XS Big Dot Sights

[cratz2]

Anyone using the XS Big Dot tritium sights? I'm thinking of one on a CZ as a carry gun... I'd want to keep the factory rear sight but am a big believer on concentrating on that front sight. I've used Mepros and Trijicons but never the XS... Are they that much bigger? Keep in mind, this will not be a range gun and I don't care what it does to my 25 yard groups.

 

[Marshall]

I'm interested as well. However I'm interested in one for my carry revolver. I'm satisfied with my Trijicons on my XD. I'll follow the thread as well.

 

[Stasher1]

I've got a set of XS 24/7 Big Dots on my Pro Carry and I love 'em. They're fantastic at short ranges, but not real good for anything farther than 20 yds or so. The dot covers too much of the target. Not a problem if you're shooting something human size, but it makes it hard to shoot golf balls and baseballs (my favorite targets )

I don't know how well they'd work with the factory rear sight as the big dot is...umm...BIG. You really need to look at a set before you buy them.

 

[phorvick]

I have had accuracy problems with my GLock 19 ...a vision thing...(as opposed to a Glock thing) and recently added the XS 24/7 with "standard" dot (as opposed to Big Dot). What a difference.

The front dot (and the dot the "i" system) is a tremendous improvement over the standard fixed Glock sights. The rear XS sights are adjustable for windage. The package from XS systems includes everything you need to self install (or pay $10 as I did to a local gunsmith).

The tritium glows nicely in the dark, although not as bright as some others.

In all, I highly recommend the sights.

I opted for the "standard dot" on the recommendation of some people I trust that it would not make that much difference, if any, at self-defense distances, but would have a negative impact at challenging range distances as the dot is so big as to cover the target. I have to say that at distances up to 10 yards or so, they are great. Easy to acquire, almost like point and shoot.

Pricey though...

 

[litework]

I own two sets of XS 24/7. I put the big dot on my XD9 and the standard dot on my XD357. I like them. I don't know if I'd use the big dot with standard rear sights though.

 

[artech]

I had never seen them until I bought a Beretta Tomcat with them installed. WOW they are fast close up! Just the thing for a carry gun.

I recently put a set on my Glock 32 and really like them, I got the night sight version and got the illumination and the big dots all at once.

That being said, they ain't target sights by any means, but they sure are hell for quick!

 

[wally]

Not sure I saw the exact model sights y'all are talking about, but I passed on an otherwise very nice compact Springfield 1911 in 9mm. Price was good, lots of spare mags but it had these awful XS sights on it that only Mr Magoo could love.

The front sight was OK -- really big to the point It might not fit the sight rail in a lot of holsters. The rear sight offered virtually no chance for precision shooting.

Combine that big front sight with a ghost ring rear and you might have something!

--wally.

 

[litework]

I know XS has a version with a ghost ring rear.

 

[cratz2]

I know I shot a friend's 444 with a ghost ring system and I think it might have been from XS but I'm not sure.

For using it with the factory rear sight, it would be on a CZ so a dovetail would beed to be cut... it wouldn't be a stretch to have him widen the rear sight grove. Again, I'm not looking for long distance precision in this gun, just a bright front sight.

Thanks for the comments... Any others?

 

[wally]

But even at a car lenght, the target you are shooting at for proper placement is roughly 4" wide by 18" tall, keeping them within 2" wide is much better still. Thus updown alignment need not be very precise compared to left-right alignment.

Rear notches are generally cut for this so if you see a little "white" on each side you're probably OK at one or two car lengths as long as you see some front sight and don't "flinch" the trigger.

I'd try the XS front with a ghost ring rear if they made them that fit the dovetails on my Kahr PM40 or Kimber Ultra carry, so I could reverse the installation if they didn't work out.

I have a Springfield Ultra Compact HiCap with front and rear dovetails but its not reliable enough to be spending money on high class sights. I'll be posting some pics later to ask 1911Tuners help as I'm out of ideas after if one last test fails -- heading to the range now.

--wally.

 

[Island Beretta]

..trigger control first, sight focus second.. that said the XS are fast, I prefer small, thin front sights however as they give me 'more' target to play with.. aim small, hit big!!

 

[XLMiguel]

I have a set on my Kimber Ultra Carry,and they're wonderful for a carry gun. Very fast to acquire, but they do take a bit of practice to get used to at first, as they tend to obscure some of the target at closer range. If you focus on 'front sight, press', as you bring up the rear vee to center, you'll get on it pretty quickly, but they're definitely are NOT target sights (this is not to say that you can't shoot quite accurately out to maybe 15 yds, but they are different-). Once you see that your shots realy do go where you want them to, it's easy. A bit of practice is key.

 

[Texas Bob]

I've experimented with them (XS Big Dots) for years. With the Big Dot front you "need" the "express" rear sight. It "is" large enough to totally fill the rear sight notch of a factory rear, not good. Now the "standard" dot will work with "most" factory rear sights. The advantages being a "larger" amount of PVC surronding the tritium as opposed to all other commonly found dot sights. In daylight the "larger white front sight" overshadows the factory rear, and at night the tritium glow is useful. Oh, by the way, Trijicon mfg's all tritium sights for XS now. I use a Standard Dot tritium on the front pf my P7's and like it "for the age of my eyes." Hope this helps.

 

[coylh]

I find that using the big dot is more like using a shotgun's bead in that the rear sight is less important. Put the dot on the target and pull the trigger. I think the simplicity gives it an advantage over other sights with multiple dots to line up/focus on. If your purpose is quick close range shooting, it's a great sight.

 

[faustulus]

I am having the regular dot (big dot is just too much of a good thing) added to my IDPA gun (CZ-75 SA). Post some observations as soon as I get it back and take it to a match.