Best 1911 Sights – 2022 Reviews

The 1911 sights we review in this article are alternatives to the stock sights that your handgun comes with and can help you use your firearm more effectively. As an example, your stock sights might be hard to see in lower light or at night. The products we’ll review today give you some better performing alternatives. Check out the best 1911 sights we’ve seen or sighted.

IMAGEPRODUCT 
  • Best overall
  • Visible at night and in low light settings
  • No batteries required
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  • Bright red dot allows for fast target acquisition and easy aiming
  • Compact and lightweight
  • 1x magnification for enhanced awareness and target acquisition
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  • Best value for the money
  • Tall blade on front sight quickens target acquisition
  • Protective Clear Coat resists powder residue and cleaning solvents
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  • Two different colors for easier alignment
  • Easy installation on compatible 1911 models
  • Won’t snag standard holsters
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  • Works in low light settings
  • Trusted by officers and military personnel
  • Helps with target acquisition
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What are 1911 Sights, and What are they used for? 

1911 sights are replacement sights for your handguns stock sights to help your shooting performance. They might glow in the dark or even in the light and help you positively ID your target quicker.

These sights often have dots that light up and align. They have the same shape as your iron sights, but the dots on them are brightly colored to help while you aim. It is also possible to put a reflex red-dot-sight on your 1911 that helps you aim as well. 

Ultimately, 1911 sights help you aim more efficiently to improve your accuracy, target acquisition speed, and firing in lower light situations. They can help you gain confidence and mastery using your firearm. 

Are All 1911 Sights the Same? 

While all 1911 sights help you aim faster and more accurately than a sightless 1911, their designs and functionality are different between brands. 

Some of these sights replace your stock iron sights and help you aim with glowing dots that you line up when you aim. Some products glow because of their glow in the dark feature, but others require battery power. 

Reflex sights have other significant differences. While these replace the iron sights on your pistol, they are essentially an electronic scope you’re putting on your gun. 

What to Look For When Buying 1911 Sights 

The goal of using a 1911 sight is to help your aiming, target acquisition, and accuracy. 

Accuracy

The sight you use will be your tool to help you aim your pistol accurately. If you decide to use a sight with dots that are brightly colored, make sure that you pick a sight with colors that you can easily see. 

Compatibility

Look for a sight that will withstand the recoil of your gun. Your sights must stay in place to help you aim consistently. You need your sight to attach securely to your firearm, so ensure that the sight you purchase is compatible with your 1911.  

Purpose

Finally, pick a sight that will help you with your gun’s purpose. It might be self-defense, sport shooting, or recreational shooting. For whatever reason, make sure that the tool you use will help you use your pistol for its intended purpose. 

For home or self-defense, pick a sight you can use in low-light or night situations. For sport or recreational shooting, pick a sight that you can reliably use to quickly and consistently acquire targets. 

Review of the Best 1911 Sights

Here we will review the best 1911 sights. 

Each one has features that make it unique. Look for functionality and practicality for your situation; refrain from selecting a sight because it looks impressive. Remember, the best 1911 sight is the one that helps your shooting the most. 

Top Pick

TRUGLO Tritium Handgun Glow-in-the-Dark Night Sights for Kimber Pistols

TRUGLO Brite-Site Tritium Green Kimber Handgun Sights (TG231K)

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Reviewers report that the TRUGLO Tritium sits comfortably on the gun. This is a reliable sight that withstands recoil and is easily visible during the day and at night. All three white dots are visible and easy to align. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

This sight is incredibly well-designed and helps with aiming. It works with holsters for fast drawing. Sometimes, aftermarket sights can snag in holsters, making them problematic when defending yourself. 

The glow in the dark sights don’t require batteries, so it’s completely reliable. You won’t have to worry about batteries dying at the wrong time. Overall, this is an excellent help for shooters for self-defense and target shooting on the range. 

Bottom Line

This sight glows brightly at night and in low light. The dots on the sights glow brightly enough, and you can align them easily when you aim. it gives you everything you need for a replacement 1911 sight. 

Runner Up

Burris FastFire III Red Dot Reflex Sight

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers of this product praise this sight’s simplicity. Some buyers say this is their first holographic sight, and they are satisfied with the quality and how easy it is to use. Complaints are about the plastic battery cap that at times requires effort to stay on after firing your gun. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

The Burris FastFire has proven itself a strong contender as an easy-to-use and versatile holographic site. It helps you aim faster, acquire targets with ease, and shoot with confidence. It’s all the performance you want in small, compact, and convenient dot-sight. 

For both home defense and recreational shooting, you might be someone who prefers to have a scope on your firearm like us. This sight makes aiming your pistol straightforward. We like that you can see the glowing dot even at night for use during home defense or shooting in lower light. It’s a device that helps you have confidence with your 1911 in any situation. 

Bottom Line

As the reviews state, this is a great way to get into holographic sites as it is reliable and easy to use. Also, make sure you secure the plastic cap into place if you find that it pops off at times. 

