Target Sights, XD Tactical 9mm

[RKV]

I teach college age students to shoot at Winchester Canyon Gun Club near Santa Barbara, California. And no they're not all hippies at UCSB.

Here's my problem, the XD Tactical I'm working with shoots low and left. In fact I own 2 of them courtesy of the Friends of the NRA (with 3 more on order), and the 2 I have in hand BOTH shoot low and left. It's not just me either, as several other experienced shooters note the same performance. I really want some target sights (adjustable) for the pistols. Springfield has not been helpful (my FFL called and was given the run around). Further, rumor has it that sights that fit on SIGs work (have the right dovetail) for Springfield. Ultimately, the pistols will need trigger work too, but for now, who makes a good target sight that will fit? I don't want anything that glows in the dark, and don't need something that will stand up to holster wear. Thanks guys.

The kids really enjoy shooting them, but I just have to get this fixed. The way it is now I have to teach them to cover the target with the front sight completely, and that is just wrong!

[Cumminalong]

Dawson Precision

I have the fixed fiber optics on my 40 Service and had the adjustable fiber optics on my 9 Tactical until I converted it back to something less of a target gun.

In my humble opinion, for a target gun, get the DP adjustable fiber optic rear (green optic) w/ the WIDE notch and get the DP fiber optic (red optic) .100 for the front.

They give THE best sight picture of any open sights I've even used.

Definitely not a carry sight, as they are tall and the edges are sharp, but for a target gun, they are IMPRESSIVE.

I get nothing but amazed looks from folks that look through them and have never seen them before.

[RKV]

It might be my problem, mindset wise, but while the Dawson Precision sights looked interesting, conceptually I'm not there. Bear with me a moment, because I am sure my prejudices are showing here. I own and shoot 2 Colt Series 70 Gold Cups. That is my benchmark for a fine target pistol. The XD is not a Colt and never will be and 9mm is not .45 ACP and never will be. Still, I'd like to think that there are some things that I can draw on from my experience. 1) Long sight radius matters for target pistols, which is why we got the Tacticals (that word is SO over-used, but oh well) 2) 9mm pistols CAN be accurate and I've got a nice Browning Hi-Power which proves it 3) the way to get accurate is (in order of cost, not of performance effect) a) sights, b) trigger work, c) match barrels and d) ammo (and yep this costs the most if you really think about it). So, given my mindset, I'm looking for adjustable metal sights (in particular rear sights) with maybe a white outline around the rim.

Could you guys please tell me a) they don't make them for XDs (which given that I have done my homework with Google, is what I understand at this time) or that b) yes they do and here they are or c) that I've got a bad concept and here's why. We got these XDs because they fit the kids hands well (particularly the girls) and our experience shooting the .40 was very favorable (and 9mm is inexpensive to shoot). It also turns out that Springfield is a huge supporter of Friends of the NRA, and given that we liked the guns we were happy to select them. I like them so far, but not for reasons of great target accuracy. Again, the sights suck by my lights. Hopefully its not because I'm comparing apples to oranges. I don't think so.

[Cumminalong]

Originally Posted by RKV

It might be my problem, mindset wise, but while the Dawson Precision sights looked interesting, conceptually I'm not there. Bear with me a moment, because I am sure my prejudices are showing here. I own and shoot 2 Colt Series 70 Gold Cups. That is my benchmark for a fine target pistol. The XD is not a Colt and never will be and 9mm is not .45 ACP and never will be. Still, I'd like to think that there are some things that I can draw on from my experience. 1) Long sight radius matters for target pistols, which is why we got the Tacticals (that word is SO over-used, but oh well) 2) 9mm pistols CAN be accurate and I've got a nice Browning Hi-Power which proves it 3) the way to get accurate is (in order of cost, not of performance effect) a) sights, b) trigger work, c) match barrels and d) ammo (and yep this costs the most if you really think about it). So, given my mindset, I'm looking for adjustable metal sights (in particular rear sights) with maybe a white outline around the rim.

