I ordered a couple of parts from MidwayUSA to see if I could address the problem of adjustable sights for the PT1911. There are several now offering 3 dot sights, but all I've seen are fixed sights.
Here is what I'm started with...
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The rear sight is a Millett 100 adjustable low profile for the colt combat. I knew the dovetail should pretty much fit, but the top of the slide will have to be flattened for the front of the sight. Since I've already stripped the bluing from my slide, it should be just a matter of flattening the section forward of the dovetail. Since the rear of the slide is already flat to accept the Heine rear sight... I should be able to just keep a stead hand to extend that.
The front is an EGW fiber optic for the 1911. I don't think the dovetail will match so I'll either adjust the sight or the slide. Millett suggest a .200 front sight to adjust for the higher rear. The fiber optic front should be a nice addition since it will pick up daylight quickly.
These are not night sights. Hopefully they will be suitable to let me adjust the sights for more accurate target shooting. I chose the white outline rather than the 3 dot arrangement. I had this type of rear on a target S&W .357 and I really liked it. It will give a post and dot effect... and I for one don't have a major problem with the Heine straight 8... though I wish the dots were more pronounced.
So a couple of evenings with a fine flat file and emery cloth and voila...
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The rear sight is fully adjustable... both elevation and wind-age within the sight itself... rather than having to physically shift the rear sight in the dovetail. The only question I have is the .200 front sight... I will have to shoot it to see how it works. The box says use the .225 front from the Colt Combat... or the .312 for the Browning (I presume the High Power) where the sight would set fully on top of the slide. If I were to guess off hand, I'd presumed something around .250 or .275, but I'll have a much better image after I've shot this.
For about $80 buck for parts from Midway, I'm pretty satisfied. If I had to good gunsmith with metal working machine, I'd had had the flats extended professionally, but not knowing someone, and seeking to answer the personal question (can I do this myself) I just worked patiently, stopping after ever 50 strokes with the file and checking level front to back and side to side. The sight itself covers the cuts so it looks good. It is an awesome rear with the while post and outline... very quick to catch your eye and the red fiber optic catches the light quickly, although I wish the rod was larger.
There is no reason for those who make sights to exile the PT1911 to fixed sights... nice three dot or night sights, but the accuracy of this gun begs for a set of fully adjustable target sights. Since you can't by them, at least you can do them on your own (or have a machinist do the work). If you don't mind cutting the dovetail just a bit deeper you could make these sit down absolutely tight against the slide, but I didn't care to add that to my equation... and I'm pleased with my results.
Here is what I'm started with...
The rear sight is a Millett 100 adjustable low profile for the colt combat. I knew the dovetail should pretty much fit, but the top of the slide will have to be flattened for the front of the sight. Since I've already stripped the bluing from my slide, it should be just a matter of flattening the section forward of the dovetail. Since the rear of the slide is already flat to accept the Heine rear sight... I should be able to just keep a stead hand to extend that.
The front is an EGW fiber optic for the 1911. I don't think the dovetail will match so I'll either adjust the sight or the slide. Millett suggest a .200 front sight to adjust for the higher rear. The fiber optic front should be a nice addition since it will pick up daylight quickly.
These are not night sights. Hopefully they will be suitable to let me adjust the sights for more accurate target shooting. I chose the white outline rather than the 3 dot arrangement. I had this type of rear on a target S&W .357 and I really liked it. It will give a post and dot effect... and I for one don't have a major problem with the Heine straight 8... though I wish the dots were more pronounced.
So a couple of evenings with a fine flat file and emery cloth and voila...
The rear sight is fully adjustable... both elevation and wind-age within the sight itself... rather than having to physically shift the rear sight in the dovetail. The only question I have is the .200 front sight... I will have to shoot it to see how it works. The box says use the .225 front from the Colt Combat... or the .312 for the Browning (I presume the High Power) where the sight would set fully on top of the slide. If I were to guess off hand, I'd presumed something around .250 or .275, but I'll have a much better image after I've shot this.
For about $80 buck for parts from Midway, I'm pretty satisfied. If I had to good gunsmith with metal working machine, I'd had had the flats extended professionally, but not knowing someone, and seeking to answer the personal question (can I do this myself) I just worked patiently, stopping after ever 50 strokes with the file and checking level front to back and side to side. The sight itself covers the cuts so it looks good. It is an awesome rear with the while post and outline... very quick to catch your eye and the red fiber optic catches the light quickly, although I wish the rod was larger.
There is no reason for those who make sights to exile the PT1911 to fixed sights... nice three dot or night sights, but the accuracy of this gun begs for a set of fully adjustable target sights. Since you can't by them, at least you can do them on your own (or have a machinist do the work). If you don't mind cutting the dovetail just a bit deeper you could make these sit down absolutely tight against the slide, but I didn't care to add that to my equation... and I'm pleased with my results.
