So he broke the OEM rear sight on his GP100, 4 1/8" .357 mag. .. installed the XS Sights Big Dot on the front. XS included a VERY THIN & FRAGILE rear sight. All kinds of folk say it breaks easily. Since I gotta replace my rear sight, I'm thinking about going with the HI VIZ instead of the Ruger OEM sight. But I'm wondering if it'll be a good match? I'm thinking of maybe an elevation issue. My front is yellow. I'll get red, black & green LitePipes with the HI VIZ.
XS SIGHTS Front Big Dot + HI VIZ Adjustable Rear Fiber Optic
- Thread starter Putnaman
- Start date
contender
Ruger Guru
Welcome to the Forum!!!!!!!
I have several Hi-Viz fiber optic sights. I prefer them over XS sights for MY purposes.
I have several Hi-Viz fiber optic sights. I prefer them over XS sights for MY purposes.
OP
Well, HI VIZ is telling me their rear fiber optic sight won't be a good match with the XS tritium front sight. They say their fiber optic glows as a result of picking up ambient light, whereas the XS tritium glows on its own. I'm being told the fiber optic is much brighter when light is available than the tritium. So with that, I'd be met with a brighter rear sight than the front sight, which I'd think would not be good. The thin, fragile rear blade sent by XS might not become a problem for me since I never carry the revolver in a holster, and that's where I'm told it becomes vulnerable. So with that, I guess I'll buy a replacement Ruger OEM rear & either keep it "as is" or try the XS replacement blade. Sure would be nice if XS came up with a complete rear replacement. Also, HI VIZ is telling me their complete rear replacement won't fit my GP100 anyway because it only fits GP100s that are both elevation & windage adjustable. Mine is elevation only adjustable, not windage. And it looks like the XS is a better fit for me since I'm being told it's better in dark conditions. This is primarily an in-home hg & likely to be used in low light conditions @ close range.
contender
Ruger Guru
My apologies,, I was thinking you wanted to replace both the front and the rear.
NikA
Hunter
Would be interested to see the Ruger OEM GP sight that is only elevation adjustable. I know Ruger has made DA sights that are only windage adjustable that slot into the frame, not familiar with one that is only elevation adjustable. Suspect the complete HiViz sight would work in that case as the windage adjustment is on the sight body anyways...
OP
This is what's left of it. But anyway, it's kinda mute @ this point if the HI VIZ rear would have fit or not, since I want to stick with the XS tritium Big Dot on the front. Am I right in thinking the HI VIZ is a superior daytime sight, while the XS is more of a sight for all lighting conditions? Not really an A student @ anything, but a good solid B student @ about everything? As is, this XS Big Dot looks really big in a lighted room, while it looks smaller but still visible under less lighting. It's even visible in a pitch black room. I think I'm gonna like it if I can get something for the rear. If the regular elevation adjustable only Ruger OEM rear will work, I should be happy. This isn't for precise shooting. It's for minute of bad guy accuracy when he's @ close range, in my home & a viable threat. That's it. And, of course, a li'l fun time @ the range. Funny story on this hg. Was down south of St Louis back in '15, heading out the door from a shooting range when I saw this beaut. Asked to shoot her. Permission granted. Cocked the hammer on a target @ 7 yards & put a round right in the middle of the bullseye. Happy. Cocked her again, pulled the trigger, but put no hole anywhere on a target 18" tall by 12" wide. Not good, I thought. Very depressed. Thought I'd maybe hit the ceiling. Heck, I didn't know. Adjusted my glasses. Noticed I'd put the 2nd shot through the same hole as the 1st. Needless to say, she followed me home.
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contender
Ruger Guru
Ok,, you have a broken rear sight assy. That is a Ruger factory rear adjustable sight type. It's just missing the rear half. Those do adjust for windage & elevation. Your's is missing part of it.
Hi-Viz is a fiber optic, and is great in daytime. Yes,, it uses ambient light to allow us to see it easily.
The XS dot is for both day & night.
I've tried a XS front sight, and found the dot to be too big for serious longer range accuracy. I like smaller dots no matter what type. Fibers, reflex types or electronic. I like to be capable of shooting at 50-100 yds & actually not lose a small target because of the dot.
And even at shorter distances,, I like to shoot groups as small as possible,, and a big dot isn't as precise.
But that's MY,, repeat MY preferences.
Hi-Viz is a fiber optic, and is great in daytime. Yes,, it uses ambient light to allow us to see it easily.
The XS dot is for both day & night.
