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Sight Options and Loctite for G17C

7K views 31 replies 8 participants last post by  emmawilliams 
#1 ·
Okay, so I am so confused now what brand/kind of sights should I get for my G17C.

So far I'm looking into the TRUGLO TFX PRO TRITIUM/FIBER-OPTIC DAY/NIGHT SIGHTS. Are they good? Then I saw this HIVIZ TARGET SIGHT SET FOR GLOCK. Which one is better?

I also have a question on Loctite. Apparently there are many kinds. Which one is for Firearm Use when I install the new Front Sight?

Thank you very much.
 
#4 ·
I have the truglo tfx pro on one of my g 19's and like them enough to put them on my g 43.
But with my aging eyes they are being changed over to red dots.

I don't use locktite on regular sights but blue on the the red dot mounts.

Gaz
 
#6 ·
My oldest pair is about 4 years old and no need yet. They're on the pistol I use at steel plate matches so it gets a good work out until this past summer.

Gaz
 
#7 · (Edited)
My issue with the TruGlo TFX Pro Tritium/Fiber is the length of the front sight. The result of putting them on a G17 is to reduce the sight radius to that of a 19. On a 19 it reduces to that of a 26.

This is definitely not the end of the world. But for me the fiber still didn’t pick up a lot of light when shooting indoors so I wasn’t happy about giving up radius for the fiber. The orange circle stood out better than the fiber. My personal preference would be the TFX Pro night sight (no fiber) over the fiber.

Historically, I’ve been happy with standard Glock night sights on my self defense guns - especially for the price. But since I’m also starting to deal with aging eyes I’m going to start buying night sights from Dawson with larger rear notches.

I haven’t replaced the fiber on a TruGlow but replacing the fiber on Dawson Precision sights is really easy. I would think replacing on a TruGlow wouldn’t be difficult. - EDIT I forgot the TruGlow puts the fiber rod and tritium inside a tube. I don’t know what it would take to replace that.


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#9 ·
Great product review MtStream! Okay, so I was wondering what the effect on accuracy will be since you pointed out that the sight radius will become shorter compared to the factory front sight.

Did you also use Loctite when you installed the Front Sight? Also, my Gen3 comes with the Stake-type front sight. How should I remove it without damaging it? Can I re-install it should I decide to go that way in the future?
 
#12 ·
I do use Loctite when replacing front sights. My choice is 262 but 242 works well too as long as you clean/degrease the screw with alcohol. I've never had to use heat or more than finger force to remove 262 and have never had one come loose.

The very short description of sight radius (distance between sights). If you have an imperfect sight picture when the round is fired - that error is amplified the shorter the sight radius. The further away the target being shot at is, the greater the effect.

Here's a chart I just found that shows with a 3" sight radius and a .5 mm error in sight picture the effect is 3 inches at 25yds. But with a 6" radius the effect is only 1.4 inches.



Don't get too consumed with this for the type of shooting you want to do - almost all pistol self defense shots are at extremely close ranges. It's just something I keep in the back of my mind and really just consider for competition shooting.

There is a reason Glock created the 17L for competition and not long after new rules about the pistol length were created, effectively banning the 17L from competition! They had to shorten it down to the model 34 to be more fair.

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#13 ·
Thanks MtStream. This is most helpful. I might be getting my new sights this week from a local manufacturer. Much cheaper here where I am at. I will keep you guys posted how it's gonna look like and how it performs. It's a Fiber Optic Front Sight with Black sights.

I also have a question on the Recoil Spring Assembly. What's gonna happen if I change the stock Polymer with fixed spring (is it 17 lbs?) with a Stainless Steel Guide Rod and 11 lbs spring (not fixed on the guide rod)? I am using reloads with the following data: 130gr teflon head 1.125 oal, 4.0 vihtavouri N320.

Also, what will be the difference with a 12 lbd spring (also not fixed on the stainless guide rod)?
 
#14 ·
One of the advantages of non captive recoil springs is that they are easy to change at the range... Take both springs to the range and try them... See which you like the best...
 
#15 · (Edited)
My own suggestion would be to stay with your original choice of TruGlo TFX Pro 'LOW LIGHT' sights. Don't try to put them on by yourself. Have someone who has done this before and has all of the right equipment do it for you. (It's worth the $25-30 bucks!)

With over 40 years of pistolsmithing experience to go by, I think that anyone who uses 'red' Loctite (#271) on gun sights is just plain nutz! Red Loctite is not now, or ever has been formulated to use on anybody's gun sights. (Remember: Someday those sights are going to have to come off the gun; and, if they were originally put on with red loctite then THAT ain't going to happen without a great deal of unnecessary effort and expense.)

I would also suggest you forget about the remark that a TruGlo front sight will shorten your available sight radius-THAT is just plain nonsense. Out in the real world something like that will never happen; and, for sure, neither you, nor anyone else will ever notice any such minuscule reduction. (This could only happen on an internet gun forum-OK!) ;)

If you are wondering what type of Loctite formula I use to install my own front sight jobs? Well, I use 'purple' (#222) low strength Loctite; and, so far (about 12 years), I have never had a problem with a loose front sight; BUT I have had a problem with red Loctite that an idiot gun dealer used on one of my Glocks. (It cost me several lost days, and $100 + dollars in order to have a highly skilled machinist mill that damned set of sights off the gun without doing any damage to the slide!)

By the way, over the years I've seen dozens-if not hundreds-of G17's with TruGlo sights on them. Other than the standard TruGlo sights being somewhat fragile and susceptible to crazing and other damage from certain cleaning solutions, I have never heard any sort of complaint about them. TruGlo TFX Pro's are 'good to go'!
 
