Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911

techoca · 07-13-2009, 07:53 AM

I will be installing night sights on my S&W 1911ES that is my CCW. Have any of you installed Heinie Straight 8 Sights on your CCW? I have Novak style on my Springfield Loaded full size pistol and am very happy with them. I am intrigued by the Straight 8 concept.

Please post your opinion.

Thanks,

Eddy

TranterUK · 07-13-2009, 08:16 AM

The idea of having two dots, one above the other isnt new. I remember having that on a Beretta 92 back in the eighties. Though they were white painted dots rather than tritium.

I found it an excellent and easy to use system. I often wondered why two, one above the other wasn't as, or more popular than the more common three dots.

By the way, I love your Smith. The flat mainspring housing, the forward slide serrations, the slick sights, the beavertail, light weight hammer for a fast lock time and even the extended safety. It's about as good as it gets. I would love to shoot it. You see someone with that on their belt, chances are they know what there doing.

jfrey · 07-13-2009, 08:35 AM

Personally, I've tried 'em and don't like 'em. I'll stick with my Novaks.

techoca · 07-13-2009, 09:02 AM

Thanks Tranter,
I really like this pistol and feel it makes a great CCW. Thanks for the kind words.

Eddy

techoca · 07-13-2009, 09:39 AM

One other option I've considered is front night sight only. ??

Bindernut · 07-13-2009, 10:22 AM

I've got a set on Heinie's on a Taurus 1911 I just picked up. They're just painted dots though (no tritium, actually I think it's glo-paint but very worn out). Honestly, I haven't paid that much attention to the dots on the sights so I can't really pass judgement on em yet.

As for being snag-proof, I still think the Novaks are a little better for use on a carry gun. These Heinies I've got need some "dehorning" around the edges on the rear sight where the Novaks that I've used have been good to go right out of the box.

Doc1911 · 07-13-2009, 10:37 AM

I just sent my NHC T-3 back to NHC to have the Novaks put on the weapon. It is more a matter of preference ...

TranterUK · 07-13-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techoca

Thanks Tranter,
I really like this pistol and feel it makes a great CCW.
Eddy

They dont come any better in my book. Also as I see you carry quotes from Col. Cooper. I was fortunate enough to know him, and know he would also have approved.

techoca · 07-14-2009, 06:09 PM

I like the Novaks too. Thanks for the input guys.

Eddy

Doc1911 · 07-14-2009, 07:28 PM

I just recieved the T-3 back with the Novaks:

With the Heines:

techoca · 07-14-2009, 07:40 PM

Doc, that is awesome. The Novaks look great.

The sights on my Smith are very low profile. I called Smith for a price on their night sights for the 1911ES Compact, they were $25 more than other sights I've priced but I want to retain the profile as this is my carry pistol.

Eddy

TOOHSOTKIL · 07-16-2009, 06:28 PM

Straight 8`s have been around for decades, still a quality setup- very fast.

sabre03 · 01-06-2010, 12:50 PM

I am a big fan of the Heinie str 8 sights and have them on two of my 1911's, but I had a smith install on the one pictured and the RRA came with them. It does take some machining but they are worth it. If you install Heine I recommend you get them with The Novak cut; this gives you more options if you want to change them later.

deftec · 01-24-2010, 11:32 PM

straight 8s worked good for me. especially for moving and shooting. only thing i had to get used to was shooting from past 20 yards. then i had to ignore the dots and focus more on the actual irons. seems weird i know. maybe it was just a mind thing.

techoca · 01-25-2010, 07:05 AM

Since this old post has continued to get attention I thought I should update it from my perspective. I found that I prefer Novak style sights. Three of my five 1911s have Novaks.

I decided to install replacement sights from Novak on my 1911ES. The stock sights on the pistol were very low profile Novak style sights. Novak makes an exact replacement night sight with Trijicon inserts and that is what I chose.

The pistol in question is my daily companion.

