Sights

How to Adjust Glock Rear Sights: Standard and Adjustable Sights

Simply put, you need to have faith in the accuracy of your weapon. It doesn’t matter if you’re using pistols, rifles, or something else. The same motto applies especially when it comes to your Glock firearms. To make your weapon as accurate as possible, you may need to adjust the sight. As a result, you might be wondering how to adjust Glock rear sight. We’re going to cover everything that you need to know on this topic. In reality, it is a straightforward process in which you will need some tools and a few spare minutes to get it knocked out.


Standard and Adjustable Glock Sights

When many shooters buy a new handgun, they first need to learn Which way to move rear sights. There are two common types of Glock sights: standard and adjustable. It’s important to understand the difference between the two in order to learn how to adjust a Glock’s rear sight appropriately. A pin secures a standard sight. And unfortunately, you can’t remove it easily. These are popular on some models, but they are less common among professionals.

 

An adjustable sight on a Glock is completely different. It comes with two screws[1]https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/distinguishing-bolts-screws that allow you to move the sight accordingly. This seems to be the more preferred type of sight and the one that can help you get the best accuracy.


Adjusting the Rear Sight

Let’s start with how to adjust a standard sight like the Trijicon HD vs HD XR. The first thing to understand is which direction you need to move the sight. If your shot ‘’goes’’ to the left, you’ll need to move the sight to the right and vice versa. It’s best to always start out with some test shooting (remember, safety first!). Aim at the center of the target, and then check your result. Don’t forget to unload your weapon! Once you understand which way you need to move the sight based on your patterns, you can start the adjusting process.

One important thing to note is that you’ll need to use a sight pusher tool to adjust the sights. This is a simple tool that will grab the pistol and has two small sections that go around the sight. You will do or undo the tool and therefore move the sight. It is a much safer option and used by professionals. The only drawback is the tool can be expensive depending on which one you get. It probably isn’t a wise investment if you only plan to use it once. Follow these steps:

  1. Place the sight pusher tool on the sight.
  2. Do or undo the tool to move the sight.
  3. Keep adjusting it until you have it exactly where you want it.

The process to adjust an adjustable sight is much simpler. This also applies to most Glock 19 suppressor sights. You’ll follow the same starting steps from above in determining which direction you need to move the sight. Once you’ve figured it out, unload your weapon! Safety is always the biggest priority! Once that’s taken care of, here are the steps to take:

  1. Use the screws on the sight to adjust the sight.
  2. One of the screws is used to move the sight left to right. Start with this screw.
  3. The second screw is used to lift or put the sight down.
  4. If your bullet goes to the left, move the sight to the right. If it goes down, lift the sight.

It will take some trial and error to get it exactly right. However, not only is it is free, but you get it perfect within a few minutes with some practice. There’s no need to rush through it as the goal is to get it as accurate as possible. New sights often come with a little screwdriver or wrench to help you make any needed adjustments [2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sights. And yes, as long as it fits, you can use any screwdriver you have around the house. Although I choose to run different pistol sights, the adjustability of Glock sights is top-notch.

A common upgrade is replacing the standard sight with an adjustable one. As illustrated in the video above, you do this by removing the standard sight a hammer and a puncher. Once you’ve removed the old sight, you follow a similar process to replace it with a new one. Just make sure not to damage the pistol when replacing the sight. Given their versatility and how easy it is to adjust them, adjustable sights function much better than standard sights.

You can replace your standard sights with adjustable sights without really losing anything. In fact, we even have a guide on How to remove Glock front sight. They can last for decades and allow you to keep your weapon as accurate as possible. With all of this in mind, some people still prefer standard sights over adjustable ones, but still, the best way to adjust them for most owners is to take them to a professional. With adjustable sights, there is no need. Many of these steps are very similar to what you need to adjust night sights for ppq m2 as well!


How to adjust Glock sights without tools

How to adjust Glock rear sights: Standard and adjustable sights

Adjusting a Glock sight without any tools is impossible. The sight is specifically designed not to move when firing and using the pistol! Even so, there’s a way to adjust a sight without using a pushing tool. As discussed briefly above, here’s how you can use a hammer and a punch to adjust a Glock sight:

  1. Secure the weapon in the vice. Use wood, plastics, and fabric to cover the teeth of the vice so you don’t damage the pistol.
  2. Use a puncher to move or push the sight to the desired side.
  3. Move it just 1 mm and test to see do you need to adjust the sight even more.
  4. Done.

This method is fairly simple but can also create its own problems. First of all, Glocks[3]https://us.glock.com/ with plastic or composite sights are vulnerable to punching and hammer use. The sight can easily be damaged, and then it will need to be replaced. It’s important to always use the proper tools. For example, using a brass puncher and as little force as possible will increase your chances for success. Slowly increase the amount of force needed. And be sure not to use steel punchers for aluminum sights; use aluminum ones instead. I also use a similar process when I adjust my Night Sights for M&P Shield 9mm. And if you don’t know what are night sights, be sure to read our guide!

Making sight adjustments is a critical skill that everyone should learn. It doesn’t matter if you’re making an AK47 sight adjustment or a Glock sight adjustment. Learning how to fine tune your optics can really improve your performance!


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to zero my Glock?

Yes, you need to zero your Glock with your sight and ammunition. Different ammo will cause your gun to shoot slightly differently, so it's important to use the same ammo each time you shoot. From my experience, there will not be much adjusting needed for a new Glock sight.

At what range should you zero a pistol red dot?

Your zero distance will depend on your particular application. For me, I usually use a 36-yard zero or a 25-yard zero. In general, I recommend zeroing from a close distance. Most of use will be using our Glocks & handguns for close-quarters combat, so it makes sense to calibrate your sights from a shorter distance.

Do different Glock models use different sights?

Almost all Glock models utilize the same sights. Optics can be interchanged between almost all Glock models.

What does MOS stand for in Glocks?

MOS stands for Modular Optic System, and it's a feature that makes it easy to attach optics to your Glock. This system consists of four metal plates that are mounted on the slide: one at the front, two at the back, and one at the top.

The final word

Now you know how to adjust a Glock rear sight. This is a simple process that pretty much anyone can do. Just be sure to take as much time as you need and to test the changes after each adjustment. By following the guidelines we’ve discussed, you can make sure your Glock is 100% accurate. After your first adjustment, you will see how effective it can be. In case you are wondering, you can use this Glock 19 sight adjustment methodology on a lot of other pistols as well. If you plan to adjust the sights on multiple pistols, investing in a sight pusher tool might not be a bad idea. And if you want to get a red dot, I suggest you check out our best red dot for glock 43x recommendation as well!

Best of luck in your adjusting journey and let us know if we can do anything to help!

About the author

Patrick Howard

I have been working as a gunsmith for 20 years. Rain, fog, moisture, high temperature, or even snow are all the things a product must withstand in order to be recommended by me.

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