I've tried a XS front sight, and found the dot to be too big for serious longer range accuracy. I like smaller dots no matter what type. Fibers, reflex types or electronic. I like to be capable of shooting at 50-100 yds & actually not lose a small target because of the dot.
And even at shorter distances,, I like to shoot groups as small as possible,, and a big dot isn't as precise.
But that's MY,, repeat MY preferences.
OP
Yep, that's what she looked like before I did my remodeling work. Great looking setup as is. Beautiful revolver. For me, I like the unpolished finish Ruger leaves on it & its SP101. Bought mine used, but not by much. It had been manufactured in November '14 & picked it up May '15 for a li'l off the $ of new. The extra heft lets it deal with recoil very well. Hogue grip fits well. Not another .357 I'd rather own. That was one of those rare purchases when I bought something the day I 1st saw it. Usually takes YEARS, lol, or decades! But that thing was hot as fire sitting in that display case. Was 2 steps from the door, after having shot a couple of handguns that I was thinking about purchasing (I was brand new to hgs & spent a day just seeing what I could do with them. Before that, I'd only owned a Ruger Convertible .22/.22 mag SA) and planning on heading home after having hit 3 ranges. Had no intention of picking up a full-size revolver that day, but there I was.
OP
Appreciate it, contender, for the clarification. Well, I guess I never discovered it was windage adjustable since I never had to adjust it. Blind in one eye & can't see outta the other. :rolleyes: I hear ya on the preferences. Was reluctant to put ANY type sight on it other than the original simply because of the aesthetics--I think it just plain looks better stock. But it's also a hg I keep in the home @ the ready, so I decided to bite the bullet, so to speak, & change out the sights. Plan on ordering the OEM rear replacement & see if the Big Dot will work with it. If not, I'll install the XS rear blade (they call 'em Express Sights for quick acquisition) & just be extra careful with it. That thing is super thin but as long as I treat 'er well maybe it'll hold up.
contender
Ruger Guru
Glad to help!
Stepvenlau
Bearcat
Bowen offers a rear sight assembly called a "Rough Country" that can replace the stock rear sight. Bowen offers several rear blade types such as white outline, Express, etc. I have used them on all 3 of my GP100's.
See:
https://parts.bowenclassicarms.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2
Mepro offers a tritium rear adjustable sight for GP100's:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1773388879...CF6Fjj8XnAMLzifokg2h8kgaw=|tkp:Bk9SR574nfacZg
See:
https://parts.bowenclassicarms.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2
Mepro offers a tritium rear adjustable sight for GP100's:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1773388879...CF6Fjj8XnAMLzifokg2h8kgaw=|tkp:Bk9SR574nfacZg
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OP
Nice!
Stepvenlau
Bearcat
I ran into the same issue with the XS rear on my GP100 it really is fragile. I swapped mine for the Hi-Viz adjustable rear and paired it with the Big Dot front. No major elevation issues for me, though I did have to play with the LitePipes to find the best color contrast. Green pipe + yellow front was surprisingly fast to pick up. If you're worried about height mismatch, the Hi-Viz gives you enough adjustment to dial it in.
OP
Thx, Stepvenlau. And WELCOME! to the forum. I went ahead & purchased a Ruger OEM rear sight. The Big Dot front completely fills the notch in the rear sight, but that might be ok. I also like Thel's prior thread mentioning the Ruger Rough Country rear sight. Looks rugged & much better than the XS rear blade. How about compatability in various lighting conditions for your set-up? Can your eyes pick-up the difference between the XS & the Hi-Viz?
Stepvenlau
Bearcat
I've run the XS Big Dot up front with a fiber rear before (different revolver, but similar idea), so a couple thoughts:
• The XS rear that comes with the Big Dot is pretty flimsy you're not the first I've heard say it can crack. The Hi Viz is definitely more robust.
• As for matching: the Big Dot sits a little taller than OEM, so depending on ammo and how you hold, you might have to experiment with the LitePipes or possibly file the rear a touch. Many folks report that with the Hi Viz adjustable you have enough travel to bring POA/POI together.
• Color combo is personal. Yellow front with green or red rear can work fine; some even black out the rear and just use the big glowing front.
If you end up trying it, post back your results there's not a ton of documented "Big Dot + Hi Viz" setups on GP100s. Might help the next guy with the same broken OEM sight dilemma.
OP
Copy all. Will post back once I get some range x with the current setup (OEM Rear/Big Dot Green Front). Prbly gonna be a winter project, though. Got into clays this summer so that's taking about all his x for now.
