Handgun sights come in several styles depending on the intended use. There are fixed sights often found on self defense weapons. There are adjustable sights found on hunting guns and target pistols. The sights referred to above are what are called “iron” sights. There are no optics in them and sighting is accomplished by aligning the front sight between the notches of the rear sight. When using these sights one should focus on the front sight and let the foreground and background blur out. This is a difficult concept among beginners as the tendency is to focus on the target. Both of these types work essentially the same the only difference being that the adjustable sights have some sort of mechanism to zero them in to the bullet being fired. This is significant for someone shooting targets or hunting at long ranges. It is not as important in a self defense weapon that is going to be used at 10 or 20 feet.

Many pundits will tell you that you need adjustable sights on your combat pistol or revolver. The reality is that the typical confrontation a civilian is going to have with an aggressor is going to occur at very close range. In fact, if you were to shoot someone 100 yards away you might have problems justifying to the police how you felt threatened by them. At 20 feet the very slight differences in point of impact of various loads is insignificant. Your accuracy is much more likely to be affected by the adrenalin rush and the need to shoot quickly than the ¼ inch difference between where your sights are aimed and where the bullet impacts.

The advantage of fixed sights is that they never move. Once you’ve found a load that shoots well in your gun nothing will change due to the sights moving. Adjustable sights, because they have a mechanism for movement, are subject to change without notice. However, the odds of the sights moving enough to make a difference at self defense distances are remote.

One variation on iron sights are those with tritium inserts. Tritium is an unstable isotope of hydrogen that emits light as it decays. What this means is that the dots on the sights glow in the dark. This allows you to line up your sights in the dark. Of course, it goes without saying that if you’re lining up your sights at something in the dark it’s your responsibility to know what you’re aiming at.

While some hunters and target shooters use iron sights, many have opted for some kind of optical sight or handgun scope. Competition shooters often use optical sights to improve their accuracy in events that allow them. Optical sights come in two types. One is known as the red dot sight. This type of sight puts the red dot aiming mark and the target in the same optical plane of focus. Therefore you can now see the target and the sight without any blur. This makes for a very easy to use and accurate sight. However, these sights are bulky and sit on top of the pistol and require batteries. They are however very fast in use, even faster than iron sights in certain circumstances.

The other type of optical sight is the conventional scope as seen on most rifles. This type of sight magnifies the target for greater definition and accuracy. They typically have some sort of cross hair aiming mechanism. When looking through the scope the cross hairs and the target appear on the same plane and are very sharp and clear. For long range target shooting and hunting this is the preferred choice.

Extreme cold and dampness can reek havoc with optical sights. Batteries lose their charge and the red dot doesn’t work. Condensation on the lenses of the scope can create a blurry view. In cases like these, especially where there is the chance of encountering dangerous predators, iron sights are the most reliable and preferred.

Finally, there is the laser sight. These sights project a laser to the target. They are aimed by placing the dot of the laser on the target. They are useful in the dark or poorly lit situations. These sights are typically of no use to the average civilian shooter.

If you’re going to buy optical sights for your handgun -- buy the best. Cheaper sights typically do not hold up well to the recoil of heavy magnum revolvers. The premium scopes are well sealed so moisture won’t get inside the scope. In the right hand column we have listed the major scope manufacturers that we would recommend.

Handgun Sight Manufacturers

Aimpoint

BSA

Burris

Bushnell

Leupold

Meprolight

Millett

Nikon

Simmons

Tasco

Trijicon

Weaver