Question About Adjustable Sight

[dgludwig]

Anybody know of a low-mounted adjustable sight that will fit an 85B dovetail? Thanks.

[Walt-Sherrill]

LPA made them for a while.  (Under their own name and under the Mec-Gar brand.)   Millett had some, for a while, on Numrich.

The problem is that most low-mounts (and the factory adjustable is relatively low-mount) require that the area behind the dovetail, which has a raised rib, be milled.  So its not a "self-install" undertaking.

Look into the factory sight that comes on the CZ-85 Combat.

In my experience, adjustable sights are like chrome hubcaps: they look nice, but don't make the gun perform much better.  Exception: if you handload and experiment with a lot of different bullet weights and loads.

Once you find an ammo your gun likes, its unusual to adjust the sights.

[johebu]

Meprolight ML-27777        Adjustable set for CZ-85

I saw this listing today at

www.meprolight.com/products.asp?id=1

but I don't know how up to date it is or who might stock them.

[Ulvetann]

MidwayUSA seem to have 4 left of the Millett-sights...

Millett

[Walt-Sherrill]

I think the Milletts are for the older pre-B.  They won't work in the 85 Combat.  Different dovetail.  (The older dovetail is narrower, and there'd be almost no way to make the work in the 85 Combat.)

The Millett are good sights, though.  I have a set on a BHP.

[Highcap]

Quote:In my experience, adjustable sights are like chrome hubcaps: they look nice, but don't make the gun perform much better. Exception: if you handload and experiment with a lot of different bullet weights and loads.

This is true if the guy (or machine) who sighted in your pistol happens to have the same sight picture you do.  I agree that adjustable sights aren't changed often but they are very nice to get your pistol sighted for YOUR eyes.

[Chuck441]

I agree, Highcap. My 85 Combat's rear is as high as it will go. It's right on target for me and my pals- all experienced shooters. If it had a fixed rear, I'd be sunk (file down the front sight? Naw!!!).

Chuck

[Walt-Sherrill]

You wouldn't be sunk.  You'd contact CZ for a higher (manual) rear sight.  They are numbered and are available in several different heights.  

(You could also take some material off the top of the front sight if you didn't have to raise the point of aim too much.)

[Chuck441]

Thanks, Walt. I didn't know that.

Chuck

[Highcap]

Quote:You wouldn't be sunk. You'd contact CZ for a higher (manual) rear sight. They are numbered and are available in several different heights.

The only problem with this approach is that you'd have to order and install the new rear sight.  Then,  a week or two later, the pistol would be sighted in properly until the next time you used a different load.

[Walt-Sherrill]

True -- but you're describing a problem that also confronts the vast majority of shooters in the world, as only a small portion of guns come with or are later fitted with adjustable sights.  I wonder how all those shooters get by?

I have adjustables mounted on three of 20 hand guns, and all three of them came that way.  I've never had a problem with the point of impact being THAT much different as I went from one weight/load to another.

Get adjustable if you like them.  But get good ones, as some are somewhat fragile and others don't hold their positions.  A good set of adjustable night sights might be the best of both worlds.   Milletts or Bo-Mars are exceptional.  

The factory LPAs are OK, but nothing to get excited about.

[Highcap]

Quote:The factory LPAs are OK, but nothing to get excited about.

I agree.  I have Milletts on a couple of Ruger autos and they are superior but LPA's are what come on the 85 Combat and, as far as I know, there are no better alternatives.

As to how others get by with fixed sights, some are lucky that the sights agree with their sight pictures and load.  I have a SIG Pro SP2009 and the factory fixed sights are perfectly zeroed for my reloads and my shooting.  Got lucky there.  Others either adopt "Kentucky Windage" or never shoot at long enough distances to have a problem.    

[Walt-Sherrill]

Or... the guys who have a little more experience, contact the gunmaker and get appropriate rear sights.  

You tell them the distance you're shooting, and how far down or up the point of impact is, the number or height of the sight you're using, and the gun maker can send you a replacement sight.

There ARE other adjustables, by the way, and most of the Tritium sight makers also have adjustable tritiums and some have non-tritium adjustables.

Meprolight, according to their website, makes an adjustable for the CZ-85 (which has the same dovetail as the 75).  You might want to contact them and see whether its an 85 or an 85B (I suspect B).  

[dgludwig]

I started this thread back in March and I appreciate all of the informed responses thus far. IMO, there are no real downsides to adjustables over fixed sights other than the initial added expense but with two caveats: one, if the intended purpose of the handgun is "deep-cover" (i.e., pocket carry)  where a snag-free draw is needed or, two, if the pistol is to be employed on the battlefield where extreme rigorous conditions are anticipated.

In my experience (33 years in le carrying a handgun of one type or another daily), the often heard criticism of adjustables being unduly fragile is, IMO, just folklore. In numerous "scuffles" I had where my handgun with adjustables got banged around, I experienced only one occasion when said sights were damaged. This incident occurred while rolling around on the ground with a parolee who didn't want to go back to prison and the blade was partially snapped off. I can tell you that, in that situation, if I had needed to use the gun, I wouldn't have needed sights of any kind.

On the other hand, contrary to the experience of others apparently, I have not found it unusual for me to have a handgun with fixed sights point of impact to  not correspond with my point of aim. That situation, of course ,requires either knocking the rear sight one way or the other, removing some metal from the front sight or, in extreme cases, turning the barrel (of a revolver) one way or the other (I'm not an advocate of "Kentucky" windage). And, after doing the adjustments to the fixed sights, your load selection becomes pretty well "fixed" too.

Because I like to reload as well as experiment with various factory loads and to try various bullet weights at varying distances, most of my handguns will always wear good adjustables (exceptions, of course, being my Smith 642 snubbie-used for pocket carry, and my Ruger Vaquero- used for "cowboy action" shooting). All of which is why I inquired about having a set of quality adjustables installed on my 85B. I will be following up on some of the good suggestions offered. Thanks again.