Could you guys please tell me a) they don't make them for XDs (which given that I have done my homework with Google, is what I understand at this time) or that b) yes they do and here they are or c) that I've got a bad concept and here's why. We got these XDs because they fit the kids hands well (particularly the girls) and our experience shooting the .40 was very favorable (and 9mm is inexpensive to shoot). It also turns out that Springfield is a huge supporter of Friends of the NRA, and given that we liked the guns we were happy to select them. I like them so far, but not for reasons of great target accuracy. Again, the sights suck by my lights. Hopefully its not because I'm comparing apples to oranges. I don't think so.

Okay, I guess I'm "conceptually" not following you.

What is different about the DP adjustables that is not exactly what you just said. I never said 9mm wasn't accurate....Never said that the DP's decrease the sight radius (they do increase it slightly).......Match barrels are only effective when YOU are better than the gun.......You didn't ask about trigger work, you asked for sight input.

If you don't like fiber optics, then get the target versions that do not have optics, outlines, or anything else except serrations to reduce the glare. They are not ghost rings, triangles, hexagons, or all the other crazy crap out there.

Other than that, they are IDENTICAL to any type of adjustable sights out there. The only difference in them and, say a set of Bo-Mar low mounts, is the cut in the slide.

If you really want to make the gun sexy and low mount the sights, then get a set of Bo-Mar's installed. You send the slide in, they mill it, install the sights and it's done. Again, this takes gunsmith work to do.

Not that I'm speaking from any kind of experience with sights on an XD (insert sarcasm), but go to DP's website and you'll see what I'm talking about. If you can't find a set of sight from them that works for your intended purpose, it's time to build a race gun and use optical sights.

[rgeliske]

You might try these

Index of Sight Categories

The TPU Series and the SPR Series will fit SIGs which have the same dovetail as the XDs. The both have the outlined rear sight you want. I can't say that will give you what you want, I agree that trigger work may give you better grouping than different sights.

[skyguy59]

+1 on the Dawson Precision adjustables. I just had them installed on my XD45 Tac and they are as good as any adjustable sight on the market. My preference was the all black rear and the FO front due to my OAE syndrome (Old A$$ Eyes). They do offer them with a plain black front. Not sure what you are looking for in sight but if Dawsons won't work for you I'm not sure anything else will either as their sight picture is comparable with Millets, Bomars, and about any other target sight.

Russ In Texas

[Gryff]

If you want to spend $300, Canyon Creek will install a Bo-Mar style adjustable sight that is melded into the frame. Beautiful work, and I've had it done to both of my XD9 Tactical competition guns.



My only complaint is that my most recent gun done by them had a front sight post so tall that I have to crank up the rear sight so much to zero the gun that it defeats the purpose of having the low-mount rear sight. Hopefully, I can get them to swap it for a lower post.

[Bob Hostetter]

Your windage problems can be fixed by drifting the rear sight in the dovetail. The elevation problem can be fixed by either shorting the front sight or using a taller rear sight.

Of course you can go with adjustables but with the XD you really only have two choices, the Dawsons (which I don't care for) or the low mounted BoMar style (which are a lot more expensive).

[HHjr]

I did go w/ a Dawson F.O. front ... .180" high I believe ... I left the rear alone and mushed black crayon in to the white dots about 4000 rounds ago ..... It hits perfectly right on at my reasonable IPSC/IDPA distances w/ 180's.

Harold H.

[Pinedawg]

[quote=RKV;1084706]I teach college age students to shoot at Winchester Canyon Gun Club near Santa Barbara, California. And no they're not all hippies at UCSB.

Here's my problem, the XD Tactical I'm working with shoots low and left. In fact I own 2 of them courtesy of the Friends of the NRA (with 3 more on order), and the 2 I have in hand BOTH shoot low and left. It's not just me either, as several other experienced shooters note the same performance.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that it's you're shooting a double action style trigger when you are used to the single action style of the 1911. Most people shoot the guns low left when they first get them. It's not that you are a bad shot, it's just the nature of the beast; that's also why you think a trigger job will help you out( which it may). The trigger pull of the XD is very different from the 1911......and you need to treat it that way. It has nothing to do with 9mm or 45.

jmo