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Sighting in Glocks

July 6, 2015

1660

Glock FDE Ledge Sights — The Victims Lined Up

Like many of you, I am very busy. Between work and trainings, it can be hard to find time for the low priority to-do list. Such was the case for a gaggle of Glocks I had put back in the safe. None of them were in carry or work rotation, so many of them sat unfired. In all cases, they had the original, crappy plastic Glock sights. I won’t beat a dead horse on that. I’m sure by now everyone knows why they are not acceptable. For duty or home use.

I am a huge fan of ledge, cocking style sights. They come in very handy for one-handed / wounded officer malfunction and reload drills. It’s something I first appreciated on my work 1911s. But…a GI pattern 1911 has the added benefit of the plug system. Which is very handy for same, said drills. I have yet to find a modern striker gun that allows such an option. I know this might seem a little fanciful to many of you. But simply, there are many organizations who require one-handed manipulation to carry a pistol. So…it needs to be addressed.

: Wilson Ledge Sights. Notice the different front Sight Heights for 45 ACP

: The Victims Lined Up

: Needed: Gun, Punches, Hammer, Sight Tool, Loc-tite, Front Sight Nut Wrench

But these all beings Glocks, there is another reason they have been neglected. I don’t have a long and storied history supporting Glocks. I’m an old 1911 guy. So…pushing sights into these isn’t as easy as grabbing a tool on the bench. But…I had an idea. My local PD has a Glock sight tool in house. After some simple inquiring, they were nice enough to let me borrow it. If you are in a similar situation, perhaps that might be an excuse to make friends with your local PD armorer? Even large departments tend to be broken up into small organizations. Maybe your local police armorer would be willing to help you zero your pistol test on their range?

: Glock Sight Tool 3

: Glock Sight Tool 2

: Glock Sight Tool

And of course, we can’t forget the front sight as well. The standard Glock is plastic junk.

: Using Butane to Break Loc-Tite, blew out tritium insert

: Front Sight Removal Glock

Special note: I had issue with one of the Glocks. The 45 ACP model 21. It seems the 45 slide is MUCH larger than than the standard Glock slide so it won’t fit in the tool. I started with trying to use a brass punch to draft it. But the fit was so tight, the brass deformed. I had to put the slide into a vise and drift it with a steel punch.

Oh well. So much for factory new. These are used for carry or competition. Not collecting! Real men scratch their guns!

: Brass Punch / Steel Punch

: Brass Punch vs Glock 21

: Brass Mars Glock Sight

: Brass Punch Loses Battle 2

: Brass Punch Loses battle

: Sight in on Glock model 21

: Sight Out of 45ACP Glock

: Glock GEN 4’s FDE Lined Up for Zeroing.

Here you can see my basic testing protocol. While I have a Ransom Rest, ultimately, they need to shoot well for the user. I also have never subscribed to the micrometer method of zeroing the sights in the dovetail. If the sight needs to be off-center, let it be off-center! Every combination of slide, frame, rails, barrel and lugs are different! If the sight needs to be 1mm off to one side, you didn’t get a lemon! Can you see my frustration is gun forums?