New SAR K2 (and a question)

[SerenityNetworks]

Well I I finally got my new SAR-K2 out to an indoor range today. OMG am I going to love this pistol. I have small hands, but it fits me like a dream for shooting. It is a little thick for me to work the magazine release and close the bolt with total ease, but a little more practice will solve that issue. And I would trade that for shoot-ability any day. The muzzle flip is very gentle. I wouldn't call the trigger amazing, but it is much better than anything out of the box I've ever shot before that's anywhere near it's price range (although I confess my experience is limited). It's also a trigger with which I can be consistent. And I can shoot DA & SA with almost equal accuracy. I shot 75 rounds with 3 different types of ammo and there were no feed issues whatsoever, plus I couldn't tell that it preferred one type over the other. For me it points so the sites just line up naturally. I'm still grinning like a Cheshire cat and can't wait to get out and shoot it some more.

Of course, one can't leave a good thing alone.  I'd like to put some better sights on it.  I'm open to suggestions and rationales.  I'm really a rifle guy and I've never upgraded a pistol so I could use some advice.  I also haven't a clue what would work on the K2.  The main reason I shoot pistols any more is to stay proficient enough I can use one well should the need arise either at home or in the field, but I do plan on regularly taking this one to the field.  (Although I will have it loaded for home defense when at the house, it will not be my primary HD weapon.)  During warmer weather (here in Texas) I'll likely have a pellet load or two chambered for snakes or the opportunity for a rabbit.  But I also hunt hogs, usually at night.  I have a laser on the pistol, which should serve me better at night in the field than tritium.  I'm not opposed to tritium sights, but I'm not convinced that I need them either.  What I would like are some finer sights that will allow me greater accuracy at distances of 25+ yards during the day.  If there are tritium sights that will do that then great; I get the best of both night and day.  Or maybe fiber sights would do me better.  I don't know.  I do know that at 59 my eyes do appreciate bright sights.  I am a good enough shot that I certainly want windage and elevation adjustments on the rear sight.  And I do want irons.  I'm not really interested (yet) in red dot or other optics.  Lastly, yes, I do know that I could improve my skills and do better with the factory sights.  But I also think I could do better with my current skills if the pistol had better sights.  I can be a 16 MOA or better shooter (offhand) on a good day with my 22/45.  Even when I have outliers, the bulk of my group will be within 4" at 25 yards.  I'm not doing that well with the K2.

Hopefully that gives enough information on my abilities and intended uses that some suggestions can be made.  If not please ask for me to clarify.  I will certainly appreciate your opinions and suggestions.

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

[badjuijui]

Congrats on your K2, SN.  I presume you are talking about the K2 45, not the 9mm. I have had to adjust my sights all the way up and somewhat to the right as it was shooting very low and left.  Now I know righties have a tendency to do this, so I had someone else shoot it also and it was off.  But, hey, that's what adjustable sights are for.  Anyway, I knew it was gonna be a winner because althought it was off, the groups were making big holes in the target. It is very accurate.  I will be very interested in hearing what night sights work on the K2 45 as that's what I will probably end up putting on mine.

[SerenityNetworks]

Yes, I have the .45 ACP.  I was shooting about 2" at low left at 10 yards and had to adjust accordingly.  But the sights were also set to the left just a bit.  Now they are just barely off the center line at the right, so I didn't have to make any drastic adjustments.  And as you say, that could very well be me and not the pistol.

I am still curious as to what sights the forum might suggest.

[AllanWJ]

Congrats on the K2 choice - they're pretty nice and that price is insanely low for what you're getting.

I've been playing with sights lately, mainly because I didn't really have enough experience with the different types to know any better. You outlined your needs pretty well and what I'm finding myself is that there's no one-size-fits-all - either for personal eye conditions or different shooting conditions.

