I have mentioned that I didn’t like the “3-Dot” sight picture on my Springfield XD (which means that I’m a dirty, dirty gamer). I ordered a set of Heinie sights to replace the existing sights on the gun, but what if you don’t want to spend $75 to get rid of that annoying sight picture?
If that’s the case, you go to the Wild E. Coyote School of Gunsmithing sight system. Use the following steps to get rid of your annoying “3-white-dots” sighting system.
- Get a fine tipped black sharpie pen
- Color in the two rear dots
- Use a match to “flame” the sharpie ink into the small holes, making it more or less permanent.
Now you have a black rear sight, and a nice attention grabbing white dot on the front post only. If you don’t like the white dot, you can do what I did and take a neon green sharpie pen and color the sight green. While the ink will wear off with cleaning and shooting on the front sight, it’s a relatively cheap and low-tech solution to get rid of your three dot sight picture without having to lay out any cash.
The reason I suggest this is that the stock sights on the XD don’t suck in terms of sight picture. The rear notch is wide enough that it allows a significant amount of light in around the front post, allowing for relatively fast acquisition of the sights. My problem was always that damned three-dot sight picture; the rear white dots would drag my eyes away from the front sight dot, which is where they really need to be.
Thanks for the tip. I’ve tried sharpieing sights, but never knew you could “flame” the ink in. I’ll give it a shot tonight.
As a side note, make sure you disassemble the gun, and remove any oil from areas that might contact the flame. Unless you like setting off your smoke alarm.
Heh, I’m just the opposite, I have white-out painted onto the surface of my S&W adjustable revolver sights to give it the contrast of the 3-dot picture that I like.
Yeah, I think that’s what that ’4 weapon master’ or whatever from Front Sight says to do.
6 sandwich condiment master?