I know red dots are all the rage these days, but I still run iron sights on some of my handguns—and I’ll tell you why. Don’t get me wrong, I love red dots, and they definitely have their place, but iron sights are still a solid, dependable option. They’re simple, rugged, and they just work, especially when you train with them consistently.
Let’s start with the basics. If you’re like me and shoot Glocks often, then you probably know the factory sights on most Glock handguns aren’t the best. I LOVE Glocks and they are my go-to guns, but the plastic sights can get chewed up, especially if you train hard. I swap mine out almost immediately. That’s where quality aftermarket iron sights come in.
High-Visibility Sights
I personally like using high-visibility front sights. Trijicon and AmeriGlo make some of the best out there. These sights usually come with a bright orange or green front dot that really stands out, especially when you're in a hurry to line up your sights. The rear sights are usually blacked out, which helps your eye naturally focus on the front sight where it should be. In stressful situations or low-light conditions, that pop of color makes a huge difference.
The cool thing about these setups is that they’re fast and precise. You get a good front sight picture, line it up with the target, and let the shots break clean. There’s no battery, no lens to fog up, and no electronics to fail. It’s just good old-school aiming that always works.
Fiber Optic Front Sights
Another option I really like is fiber optic front sights. These are great in bright daylight—they pick up sunlight and almost glow. A fiber optic front sight paired with a blacked-out rear is a favorite among many shooters. But some folks criticize fiber optics because the rods can break. I get it—but here’s my take: even if the fiber rod breaks, the front sight post is still there. It’s like when your electric toothbrush battery dies. It doesn’t become useless—it just turns into a manual toothbrush. Same thing here. A broken fiber optic sight just becomes a plain black front sight. You can still aim. You’re not out of the fight.
Adjustable Sights for Precision Shooting
Now if you're into competition shooting or you just like dialing in your shots with precision, adjustable rear sights are a great option. A lot of competitive shooters use these so they can fine-tune their point of impact. I don’t personally run them simply because I don’t compete, but on a range or competition setup, they’re sweet. You can adjust windage and elevation to get your rounds exactly where you want them.
No Lens to Fog or Smudge
Let’s be real—red dots have lenses, and those lenses can get dirty, foggy, or scratched. Condensation can form on the lens, making the red dot appear blurry or obscured. This happens when the optic is introduced to temperature changes and humidity. If you’re shooting in the rain, that dot might get blurry. That happened to me at the range once. Lint seems to find its way on that lens as well, especially on your everyday carry. It boggles my mind just how much fuzz gets in there. With iron sights, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Rain, dirt, lint or mud—it doesn’t matter. As long as you can see that front sight, you’re good to go. They work in just about any condition.
Rugged, Reliable, and Always On
The biggest reason I still run irons is that they’re always on. You never have to think about turning them on or checking the battery. They’re just there, ready to go. For self-defense, I like that peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
Look, I’m not saying iron sights are better than red dots. Red dots have their advantages—especially for distance shooting and aging eyes, like mine… lol. But for me, iron sights check a lot of boxes: they’re reliable, fast, low maintenance, and tough as nails. Whether you go with high-vis, or run a fiber optic front with a blacked-out rear, good iron sights can do everything you need—and then some.
So if you’re just getting started or you’re trying to decide if you should upgrade your irons and switch to a red dot, don’t sleep on the benefits of running quality iron sights.
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