07-13-2009, 07:53 AM	#1
techoca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 329	Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 I will be installing night sights on my S&W 1911ES that is my CCW. Have any of you installed Heinie Straight 8 Sights on your CCW? I have Novak style on my Springfield Loaded full size pistol and am very happy with them. I am intrigued by the Straight 8 concept. Please post your opinion. Thanks, Eddy Attached Images __________________ techoca "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." Col. Jeff Cooper -->

07-13-2009, 08:16 AM	#2
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 The idea of having two dots, one above the other isnt new. I remember having that on a Beretta 92 back in the eighties. Though they were white painted dots rather than tritium. I found it an excellent and easy to use system. I often wondered why two, one above the other wasn't as, or more popular than the more common three dots. By the way, I love your Smith. The flat mainspring housing, the forward slide serrations, the slick sights, the beavertail, light weight hammer for a fast lock time and even the extended safety. It's about as good as it gets. I would love to shoot it. You see someone with that on their belt, chances are they know what there doing. __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way! Last edited by TranterUK; 07-13-2009 at 08:24 AM..

07-13-2009, 08:35 AM	#3
jfrey Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Texas coast Posts: 12	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 Personally, I've tried 'em and don't like 'em. I'll stick with my Novaks.

07-13-2009, 09:02 AM	#4
techoca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 329	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 Thanks Tranter, I really like this pistol and feel it makes a great CCW. Thanks for the kind words. Eddy __________________ techoca "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." Col. Jeff Cooper

07-13-2009, 09:39 AM	#5
techoca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 329	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 One other option I've considered is front night sight only. ?? __________________ techoca "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." Col. Jeff Cooper

07-13-2009, 10:22 AM	#6
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,432	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 I've got a set on Heinie's on a Taurus 1911 I just picked up. They're just painted dots though (no tritium, actually I think it's glo-paint but very worn out). Honestly, I haven't paid that much attention to the dots on the sights so I can't really pass judgement on em yet. As for being snag-proof, I still think the Novaks are a little better for use on a carry gun. These Heinies I've got need some "dehorning" around the edges on the rear sight where the Novaks that I've used have been good to go right out of the box.

07-13-2009, 10:37 AM	#7
Doc1911 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 874	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 I just sent my NHC T-3 back to NHC to have the Novaks put on the weapon. It is more a matter of preference ... __________________ _____ Sincerely, Doc NRA Life Member

07-14-2009, 06:09 PM	#9
techoca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 329	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 I like the Novaks too. Thanks for the input guys. Eddy __________________ techoca "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." Col. Jeff Cooper

07-14-2009, 07:28 PM	#10
Doc1911 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 874	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 I just recieved the T-3 back with the Novaks: With the Heines: __________________ _____ Sincerely, Doc NRA Life Member

07-14-2009, 07:40 PM	#11
techoca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 329	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 Doc, that is awesome. The Novaks look great. The sights on my Smith are very low profile. I called Smith for a price on their night sights for the 1911ES Compact, they were $25 more than other sights I've priced but I want to retain the profile as this is my carry pistol. Eddy __________________ techoca "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." Col. Jeff Cooper

07-16-2009, 06:28 PM	#12
TOOHSOTKIL V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Curracus Posts: 318	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 Straight 8`s have been around for decades, still a quality setup- very fast.

01-06-2010, 12:50 PM	#13
sabre03 Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 11	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 I am a big fan of the Heinie str 8 sights and have them on two of my 1911's, but I had a smith install on the one pictured and the RRA came with them. It does take some machining but they are worth it. If you install Heine I recommend you get them with The Novak cut; this gives you more options if you want to change them later.

01-24-2010, 11:32 PM	#14
deftec Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: charleston sc Posts: 12	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 straight 8s worked good for me. especially for moving and shooting. only thing i had to get used to was shooting from past 20 yards. then i had to ignore the dots and focus more on the actual irons. seems weird i know. maybe it was just a mind thing. __________________ "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1

01-25-2010, 07:05 AM	#15
techoca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 329	Re: Heinie Straight 8 Sights for Carry 1911 Since this old post has continued to get attention I thought I should update it from my perspective. I found that I prefer Novak style sights. Three of my five 1911s have Novaks. I decided to install replacement sights from Novak on my 1911ES. The stock sights on the pistol were very low profile Novak style sights. Novak makes an exact replacement night sight with Trijicon inserts and that is what I chose. The pistol in question is my daily companion. Attached Images __________________ techoca "The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range." Col. Jeff Cooper