Best Night Sight Set-up?

[DHart]

I would like to upgrade my sights on a new PM9 DLC to night sights. The KahrShop website shows Novaks Bar/Dot, Big Dot Tritium, Meprolite, Tritium, etc. I am leaning toward the Big Dot Tritium or Novak Bar/Dot. Anyone want to offer any thoughts on these various sights for the PM9?

Thanks.

[Michigun]

I have Meps on all of my Kahrs.

[Make Mine a .45]

Since I don't care for dot sights,period, the closest factory option for me is the Ashley Big Dot.

For my purposes and intended use, close up last resort, I fiqure I will be close enough to my foe, even in the dark to identify him/her.

I am not a big fan of Tritium sights, but I appreciate their purpose for being.

[IMAS]

I don't really have any use for night sights. I would much rather have regular white dot sights. I don't really have anything against night sights I just don't really like them.

[drofnas]

I ordered the Big Dot sights from Kahr just after I got my PM9. It's been about 2+ months. They are on backorder. I like the idea of night sights. I've never been in a gunfight in low light. I kinda doubt there will be much aiming with sights in such a fight. However, if it gets ugly, and it's more likely to get ugly with low light, I want to have my options open (within reason). (ex: I don't plan to try to fit my PM9 with some crazy SureFire contraption.)

[SRN]

I debated whether to post this or not since all I have is rumor to go on. Still, I'll throw this in the mix and you can decide what to do with it.

I've heard that Ashley (the makers of the Big Dot sights) was sold late last year or early this year. Since then they have had significant QC problems with these sights. I was disapointed to learn this since that is the type of sight that I would prefer to have on a short/medium range concealed carry pistol.

[DHart]

If that's true about Ashley Big Dots... that's sad. I agree that for a pocket gun, big, bold night sights like the Big Dot are perfect to help quickly bring the barrel in line with a perp in dim to dark lighting. I wouldn't expect a gun like this to be used with careful, precision aiming, but rather with a quick point to the gut and start pulling the trigger. And if the lighting is dim and a bright front sight can help make that any easier, I'm ALL for it.

Anyone else had any "issues" with Big Dots of recent manufacture?

[drofnas]

Please say it isn't so...

I've been waiting what seeeeeems like forever. If this is true, it may really BE forever. And Kahr already spent my money long ago.

[scuba-man]

Here's my 2 cents:

I've bought three sets of Ashley big dots to put on both of my G27s and my S&W 340. I have to agree with the comments on the QC problems. The rear sights for the G27 were of very different sizes. One rear was sort of snug in the rear dovetail while the other one just dropped right out the other side. I called the tech guy at Ashley and asked what was going on. He said they intentionally cut the sights small since there was a lot of variation in the dovetails caused by the differences in wear on the dovetail cutter at the manufacturer. He explained that that was why they use set screws and red loctite to hold the sight in place. He couldn't explain why the rear sights measured differently. Said they should be the same since they were made on the same machine.

The factory Glock night sights use a different approach. The Glock night sights (I think they're Trijicons) are slightly oversized and are relieved on both axis so that they can compress to fit into the dovetail.

I was not impressed with the Ashley sights. The only gun of mine that still wears them is the 340. The Glocks and my PM9 are sporting the Heinie Slant Pro Eight tritiums. I really like that sight. I've also put it on my Springfield Compact. If you're law enforcement you can get this sight through Brownells for about $83. Great sight - great price.

[TSQUARE]

ashley express is now xs sights, i think they are at www.xssights.com

[Catbird]

I put XS Big Dot Tritium sights on my Kahr P40 and Meprolights on my PM9. The Big Dot is good for getting a quick shot off at a reasonably short distance. The downside is that the tritium is quite dim on these XS sights compared to my Meprolights.

Bottom line: I much prefer the Meprolights ($59 from Kahr).

[DHart]

Thanks Catbird... considering the issues I've been hearing about with the XS, the Mepros look like a good and economical way to go... plus it looks like their lights are a tiny bit bigger than some of the other offerings (except XS).

[drofnas]

Got my Big Dot sights on the PM9. It only took about 3 months on backorder from Kahr. Unfortunately I haven't been to the range yet, but that big dot just draws my attention to the front sight. Muscle memory basically lines up the rear. First impressions are good. My local gunsmith put them in. I'm to scared to mess up the "investment" these sights were.

Rumors have been that the rear fits loose and that's what the set screws are for. For the set I had put in, the rear was EXTRA tight and he had to take some off to get it in. He didn't even need the set screws to hold it in place. Perhaps it's just my PM9. Perhaps it's just that particular set of sights. I dunno.

I'll check in after the range trip. These seem to be perfect sights for what I believe to be a fairly short range gun.

