I have a bone stock gen3 G34 that I’m trying to turn into competition gun. My daily carry G19 has a pair of Heinies, but for the G34 I want a pair of sights specifically for competition, and rugged at the same time. Similarly, I want a magwell for faster speed reload and balancing. What do you guys recommend for these two items?
I’d say Dawson both. Be sure to keep an eye on magwell materials, as in IDPA brass is not allowed.
What is allowed then? Steel, Aluminum, Polymer?
For IDPA at least, brass is the only thinking expressly prohibited. And as far as plugs, plastic is mentioned as acceptable.
Dawson fiber optic front sight, Dawson black adjustable rear sight. Get the thinnest front sight you can.
Warren Tactical. Plain black rear with a .245 front fiber. I like the U notch and “wave” like cutouts on the rear. Draws my aging eyes towards the front sight more.
I just purchased a new G34 (Gen4) and installed the above-mentioned Warren Tactical Glock sights–very impressed with the product.
I personally find the Wilson Combat/LAV Battlesights to be very easy to track with a tritium or gold bead front. So I would probably pick up a set of them from Wilson and run a fiber optic front.
My USPSA/3gun g34 wears sights from Taran Tactical and I highly recommend them. They also have a pretty nice magwell for the gen3 pistols. You say “competition”, but what type of competition? IDPA, USPSA, ISPC, 3 gun, Steel, outlaw? Which type and what division you want to play in will help determine your accessory choices.
USPSA for instance, you’ll probably want to shoot production with a 9mm so a magwell is out or you can shoot limited minor, take the scoring penalty and run a magwell. IPDA SSP = no magwell; you can shoot IDPA ESP with a magwell, but a magwell that is legal for 3 gun and USPSA might not be legal in ESP (not all fit in the IDPA box). Every game is different so what type of matches do your local clubs offer and what interests you the most?
Great question, I’m primarily interested in USPSA and 3gun matches, in the production/tactical classes. So far I’ve only been shooting in a local pistol league which is basically tactical-style shooting with production guns. I’d like to stay with production guns since for me the purpose of competition is to run my SD guns faster in SHFT scenarios. Is the restrictions in these games primarily associated with magwell, or do iron sights matter too? I don’t plan to run a reddot on the G34 (at least not yet).
I’ve had Dawson F/O and Warrens, but am really digging Frank Proctor’s Y-Notch sights. For me, they offer both quick acquisition, with the precision that I sometimes was lacking with the other setups. I do, however like what TTI does with mounting their fiber optics on the tip of the front post.
Probably stupid question, but why?
Brass is heavy, heavy = competitive advantage. The philosophy behind IDPA divisions is to prevent an equipment race and allow a large variety of guns to be competitive. Not saying it works, thats just the idea - to limit “race guns” and prevent an equipment race.
For USPSA, a magwell puts you in limited division which allows you to run full capacity 140mm mags (22-23rnds for g17/34) but puts you at a scoring disadvantage because you are shooting 9mm (minor) as opposed to major power factor.
Production division won’t allow magwells, limits you to 10 rnds per mag but major/minor are scored the same.
Red dot puts you in open division which is not where you want to be with a g34. Just google “open division 2011” and check the images to see what you would be competing against. An open division SVI and a g34 with a red dot on top aren’t even in the same ball park.
For 3 gun you have a lot more latitude. Red dot pistol still = open division, but no power factor, no magwell restrictions or length/height/weight restrictions. If 3 gun is your primary sport, deck that g34 out and shoot limited minor at the occasional uspsa match. If you have more pistol matches available or that is your primary interest, stick with production division (fewer mods to the pistol) - you’ll be more competitive and not having a magwell will not change your standing at a 3gun match. 3 gun is won on long range rifle stages and with shotgun loading.
The ALG Defense magwells are an excellent choice for 3Gun and USPSA. Taran Tactical also makes some good magwells and sights too.
Sights: Warren Tactical Sevigny Black Rear/ Fiber Optic Front
Magwell: Zev or Taran Tactical
I’ve been using sights from 10-8 Performance. Front sight pictures will be same as Dawson, but the fiber optic is a little better protected. Rear sight will also be similar except it has a shelf for one handed slide racking similar to the Trijicon HDs. I had a set of Dawson adjustable on the back of a TRP and had an issue with them loosing zero.
I have most all of them, but like the Proctor sights the best now.
I really like Dawson sights: http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80001917-1390506928 - are what I have now, the rear notch is .135 and the front is .105, I wouldn’t mind trying a .145 rear to see if I could shoot with no correction in my shooting eye (presbeopia (sp?), but haven’t got around to it.
Here is a short article on selecting sights by Hilton Yam: http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=5358
Years ago I had a friend that had a 1911 with a gold call bead front sight - R.O. Culver had built it for him, I do not know where he got the sight, but I fell in love with it, I’ve never found one like it, it was along the lines of the bead of old Remington rifled sights, except for a pistol.
As others have said, I too recommend Dawson Precision.
The front fiber sits very high on the post and illuminates very well because they create a nice channel for it with minimal material blocking light. Additionally, the fact that they have a guarantee on impact/zero is good to know. If you order a sight set from them and it doesn’t zero where you want it, they will replace the front sight free of charge until it zeros.