How to Install Glock Sights (With or Without a Sight Tool)

A Glock straight out of the box is a phenomenal pistol, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.  Remember, the design is for mass appeal and not your own personal needs.  Though I am inclined to keep as much factory as possible, sometimes a little change is warranted.

The number one change you can do to a Glock to get it running right for you is a simple sight swap.  For a tactical situation, you may want night sights.  For those with eye issues, fiber optics make sense.  If you are running a suppressor, you may need taller sights.  While Glock Perfection may be true in a general sense, for you specifically, perfection takes a little work.

Changing sights is no big deal and can be done with a couple of commercial tools easily.  If you don’t want to invest in those tools, it can be done with a couple of simple tools that most people have already.

The Recommended Method

What You Will Need

• Glock Front Sight Tool
• Dovetail Rear Sight Tool
• Loctite Threadlocker Blue

Step 1: Disassemble

The first step is always to safety check your gun and do a field strip.  You want to make sure the upper has the barrel and spring removed.  

This is all standard practice.  If you are unsure how to get to this stage, there are many resources (including YouTube) that are very helpful and will be invaluable to you if you continue to own a Glock.

Step 2: Front Sight

I prefer to start with the front sight.  I use the Bastion Front Sight Tool. Through the bottom of the slide, you will see a 3/16” hex nut.  This can be removed with the front sight tool.  If you have issues getting the nut to move, a pair of pliers to assist with getting it started can be helpful.  Just be careful to apply even pressure slowly to not damage any component of your pistol.

Replacing is just as easy.  Place the sight in place on top of the pistol and hold it while tightening the nut.  A little Loctite will help keep it in place during regular firing.  You don’t want to crank down on the sight.  This is one reason I recommend a handheld sight tool like the one above.  If you tighten too much you can damage the sight.

Before final tightening, ensure that the sight is even and straight on the top of the pistol.  Hold it in place while you snug the screw.

Step 3: Rear Sight

For the rear sight I recommend the NcStar Universal Sight Tool. Simply slide the sight tool in place and use it to push the sight out of its groove.  This can take a little force to do on some pistols.  There are tricks to loosen it, but for the beginner, you are better off taking your time and pushing it slowly.  If it still won’t come (which I have never seen on a Glock) you can try the method in the following section.

With the old sight removed, it’s time to seat the new sight.  Make sure the sights are facing the correct direction and use your thumb to push the sight in as far as possible.  The farther in the sight goes, the easier it is to line up the sight tool.  Go slow and make sure the sight stays level and even while you tighten the tool.  You want to get the sight as close to perfectly center as possible.

Step 4: Reassemble

Reassemble your gun and you are ready to do some test firing to make sure you are on target.  You can use the sight tool to slightly adjust the rear sights to get you on target.  This is the easiest method of adjusting your sights.  Remember, if your impacts are to the left, move your sights to the left and vice versa.

The Budget Method

What You Will Need

• 3/16” Nut Driver
• Nylon Punch
• Vice with Soft (Leather or Nylon) Jaws
• Lightweight Hammer
• Loctite Blue

This is only the most affordable if you already have a decent set of tools.

Step 1: Disassemble

Safely disassemble your pistol as described in the above section.

Step 2: Front Sight 

Replacement of the front sight is identical…but substitute the nut driver for the front sight tool.  Be extra careful as you can accidentally tighten the sight too far quite easily with a nut driver. If you have a small socket set that has a long enough 3/16” socket, you can opt for that as well.  Remember the Loctite!

Step 3: Rear Sight

For the rear sight, you want to lock your upper in the vice and get it just tight enough so the pistol doesn’t move.  The upper should be mounted sideways for strength and ease.  It should protrude out of the side of the vice, but be as close to the side as possible for support.  Some people are able to do this on a desktop without the vice, but it can be frustrating.

Using your hammer and nylon drift, place the drift as close as possible to the base of the sight and give it a light but solid blow.  You will need to get a grasp of how hard you need to hit.  Don’t go too hard, you could mess everything up.

With the rear sights free, press the new rear sight in as described above.  Until the sights are flush with the slide, accuracy is vital.  Place the nylon drift against the side of the sights making sure it’s perfectly straight up and down.  Use very light and controlled taps to get it fully seated.  As you get closer to the center, it may take a little more pressure.

Step 4: Reassemble 

Reassemble as in the above section. It’s time for some test shots.  Getting everything sighted in using this method can be a little bit of a trial.  Use strikes of the hammer that are just enough to move the sight a tiny amount and go very slow.  A little adjustment can be mean the difference between accurate and off by a mile.

Our Recommended Glock Sights

Trijicon HD Night Sights: These are extremely popular and effective. They usually cost somewhere between $100-$200. For the price, you get GREAT quality!

Ameriglo Sights: I tend to use these on my Glock pistols. They are close to the quality of Trijicon, but you can usually find them for between $60-$100.

They offer many different styles. I prefer the options that offer the blacked out rear sight, and have used them to great success.

XS Big Dot Sights: These are very popular with people who prefer (or require) a larger front dot to put on target. 

You can’t go wrong with any of the above listed sights. Just make sure you install them correctly, use Loctight, and test them out.

Conclusion

That’s it.  You are ready to go once you have your pistol properly sighted in.  The task may seem daunting at first, but it is quite simple and hard to permanently mess up your firearm if you follow these steps.

If you are going to change your sights on your Glock, just make sure you are choosing quality sights to replace the factory plastic ones.

Be sure to check out our article on the Best Pistol Lights!