XS Sights for the 1911: A Clear Upgrade

Though I’d used their rifle sights for years, I first became aware of XS Sights for handguns a decade or so ago. I was enrolled in a two-day force-on-force class that featured realistic scenarios using Glocks that were adapted to fire simulation rounds. The instructors used various techniques to ramp-up the students’ stress levels which was exacerbated by the fact that getting hit with the sim rounds actually hurt. These weren’t actual gunfights, of course, but they were as close to the real thing as the instructors could make them.

Enlightenment

Under the stress of the training, it became apparent how easy it was to ignore the handgun’s front sight and focus on the threat. Despite decades of practice to the contrary, I was shooting instinctively. That was until I had a turn with the handgun that wore XS Sights. The large and brightly colored front sight was impossible to ignore and, soon, students began fighting over the gun with the XS Sights. Enlightened, I returned home and ordered several pairs, putting them on most of my carry guns.

Though I’m a huge 1911 fan and own a wide selection of them, I rarely carry one for self-defense. For that reason, I’d never installed a set of XS Sights on one until this project came along. I selected the R3D 2.0 model designed for use with Springfield Armory’s 1911s. The CNC-machined steel R3D sights combine a traditional three-dot tritium night sight configuration with XS Sights’ trademark front dot.

The front sight is .150” wide with a tritium lamp encircled by a high-contrast photoluminescent green ring, making the dot highly visible in virtually any lighting condition. Though I am personally a fan, some shooters are resistant to XS Sights express-style products which feature a rounded front. On the R3D, the top of the blade is flat which allows a traditional sight picture.

The rear sight uses a 0.170” square notch which, in combination with the front post, provides a fast but precise sight picture. The face of the rear sight is serrated and two tritium lamps are inset on either side of the notch. Black PVC rings surround the rear lamps, providing crisp and well-defined dots. A generous flat ledge is machined into the front of the rear sight blade so that it can be used to rack the slide if necessary. Both the front and rear sights are treated with black nitride, making them rock-hard and resistant to corrosion.

Install

The toughest part of installing these excellent sights was removing the factory-installed units. Due to their installation method, which I assume involves a hydraulic press, replacing the sights on Springfield Armory handguns can be a significant challenge. I tried both a quality sight pusher and a series of punches before giving up and securing the Springfield Armory Garrison’s slide in the vise of my milling machine. I should note that I recently had much greater success using a sight pusher tool with a new production TRP so not all models require drastic methods.

With the factory sights removed, installing the XS Sights was fast and required no special tools. Detailed video instructions are available on XS Sights’ website. I found that both the front and rear slid into the factory dovetails and needed only minor pressure with a Delrin punch and a small hammer to complete the job. The kit came with a liquid adhesive to keep the sights in place once installed.

The sights use a standard profile so, once they were installed, my 1911 fit in a standard holster. On the range, I found the sights to offer a great balance between speed and precision. The front dot was easily visible when speed was a priority and the crisp sight picture was great when the situation called for longer, more precise shooting. In low-light scenarios, the three-dot arrangement was ideal. Even in zero light, it was easy to sort out the front dot from the two rear lamps.

The R3Ds are machined in-house in XS Sights’ Fort Worth, Texas shop. I’ve had the opportunity to visit with the folks there and can tell you that they are real shooters who are passionate about the products that they produce to “Empower the GOOD GUY”. Improving the sights on a handgun is the most critical upgrade that an end-user can make. Whether one chooses the R3Ds, Big Dot Night Sights, or any other of the products available, XS Sights provide a meaningful upgrade to any 1911, especially one intended for self-defense use. 

---