Factory Sights... WHY?!

[Que]

I cannot understand why most manufacturers put out guns with factory sights when they know their consumes are going to have night/target sights put on as soon as they leave the store. Is this my assumption or am I not alone on this?

 

[eldirector]

A) Guns need sights, so they may as well put something cheap on there.
B) I would guess the vast majority of folks DON'T change their sights.
C) Many manufacturers also offer decent sights as an upgrade.
D) Gun shops love selling upgrades :-)

 

[huntall50]

You may not be alone but it is not likely to change. Its strictly business and profit margins and allowing the other guy its niche in the industry.

 

[357 Terms]

Your not alone, with a few exceptions I have modified/changed the sights on all my guns.

 

[BravoMike]

I think that most people actually keep the original sights on the gun, but I would guess that it is the most popular "upgrade" that people do.

I think it would be a great idea if they sold a gun without sights at a discounted price so one could use that money to put towards a set of sights they wanted. Although, I suspect there wouldn't bee much of a discount.

I didn't vote in the pole because it depends on what I use the gun for and how well the sights work for me. One example is my Browning Buckmark that I used to use for bowling pin matches. The sights where all black and while I could have bought fiber optic sights, I just painted the front sight post fire engine red with model paint and it has worked well for me.

 

[N8RV]

I just buy Sigs and it's not an issue.

I would imagine that with some manufacturers -- take G-lock, for example -- they know that many of their customers want to personalize their guns, so the stock Glock is a basic model. It works just fine out of the box, but if you want to spend more money gussying it up with night sights, new barrel, lighter trigger connector, springs, etc. ... well, soon you'll have as much in a G-lock as you would have had you bought a Sig to begin with. It's just uglier.

 

[loony1]

I always switch out my sights.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Probably because the overwhelming majority of handguns sold aren't upgraded by their owner/s.

 

[Rob377]

It depends on the gun. Some companies put on sights that don't totally suck, straight from the factory.

Sight preferences are a personal thing, as well. It's more efficient to put on craptastic sight that are ridiculously cheap to keep overall cost down and let the end user decide exactly what they want vis-a-vis putting on more expensive sights that would increase cost for all buyers when only a portion of those buyers actually want whatever sights are chosen. E.g. I wouldn't want to pay extra money for a Glock with 3 dot night sights, because I hate 3 dot night sights. They're going to end up getting yanked just like the plastic ones. Given the choice of $500 gun with sights I don't like, and a $550-$575 gun with sights I don't like, I'll take the cheaper one every time.

Sure, it would be nice if they came with the exact sights I wanted. But if they did, they wouldn't be the sights that someone/everyone else wanted. The logisitics of making and selling umpteen different models to try to please everyone would be burdensome.

 

[Tombs]

Sights are highly subjective for people.

Factory sights are just what works for most individuals, and generally they aren't that expensive.

I don't change the sights on everything. I only change the sights if the sight picture is excessively busy or there isn't enough air on the front sight.

If every handgun had these sights, I would never dream of changing them, as this is as close to perfection as I can get:

 

[TheUziButton]

This M&P9 CORE is the only handgun I kept the OEM iron sights...
[video=youtube;X8PEGqF5BX4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8PEGqF5BX4[/video]

All others I have replaced with aftermarket sights...

 

[AllenM]

If all the manufactures put Night/target sights on their guns then those would be factory sights....I hope this post helps in some way....

 

[Harleyrider_50]

I cannot understand why most manufacturers put out guns with factory sights when they know their consumes are going to have night/target sights put on as soon as they leave the store. Is this my assumption or am I not alone on this?

?........for all intent's an' purpose's for carry'n 1.......in'a situation you'd have ta draw/present it.......do ya really NEED sights?......
nev'r could grasp the fancy sight rhetoric......if they on there,they are, if they ain't,they ain't. Think sumbody's gonna warn ya "HEY!......I'm come'n over to rob ya......wait jus' one second....." from accross a dark street/park'n lot ?......

If anybody cain't point/shoot a hangun an' hit somethin as big as a 'nuther person in 10 ft or less.......better run,anyways.....

(most attacks gonna be upclose an' personal.......close enuff ta stick in the gut,throat......or a ear, an' go B O O M ! )

 

[AllenM]

?........for all intent's an' purpose's for carry'n 1.......in'a situation you'd have ta draw/present it.......do ya really NEED sights?......
nev'r could grasp the fancy sight rhetoric......if they on there,they are, if they ain't,they ain't. Think sumbody's gonna warn ya "HEY!......I'm come'n over to rob ya......wait jus' one second....." from accross a dark street/park'n lot ?......

If anybody cain't point/shoot a hangun an' hit somethin as big as a 'nuther person in 10 ft or less.......better run,anyways.....

(most attacks gonna be upclose an' personal.......close enuff ta stick in the gut,throat......or a ear, an' go B O O M ! )

Assuming all handguns are being used for self defense

 

[roadrunner681]

this is like asking why people like certain colors. every one will give you a different answer

 

[bowtie]

I just buy Sigs and it's not an issue.

I would imagine that with some manufacturers -- take G-lock, for example -- they know that many of their customers want to personalize their guns, so the stock Glock is a basic model. It works just fine out of the box, but if you want to spend more money gussying it up with night sights, new barrel, lighter trigger connector, springs, etc. ... well, soon you'll have as much in a G-lock as you would have had you bought a Sig to begin with. It's just uglier.

From one SIG lover to another glad you said it man lol

 

[cedartop]

.
.
(most attacks gonna be upclose an' personal.......close enuff ta stick in the gut,throat......or a ear, an' go B O O M ! )

That doesn't seem to jive with most stats for non LEO gunfights I have seen. Can you give some info on that?

 

[Que]

this is like asking why people like certain colors. every one will give you a different answer

That's why I posted the question.

 

[Que]

Even if I'm just using a gun for steel or pin games, I haven't found the plastic factory sights to be good in certain outdoor conditions. This causes me to change them out.

 

[dubsac]

This brings up a follow up question, what brand sights do you prefer? Do you have different brands on different guns?