[chiz45]

Dhart, do you have any other pistols with nightsights? In the past, I preferred to get all the same, for familiarity, but recently i deviated--went standard Trjicon 3 dots on the G19, and a Triji front post on the 1911, plain black Heinie rear. I haven't decided on the PM9.

I took a pistol course with Andy Stanford earlier this year he likes the Big Dots. I was seriously considering getting some on both the G19 and the PM9, but after reading about the spotty quality issues, i'm going to wait a bit.

[DHart]

chiz.... I do have three dot night sights on several of my other guns. The Big Dot night sight sounds great for a gun like thew PM-9, but like you, I'm hesitant to get into that due to the possible quality issues. For now, I do really like the white bar and dot that came on the PM-9.

By the way, I finally fired her up at the range yesterday and she ran near flawlessly. There were two bobbles which I believe were due to me rapid firing and not holding the gun tightly enough. I basically overlooked them because the pistol is brand new. As I begin to shoot it more, I will be paying more attention to grip hold and if any more bobbles occur, I'll be attending to the matter closely. I'm confident in this little gun, though!

[chiz45]

I hear ya! it was discouraging at first, when the it seemed like the 1st gen PM9s were problematic. Mine has been flawless, but i've only put 400 rounds through it so far.

[drofnas]

I love them. Exactly as I expected. Quickly put the dot on the target, and get acceptable defense shots. Take your time and get great accuracy. Now most of my shooting was at about 7 or 8 yards. Basically the typical (if not far) distances for defense.

[Gunmeister]

Why huge Big Dots on a tiny PM9? I installed Novacs on mine and they are perfect, just the right size, streamlined and bright.

[DHart]

Perhaps the extra big front dot might be a little easier or a little quicker to acquire in a scary, adrenalin-stricken, dim lighted situation.

[drofnas]

I think they are very quick for putting the nose on target. They don't seem as precise as typical sights, but for a small gun that doesn't bother me. I think that the distances for reasonable accuracy are a bit smaller on a small gun. I don't expect my PM9 to be shooting within a quarter at 25 yds. I do expect it to shoot within a quarter at 8 yards. With the big dot, I get about that and quicker. With my G34, I expect it to do better farther. I want sights that will do that. No Big Dots on the 34.

Just my line of thinking.

[Generalcarry]

I just put Big Dots on mt G21 house gun. I wear trifocals for reading, computer and regular sight. Without my glasses on, that big ole sight is on the money in a second. I'm really not that worried "if push comes to shove" if the back sight a bit off. Self defence (in Mich.) better be within 25 feet.
The new XP corp. as well as my gun dealer "stand behind their product". Ashley products are out and XS stands behind either name. I e-mailed and called each. For me, all the other night sights looked like blurred little pin points. Not only are they going on my PM9, but the G23, and 640, and 649 snubs.

[DHart]

Is there evidence that the BigDot line is now being produced with consistent quality? Thanks so much.

[drofnas]

since I have one set only. I don't have any research either. I do know that mine went into my Kahr so tight they had to grind some off the back to put it in. No set screws necessary here.

[WIG19]

Originally posted by Generalcarry
....Self defence (in Mich.) better be within 25 feet.
^c Exactly! I've sorta come full circle on this. After running some experiments with a friend and discussion with someone else (experienced LEO) who has quite a bit of experience in "defensive" shooting, I've set my 19 up with a plain-jane rear and a single Ameriglo tritium front (not that it would have to be Ameriglo, but they're nice tubes). Reason:

In true darkness, I'm going to be getting some light on the situation, anyway I can, unless I'm operating NV equip. In very low-light, a single dot for me to pickup the front sight is all I need to put solid hits on at defense range. (The longest unobstructed shot in my modest 2-story Cape Cod is 29-ft.) Even in very low-light, I find a single-dot w/minimum white outline lines up just fine with even the plain Glock box rear. A "BIG" dot is just a bigger dot around the same size tritium tube. But I'm not focusing on that anyway. I'll probably put the standard Kahr post on my Covert when I get it, pulling the Triji rear that's on it.

I've run live-fire tests and, at the range cited, can put deadly fire on a threat simply by pointing and getting the front sight on the target. In real darkness, I personally find 3 green glowing dots in my vision a hemorrhoid. Just my $.02 but it seems that, sometimes anyway, folks discuss dot size & night sights as if they're both apples.

Curious what others have found. Go into your dimly lit kitchen in the early AM, observe all safety practices, instinctively point at your coffee pot, DON'T move the gun, now move your head to see how the sights line up. My bet is the coffee pot is in a world of hurt. :)

[richardoldfield]

I have Novaks on my custom E9 and factory night sights on my K9 and K40. I prefer the factory night sights from Kahr. Regards, Richard:D

[DHart]

richard... what brand/model are the Kahr factory night sights?

[Article2]

My PM9 night sights say "Tru Dot" on the side which I think means Meprolight. The gun is new, test fired in May of 2004.