I just installed a set of Mepro night sights on my 75 Compact last night and frankly, I don't get it. I turned out the lights and it took five minutes for my eyes to let me (barely) focus on the glowing dots. I'm 62 and my better physical days are all behind me - my eyesight just plain sucks. I can kind of see the rationale of them if you're stumbling around in the dark because at least you can see the front sight and it'll help you point better. But personally my eyes just didn't want to focus on all three dots. If it's that dark, I think I'd rather not be point shooting at shadows anyway; a light mounted on my K2 makes a whole lot more sense.

My compact is for carry and my K2 will do the nightstand thing, so there's two different applications going on. I don't expect to be carrying in absolute darkness outside the house, and I won't be carrying my K2. During the daytime or in lighted areas, I found that I prefer plain bright white dots (the bigger the better) or a FO front sight for SD scenarios - e.g. less than 20 yards.

I put a FO sight from CGW on my full size 75 and that is tied for choice for the daytime or lighted nightime use. I have another carry gun (SA XDS 4.0) that has a FO front and white dots on the rear and that is a very comfortable combination for me. I blacked out the rear dots on my full size 75 and I liked that even better. It has the advantage of being more useful for the long shot, but again, I think I'd prefer a a larger FO front if I were looking at SD only. The full size is my fun gun, and I'm about mount a Burris Fast Fire on it - that's an option that I was thinking could be useful in the field. But maybe not.

Yet another one of my carry guns is a SA XDm 3.8 in .45.  It has a simple 3-dot setup with huge bright white dots and a big fat front blade that fills the whole rear notch - and I can acquire a target and shoot better groups under 20 yards with that gun than any others I own. I don't understand it, but I'm not gonna question it either. It's just what is. I sold all my Glocks and FWIW, I never could figure out the logic in those U shaped white lines.     

Anyway, what I've learned over the past coupla months is that there's no right answer when it comes to sights. Application and eyeball age seem to be what counts and that's gonna be personal. I like the big white dots on my K2 but that's just me. A Surefire light on the rail and maybe go to a FO front and I'll probably be happy. Probably...

Allan     

PS - I also have a 22/45 with a 4x Simmons scope. It's my ground squirrel control gun. Scopes rock for old eyes if you can take the time to put the gun in a sandbag. 

   

[Pageram]

A SAR K245 is on my short list of eventual purchases. Congrats on yours.

[ZardozCZ]

I got my K2 45 to the range today and shot it's second hundred rounds through it. Much of the shots were to sight in both the iron sights and a streamlight tlr4. The final 30 rounds, whether iron or laser surprised me. I have never achieved such small groups with a center fire pistol! I ran out of ammo before I could really cut loose and play with it, but the final rounds were such a blast, I can't wait to get back with another couple hundred rounds!

I would really like to have Wilson Fire Sights like on my GP100 on this K2 45! I know I need new glasses, but FO sights just rock for indoor ranges! Tritium Fiber Optics are the cats meow, and I'd just love them on this gun. (They're the only reason I keep my G27).

I think we will learn to like these K2s more each time we get out with them, and even more with sights that work well for us. I'm surprised and very pleased with this gun! Oh, and this being my first chromed barrel, it cleans so quickly, I'll be looking at future guns having chrome as well! (I hear CGW has chromed some barrels for their Copperheads, might have to look into that further!!!)

Enjoy your K2 45, it's worthy of praise and better sights!

[SerenityNetworks]

Has anyone successfully replaced the sights on the K2?  If so, how and with what?

I've been in contact with Brian at eastonfirearmsrefinishing.com.  His process and work is impeccable, but it is also out of my price range.  With my eyes, I'd be stepping up just to replace the front sight with a Williams Fire Sight.  I don't even mind doing a bit of filing &/or epoxy work to get the sight to match up with the dovetail on the K2, but I don't know with which part number to start.  Brownell's was a bust.  I need to call Williams to see if they are aware of anything.  I hope to do that tomorrow.  I've also dropped Angus an email to see if he can help.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks,
Andrew