 23.
When your life might come down to a fraction of a second, the advantage of upgraded sights might literally save your life. For as little as they cost (around $50 – $100), I can unequivocally say yes, you should replace them.
Tools needed to replace them on your own
As I mentioned before, all Glock sights are removable. The level of difficulty depends on the tools that you use.
Your first and easiest option is to simply take it to a professional gunsmith. This will cost you a few bucks, but not much more than buying your own sight tools. The only downside is that you will be without your gun for a few days.
If you prefer to do the work yourself, most gun owners can change Glock sights without any gunsmithing experience. The most basic tools you will need are a basic punch set and a rubber mallet. You can get a very nice set on Amazon for around $20.
If you plan to punch out your rear sight, it’s recommended that you secure your slide in a vice. When using a vice, make sure you have a soft buffer between the vice and the slide to avoid knicks and scratches. Leather works well, but cardboard will work in a pinch.
You can also remove your rear sight with a specialized tool called a sight pusher. It’s a tool that is specifically designed to remove and replace pistol sights. They cost a little bit more than a punch set, but make the job much easier. A good sight pusher from NcStar is available on Amazon.
So far, we’ve talked about replacing the rear sights of your Glock. But the front sight post is just as important.
The front sight post can be removed using a 3/16” hex, but those can be hard to come by in a toolbox, so I recommend you spend a few bucks on a front sight tool. Bastion makes a high-quality inexpensive front sight tool that is available on Amazon. Don’t forget a dab of Loctite thread locker when you replace your front sight post.
Recommended Glock Replacement Sights
Here are some of the best night sights on the market to replace your Glock factory sights.
Trijicon HD XR
Trijicon is a trusted name in optics and sights. The HD XR comes in multiple front sight colors, and has a thin front sight post to maximize field of vision.
DXT2 Big Dot
Most iron sights are the familiar three dot “Lazy E” design. You place the front sight dot in between the two rear sight dots. But there’s another option.
DXT2 Big Dot has two illuminated dots which you stack on top of each other to aim. Some shooters find that this is much more intuitive than the three dot system. The Big Dot is tritium so it’s always visible, and comes in either orange or yellow.
TruGlo TFX
Possibly the best replacement sight for Glock handguns, TruGlo TFX combines tritium and fiber optic technology for the best of both worlds. And for under $100, you really can’t beat them.
Final Thoughts
So, we’ve established that your Glock factory sights aren’t the best, but are probably OK for the casual shooter. If you pick up your Glock more than once a month, specifically if you carry it for self-defense, you should seriously consider upgrading to aftermarket night sights.
Factory iron sights in general are not very good, regardless of the gun brand. They are usually black on black or white on white, which does not contrast very well. If you try to use the sights in a low light situation, forget it, they are almost useless.
Night sights don’t necessarily improve accuracy, but they definitely improve your reaction time and target acquisition. Most night sights come in highly contrasting colors, such as green and red, orange, or yellow. The few seconds that night sights save you might one day save your life.
