1911 GI sights vs Novaks ?

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georgiacatweazle

New member
I'm in the process of trying to figure out the best entry 1911 to buy, given the obvious need to over time do upgrades.
Some folks have mentioned having to mill out the standard sights to install Novaks.

For anyone who's running with the standard GI sights, bottom line is do they work ? a sight is a front post and rear block with a slit no matter if basic or novak. novak looks nice and i do have Heine's on my glock. POU of pistol is mostly right now 10-25 yard, with a possibility in 6 months to use it for IDPA. 

Thanks
 
Gi sights for idpa will add significantly to the challenge. Novaks, heinie or 10-8 would be a big improvement. Much easier to get a good sight picture.
 
I have shot 1911 with GI sights (no competition). It can work but the upgraded sights are much nicer.
Replacement to GI does not always have to be novak style. There are upgraded replacement sights that would fit the GI dovetail rear and tenon front.
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If it were me, I would just get the pistol with the upgraded sights (if money allowed).
 
If you don't want the hassle of changing sights from the little GI version, try this first:
Deepen and widen the rear notch until the front sight is more prominent and has more light around it.
One advantage of the GI sights is the accuracy they provide.
With the above modification, they can be very useful, even with old, blurry eyes.
If you still don't like it, then change them, there's nothing lost.
 
I've had a Norinco 1911 since before the ban. Didn't have an issue with the GI sights till my 56 year old eyes started going south. As said there are many options out there.If you do go with Novaks as I did they do nice work. One of the few I found that work on Norks. For me it was like night and day. They offer many styles fixed,adjustable,fiber optic,gold bead.A little pricey ,but you get what you pay for.

I would shoot the GI for a while.I f you feel the need to change,do some research and shop around.See what works best for you
 
It's been a lot of years since I used GI sights but it seems to me that being so low, that there was often a lot of glare coming off the slide distorting sight picture. We used to order a taller set and replace them. Standard dovetail rear but you might want to have someone re- stake the new front. You retain more of the traditional style sights but can actually use them and file in if needed. I'm using Novak sights on mine now, but would do the taller route again. Taller sights should be available anywhere.
 
For anyone who's running with the standard GI sights, bottom line is do they work ? a sight is a front post and rear block with a slit no matter if basic or novak. novak looks nice and i do have Heine's on my glock. POU of pistol is mostly right now 10-25 yard, with a possibility in 6 months to use it for IDPA.
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I own lots of 1911s with GI sights. I own a few with Novaks. I own some guns with Harrison 1911 sights. I have some with adjustable target sights like Bomars. If it were me and my end goal was to get to a pistol that I would use to shoot IDPA I would save my $$ and buy something suited to the task.

If you buy the RIA GI you will be in for $375 give or take a few $$. From there you will have to mill the slide to add Novak, Henie or LPA sights depending on which ones you want. Cost $150 give or take. RIA dovetails even the "Novak style" ones are not standard Novak cuts.

Then there is the beavertail and extended safety. If you can install them yourself you can save some money but you are still looking at another $100 in parts give or take plus install if you are not going to do it yourself.

So your $379 RIA GI just became a $639+ labor RIA.

$379+$150 Sights+$100 (+labor if needed) Beavertail & safety.=$639+

Or you can get a STI Spartan for $689 + shipping and transfer. It used to be a better deal when you could find them for $599.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=469232808

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Or a SA Range officer for $738 + free shipping + transfer.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...28LP+1911+Range+Officer+7+1+45ACP+5\"+Package

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Both the STI Spartan and the Range officer will be setup from day one with your end goal in mind. I am all for building a custom pistol but the RIA IMHO is not the platform to do it one with is cast frame, extruded slide and avg barrel. If you want a true custom gun to build on in the future get a $710 Colt shoot it stock which will be better shooting then the RIA and then upgrade from there. Still not as economical as the SA Range officer but still better than pumping money into an RIA which you will never get your money out of.

Even better save you cash and buy one used. Should be able to get out the door around $600 still with a lifetime warranty.
 
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My one 1911 is an sr1911 it came factory with novaks. I like them, can't see any reason to complain. Don't know why anybody would want GI's instead.
 
My one 1911 is an sr1911 it came factory with novaks. I like them, can't see any reason to complain. Don't know why anybody would want GI's instead.
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There is something about the GI sights and the look that they provide. For many it is the classic 1911 that they know from their time in the service or their youth. They are much better than most people give them credit for IMHO.





 
If you go with Novak it is not too hard. You send the slide in and they make the cuts get the slide back to you within a week or two.

The issue is really the cost. If you have a local smith you trust to mill your slide it can be easier.
 
As my gunsmith said, if the factory will do it, let the factory do it.
On a shoestring, the RIA Tactical with Novaks is only $40 more than GI which is far less than from any gunsmith.
 
georgiacatweazle said:
For anyone who's running with the standard GI sights, bottom line is do they work ? a sight is a front post and rear block with a slit no matter if basic or novak.
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Do you really mean "GI" sights, as on the original M1911 and M1911A1 pistols, or are you generally asking about upright sights?

I have shot true M1911A1 pistols, and the sights are woefully inadequate for my aging eyes. I have also fired a recent Colt 1991 Commander (the 1991 series being Colt's entry level), which has upright sights that superficially resemble "GI" sights, but are orders of magnitude better.

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These are the pistols I was aiming for ...

$360 for ATI
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_1171/products_id/75562

$420 for Girsan (I think I can make an offer for $400)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_1197/products_id/411552652/Girsan+MC1911S-G2+.45ACP+5%22+Sport+wTac+Rail

$380 for RIA
http://www.southernohiogun.com/handguns/armscor/rock-island-arm-1911-45acp-parkerized.html

Looks like the RIA are true GI sights, very low, the ATI are high set. Girsan has the goodies.
 
These are the pistols I was aiming for ...

$360 for ATI
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/75562

$420 for Girsan (I think I can make an offer for $400)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...port+wTac+Rail

$380 for RIA
http://www.southernohiogun.com/handg...arkerized.html

Looks like the RIA are true GI sights, very low, the ATI are high set. Girsan has the goodies.
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Save your money and get a better gun. ;) You are bottom feeding and if you want to shoot any of these well in IDPA you will pay more in the long run then buying a higher quality gun.
 
Those are pretty iffy 1911's. The Rock my feed well enough to be fun and I hear Armscor's warranty is pretty good. Frankly, I liked my Rock, except the sights, but it is gone now.

There are some amazing prices on the Colt 1991 at Grabagun. I would try to get to that point.

Let's talk sights in a way that will make sense.

The Colt will have serviceable sights, so will the ATI and possibly the Girsan from the pics. The Colt's will be best.

The Rock will need help, IMO..$60 for black sights, $150 for machining.

An SA mil spec will also have what you want, but is priced near the Colt.

Good luck. Consider that making a cheaper 1911 run can cost a lot in shipping and gunsmithing.
 
with a possibility in 6 months to use it for IDPA.
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One aspect of choosing sights that hasn't been mentioned is for the games like IDPA, with big targets and short distances.
For that the sights are not nearly as important as for shooting for groups or for say Bullseye.
In the fast games the sights are more for reference.
Actually taking time to get a really good sight picture is way too slow to score well.
If IDPA, USPSA, Steel Challenge, NRA AP or a similar activity is a goal, you may be over thinking the importance of the type of sights.
Just a thought.
 
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