#16 ·
Hey guys, just wanted to give an update on my G17C. So I ended up replacing my factory sights with a locally-available Fiber Optic Front Sight and Iron Serrated Rear Sight. I tested it at the range over the weekend it it was a big improvement from the factory ones.

I also replaced my factory guide rod into a stainless steel one, and the factory recoil spring into an 11lbs one. I fired it using hand reloads (130gr teflon head 1.125 oal, 4.0 vihta vouri N320), did 260 rounds, and I never encountered any issue. One thing I noticed though is when I shot at about 10 to 15 feet, my bullets seem to be going lower? Does the 11lbs spring have something to do with it? Or maybe it's just me?

I also noticed that when releasing the Slide Lock lever after doing a magazine change, the slide seems to be in "slow motion" compared to when I had the factory recoil system.

Educate me more please. Haha!
 
#17 ·
Hey, Miami, what are you doing with an 11 lb recoil spring on your G17C? What possible reason could you have for doing that? (And don't say 'better recoil control') Can't say for certain, but Glock sights are probably designed to place bullets, more or less, on the target center at 25 yards. So, the fact that you're shooting slightly low at 3 yards doesn't surprise me. Suggest you don't continue to beat the hell out of your Glock's frame, and put the correct 16 lb recoil spring back into the gun.
 
#18 ·
They said that for improved recoil management, and if you want to shoot competition, 11lb spring is better. But really, what is the effect on my firearm if I use an 11lb spring or 12lb spring with the loading data that I am using (major power factor)? Is it gonna destroy my firearm or ruin some parts?

Thanks for your input guys.
 
#19 ·
They said that for improved recoil management, and if you want to shoot competition, 11lb spring is better. But really, what is the effect on my firearm if I use an 11lb spring or 12lb spring with the loading data that I am using (major power factor)? Is it gonna destroy my firearm or ruin some parts?
Have you actually chrono'd your reloads in your gun? I'm not sure they will actually make major powerfactor... I'm not sure why you would want to shoot major powerfactor anyway... Are you shooting to USPSA or IPSC rules?

The lighter the recoil, the more force the slide hits the frame with.... Hence more wear or possible damage.

Get a couple of different recoil spring and try them... The plan is to get the gun to return to the same place after you fire it... Too low, the spring is too heavy... too high, the spring is too light... Get some Wolf springs and try them out.
 
#20 ·
Hi _jb, I haven't personally chrono'd my reloads (I only get them from a reloader, I don't reload them myself) but I plan to do so this weekend. I would like to train using major power factor as I intend to get into PPSA which is the equivalent of USPSA/IPSC here in our country (I think).

May I ask, what is the weight of the standard spring that comes with a Gen 3 G17C? Is it 16lbs or 17lbs?

What weight of springs would you recommend given the loading data that I am using? So 11lbs and 12lbs are definitely a "no no", since these can ruin my FA?

I am very new to this and am still trying to understand all the technicalities... :(

Thank you very much...
 
#21 ·


No one can recommend the best spring for your gun with your ammo... You can guess or take someones advice, but most competitive shooters test recoil springs in their gun with their ammo... Recoil springs are cheap and you want to find the best spring for your gun... It's an ongoing process.

Did a quick Google search and found the above video... It's a few years old, but pretty good... It shows his methodology for testing recoil springs.

Looked up PPSA... Philippine Practical Shooting Association... Click PPSA | Philippine Practical Shooting for the PPSA home page... Check out the rules section... See what division fits your gun best the best.
 
#22 ·
You don’t want the recoil spring too light. The recoil spring protects the gun. If it’s too light you can break locking blocks or worse, crack a slide or frame. The same can happen with a recoil spring that’s been used too long and has worn out.

Something else I’ll mention but I don’t have much knowledge about - when Glock first released the 17L the barrels were ported. The ports were different than your 17c but they also provided compensation. Competitors were loading 9mm to make major which proved to be too much for the ported barrels, many cracked.

While I think with the design difference and shorter barrel of your 17c would prevent that from happening with major loads, I don’t have the knowledge to back that up. It’s something you may want to research.


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#23 ·
Hi Guys, just to confirm, Truglo or any brand of sights for G17 and G17C are the same, right?

So apparently, the local sights that I bought from an online seller is an epic fail. What a waste of money. Lesson learned for me when it comes to purchasing stuff being new to the firearm world. I should have gone for the branded sights in the first place...
 
#30 ·
Hi Guys, just to confirm, Truglo or any brand of sights for G17 and G17C are the same, right?

So apparently, the local sights that I bought from an online seller is an epic fail. What a waste of money. Lesson learned for me when it comes to purchasing stuff being new to the firearm world. I should have gone for the branded sights in the first place...
Optics Planet by chance?
 
#24 ·
Truglo sights are the same for the 17 and 17c. Truglo TFX sights have a very long front sight - this will extend to the cutout ports on the 17c. You may get extra dirt and grime. That’s always a bit of a problem with fiber and comp models.


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#25 ·
Oh right! Do you have any reference on how many millimeters it is from the tip of the slide all the way to the tip of the front sight (going towards the ports)? So I can measure first and haver an idea. The sights that I am planning to purchase will just be shipped to me.

Any other recommendations for suitable front sights for a 17C? I prefer to have both day and night visibility. And fiber optic front sights are easier for my eyes.
 
#26 ·
I don't have a set anymore to measure, maybe one of the others can measure tonight. Here is a photo of a G17 with an early set of TruGlo TFX compared to a G19 with more standard night sights. It's not a measurement but you can get an idea.



I can't think of another manufacturer who puts tritium and fiber optic together.

I think you're going to have to try them for yourself. It's also likely you may really like them now and possibly for years but your tastes/wants may change as your shooting develops and you gain experience (they also may not).

Most of us have boxes full of parts and drawers full of holsters that we have tried over the years. There's really not another way that I have found.

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