Best Budget Option

Trijicon HD Night Sights for 1911 

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers are enjoying how easy it is to shoot with the bright orange dot on the front sight to guide your eye. Reviewers say that it is well worth the money and that this sight improved grouping and target acquisition. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

We like that this gun sight is ready to use in various situations. You won’t worry if you have to fire during rainy weather because the sight materials are waterproof. This is another versatile sight for a 1911, rifles, or shotguns.

Aiming, accuracy, and grouping will see an improvement after fitting this to your 1911. The front sight features a tall design and a wide U-shaped notch to prevent glare while shooting. This is a sight you can trust at night and in lower light settings when you might need it most. 

Bottom Line

The Trijicon is a sight that gets the job done on a low budget. The sight uses materials that withstand wet weather conditions, the recoil of your pistol, and the wear and tear of years of shooting.

TRUGLO FiberOptic Front and Rear Handgun Sights

TRUGLO Brite-Site Fiber Optic Red, Rear Green Kimber Handgun Sights (TG131K)

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers praise this sight’s color difference that grabs your attention and helps your eye focus while aiming. These sights do not need a battery as they glow in the dark. However, reviewers report that the dots are harder to see at night but will perform in lower light settings. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

The two different colors on the sights make aiming much more straightforward. These are a fantastic replacement to stock 1911 sights as these add a little more usability in lower light situations and a lot of help when aiming. We like that the sight does not require batteries, and so you won’t have to worry about replacing equipment. 

These sights also use a robust CNC steel construction, making them tough and reliable for years of shooting. The design of these sights allows you to use them with holsters for quick drawing without snagging. 

Bottom Line

These are an upgrade on standard 1911 sights. These will help you aim faster and with more consistency. The two-color dots make it very easy to aim with confidence. While not recommended for night shooting, the sights will help in low light. 

Meprolight USA Tru-Dot Night Sight

 

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers of the Meprolight report this sight’s helpfulness when aiming. These will fit a Rock Island 1911 9mm TCM. Though these are good night sights, buyers caution against using this at night if you only purchase the front sight. Officers and Military personnel use this on their firearms as well. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

It’s significant when the military or the police trust in a product. The Meprolight gives you the quality you know professionals trust out in the field. This sight helps you aim at any time of the day, even at night. Also, we love that the Meprolight stands by their Night Sight with a 12-year warranty on illumination. 

The Meprolight performs under pressure, allowing you to shoot with confidence, as these are some of the brightest sights on the market today. This sight will help you build skills with your firearm and helps you rely on your weapon even in dangerous situations. 

Bottom Line

The military and police know that their firearm’s reliability could be the difference between life and death. Both organizations trust this sight and use it. Meprolight gives you an option that performs and helps you improve as a shooter. 

Advantages of Investing in a Quality set of 1911 Sights

Investing in a good sight improves your shooting, your confidence, and your sense of self-reliance. 

One of the reasons you purchased your firearm likely was to provide yourself or your family a sense of security. A quality 1911 sight helps you build the skills you need to use your gun effectively. Your ability to fire with accuracy and confidence are skills, and 1911 sights help you develop those skills. 

Certain situations make your firearm less usable at a moment’s notice; one of those circumstances might be at night or in a low light setting. The sights we reviewed in this article make your 1911 more reliable when targets are less visible. They will help you be ready in any situation if you need your pistol. 

Finally, a 1911 sight essentially prepares you for the worst-case scenario if you need your firearm. If you both invest and use your sights to gain confidence, you make yourself a more capable and responsible gun owner, increasing the safety of those you intend to protect with your handgun. 

Whether in self-defense or for recreational shooting, you want the skills to use your weapon effectively. These sights will help you get to that point of capability. 

Conclusion 

The best 1911 sight for you is one that encourages you to improve your skills. Pick the sight that helps you aim the best in the situations you want to utilize your pistol. The sight you select should be one you’re comfortable using, and that gives you confidence and peace of mind. For us, that sight is the TRUGLO Tritium Handgun.

People Also Ask 

There are a variety of 1911 sights on the market today. Some sights suit specific shooters better than others, and all of them offer unique advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at some questions buyers frequently ask when buying a 1911 sight. 

What is the best color for gun sights? 

Most colors for gun sights are usually bright in color like red, green, or white. The best color is the one that helps your eye align the dots on your sight. This color should catch your eye even in lower light or night settings. 

Are night sights really necessary?  

The necessity of night sights depends on the intentions you have with your weapon. You may not need a night sight for recreational target shooting if you don’t intend to shoot in lower light. However, for self-defense, you want your weapon prepared for any situation if you need it, even at night. 

Joseph Fox

Joseph Fox

Joseph Fox writes on a variety of topics ranging from reloading ammunition to gun cleaning. He has been featured on various publications like thetruthaboutguns, Sofrep & many more. Joseph is also the founder of Gunloading, where he reviews different types of reloading & firearm products available on the market.