[Kamerer]

Which would you choose for a range/plinking gun with limited occasional carry?

I have an SA-35 with the unmarked U-notch rear and front white dot. I have not shot it much yet; just got it and it's been rainy. I've dry fired it a bit and find the sight arrangement practical. I have also just received a Colt vintage GM "parts kit" - all parts save the frame from a vintage gun. I will refinish the slide or have it done and switch it to taller sights. I'm considering a 10-8 U-notch rear and white dot front for commonality. I was planning on a three-dot system, but think commonality might be more useful.

This is the SA sight arrangement I am talking about, vs. the traditional three-dot.

 

[Crab Boy]

To each his own. But I can't stand the U-notch sights. Keep them a square notch for me.

 

[apipeguy]

For conventional bullseye shooting I still prefer the thin square notch rear. For carry and “practical” shooting I prefer the U-notch with either a gold bead or Ameriglo front sight. The rear U-notch takes a while to get used to but once you do, it is very fast.

I suggest that you put a lot of rounds through the SA-35 before making a decision about possibly changing it.

 

[mkk41]

Square, U or V-notch rear, Big Dot front nite-site.

The front sight is the one that counts when up close and personal.

 

[Kamerer]

For conventional bullseye shooting I still prefer the thin square notch rear. For carry and “practical” shooting I prefer the U-notch with either a gold bead or Ameriglo front sight. The rear U-notch takes a while to get used to but once you do, it is very fast.

I suggest that you put a lot of rounds through the SA-35 before making a decision about possibly changing it.

I wasn't planning on changing the SA-35, but making the Colt match it so they were the same sight arrangment.

I've used "cradle" type rear sights before. This is a diamond ghost ring rear and FO front I put on a custom Caspian I built about 20 years ago. It was VERY quick; the quickest pick-up I've experienced with iron sights. It was also exceptionally precise as the green dot in the bottom of the V made alignment feedback amazingly quick and clear.

 

[flechero]

I like an all black rear sight, regardless of the front. Admittedly I also like the U notch, but the notch itself is a minor preference... the flat black blade is the key.

 

[Retired AF CE]

I too like all black rear sights. But U or squared notches make zero difference to me.
Try shooting a Steyr M9A1 with the trapezoidal sights!
I would go with what is good for you and common on your pistols.

 

[jetrinka]

Blacked out rear u-notch with highly visible front sight. Heck when you line up the 3 dot night sights on some of my pistols using just the dots it would shoot low anyways.... If you need night sights you should probably have a flashlight or not be shooting at whatever you're aiming at anyway...

 

[akriet]

Are ghost ring 1911 rear sights still made by anyone?

 

[Kamerer]

Are ghost ring 1911 rear sights still made by anyone?

That one pictured above still is. There may be others elsewhere:

Caspian Arms | Serving the custom pistolsmith since 1983

I found that one in the bins at the Caspian factory when I picked out the frame and slide (I used to live not terribly far from them before I moved to WA). There's no pic on the website, but this is what they are, a Bomar lo-mount copy:

 

[YVK]

I was told that U notch sights are made for speed. I found them to be the exact opposite, unless the U is so stretched and deep that it is practically a square notch with rounded corners.
No love for three dots; the rear two visually overpower the front dot for me.
I guess no help to OP, sorry.

 

[VF-1]

Although I’d prefer a domed gold bead up front, a ‘U’ notched rear is SOP for my 1911s.

 

[idriller]

Square, U or V-notch rear, Big Dot front nite-site.

The front sight is the one that counts when up close and personal.

Ive been debating trying the big dot front sight

 

[hardluk1]

For range / plinking and hunting when eye sight was good was ether all black or gold bead but always with a all black rear sight .
For carry ,,, I don't have a preference but a thin front gold bead front black rear round or square does not matter . The white beads found on many pistols I hate but after blacking out the rear beads and placing a drop of testors brite yellow 2717 on the white dot works well for me too . I really don't focus on the sights for defensive drills . More of a glance over the slide and sights to know its pointed at center of mass till yards starts to get beyond 18 to 20 yards .

Remeber many of use older shooters did not have sight options like today . It was ether black or front gold bead and maybe an adjustable rear and hitting a target was not an issue . Not to many years ago I would set up sticks in the ground and place 12ga hulls on them and at 25 yards with my '61 colt huntsman hitting 8 out of ten was an average round for me and my wife . That pistol had nut'n special standard black sights . I wear trifocals today so target shooting is more dot optic for sights and then its a green dot not red .

 

[bradsvette]

Here's a vote for the U-notch black rear sight and a big dot front sight.

 

[parallax]

Not a picture of my gun, but I have the same setup on my Dawson RZ-45.
I treat it like a Heinie "Straight 8" setup. Just line the two dots up to make an "8".

 

[jetrinka]

Not a picture of my gun, but I have the same setup on my Dawson RZ-45.
I treat it like a Heinie "Straight 8" setup. Just line the two dots up to make an "8".

View attachment 655575

Looks like a variation of the XS Big Dots

 

[parallax]

Looks like a variation of the XS Big Dots

Standard tritium that came with the Dawson up front, and a Novak Ghost w/ tritium dot on the rear.

Novak Designs Inc. - Product Detail

 

[brickeyee]

For conventional bullseye shooting I still prefer the thin square notch rear. For carry and “practical” shooting
I prefer the U-notch with either a gold bead or Ameriglo front sight. The rear U-notch takes a while to get used
to but once you do, it is very fast.

I suggest that you put a lot of rounds through the SA-35 before making a decision about possibly changing it.

I would second the "put a lot of rounds through the SA-35" before changing anything.
Make sure you experiment with some 'indirect lighting.

Gold bead front sights have their own set of problems.
A bright source of light from one side can create a reflection from the gold bead
that is brighter on one side.
This can then pull the sight picture to align on the reflection. throwing aim off.

 

[markm]

I really don't like u-notch rears, especially with FO fronts. They are passable with large front dots like Ameriglo/Trijicon. But I still am fond of three-dot and they are the fastest for me.