If there’s any one upgrade that you should make to any defensive or fighting pistol, it’s to upgrade the sights.
The factory sights that come on most semi-automatic pistols these days are functional but also rather minimalistic, and the popular Glock 43 9mm is no exception.
One of the best upgrades you can make to your Glock 43 is to replace those factory sights with metal night sights. Night sights are simply luminescent replacements for normal factory sights, which make it much easier for you to aim your weapon in darker and lower light conditions.
During the daytime, night sights just look like completely normal sights. It’s only when things get darker out that they begin to glow.
This article will cover examples of the best night sights that you can buy for a Glock 43 today, the general pros and cons of turning to night sights to begin with, how to choose a pair of night sights for your Glock 43, and then an FAQ on Glock 43 sights.
We also have an article on best night sights for Glock 19.
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The 5 Best Glock 43 Sights of 2021: Outdoor Empire Reviews
Here are some examples of the best night sights for your Glock 43 pistol, presented in alphabetical order:
- Ameriglo Classic Sight
- Hi-Viz Glock Litewave Sight
- Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sight
- Truglo TFO Handgun Sight
- XS Big Dot Tritium Express
Product | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rear Color | Yellow or Green w/ White Outline | Green w/ White Outline | White Dot |
Front Color | Yellow or Green Tritium w/ White Outline | Green w/ White Outline | Green Bar w/ White Stripe |
Material | Steel | Metal | Steel |
Weight | 0.16 oz | 1.6 oz | 2.4 oz |
Good Feature | Simple setup | Very durable and well-made | Big white dot makes target acquisition fast |
Cost | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
AMERIGLO CLASSIC SIGHT (GREEN AND WHITE)
AmeriGlo night sights are currently in use with law enforcement officers, military units, and civilian shooters alike all over the world. Built out of CNC-machine steel, they are an excellent addition to any defensive pistol such as the Glock 43.
- Easy to install
- In use around the world
- Good for day and night use
- High quality
- Tritium lamps are slightly less bright than competitors
Compare prices at: Brownells
Available in a white-and-green color scheme—consisting of shining green tritium dots and then a bright white ring surrounding it—these sights are great to use in day and nighttime alike.
The quality also delivers, with many people suggesting that AmeriGlo is built to the same standards as world-renowned Trijicon.
Specs
- CNC-machined
- Green-and-white color scheme
- Tritium green dots
As a whole, the AmeriGlo represents a solid option for Glock 43 night sights on the market and a solid and high quality alternative to other ones such as Trijicon.
HI-VIZ GLOCK LITEWAVE SIGHTS
The all-black Hi-Viz Glock Litewave Sights features a very bright green tritium insert, which is brighter than the one featured on the Ameriglo we just discussed.
- Price
- Diagonal wave pattern helps to protect the tritium
- Serrated face on front sight
- Fits all Glock models
- No painted ring around the tritium, so less visible during the daylight
Compare prices at: Brownells, Bass Pro Shops
You’ll also note that the top front portion of this site is exposed thanks to the diagonal wave pattern. The purpose behind this is to help the tritium gather light while remaining fully protected from damage due to outside use of the pistol.
The face of the front sight is also serrated in order to reflect peripheral light, even though it lacks a surrounding white ring.
Another benefit to these sights is their price. These are more affordable than many other comparable night sights on the market, such as Trijicon, despite having an all-steel construction (an absolute must for any pair of night sights).
As an added bonus, these sights will also fit virtually all models of Glock pistols, not just the G43.
Specs
- Serrated front sight
- Bright green tritium
- All-steel construction
Ultimately, these are a great pair of night sights to go with if you know you would like to try night sights but aren’t sure if they will be the best way to go for you. If you’re looking for quality affordable night sights, the Hi-Viz sights are a good choice.
TRIJICON BRIGHT AND TOUGH NIGHT SIGHTS
The Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sights are designed for the Glock 42 and Glock 43 pistols. These have a green coloring on the front and rear dots with a surrounding white ring to give the sights better visibility during the daylight.
- Trijicon is a very reputable brand
- Multiple color combination patterns
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Very bright in the dark and low-light conditions
- Very durable and well wade
- Made in USA
- Very expensive
The tritium-filled glass lamp also gives these lights very high illumination during low light settings, which is exactly what you would expect out of a pair of high-end night sights.
There’s no question that Trijicon is one of the biggest names on the night sight market, but at the same time, there’s also no denying that they command a premium price as well. Fortunately, you’ll definitely get what you pay for.
Trijicon products are regularly in use with military and law enforcement units all over the world, and their sights are built to very high standards
Specs
- Green front and rear dots
- White surrounding rings
- Tritium phosphor lamp
So long as you are willing to put down a lot of money to buy them, Trijicon has some of the very best sights that the market has to offer today. If you want military-grade sights on your Glock 43, then Trijicon will be the way for you to go.
TRUGLO TFO HANDGUN SIGHT
Another big name in night sights world is Truglo. The Truglo TFO handgun sight is also designed for both the Glock 42 and the Glock 43, just like the Trijicons that we just discussed.
- Excellent overall contrast
- Very durable and well made
- Very rust and corrosion resistant
- Snag resistant
- 12-year limited warranty from the manufacturer
- Made in USA
- Expensive
- Front sight wears out somewhat quickly
With the Truglo TFO, you’ll have your choice between either yellow or green fiber optics for the rear sight. The yellow fibers will greatly increase contrast when used in the rear sight, while also using a bright green coloring for the front sight.
The sights as a whole are built out of a very tough and durable CNC machining and with a Fortress finishing that makes these sights very resistant to
As an added bonus, these sights are also rounded off on the edges in order to make them as snag-free as possible for when you draw them from your holster. This is a major plus because in a self-defense situation, the last thing you want is for you to draw your gun only for it to become caught on your holster due to the sights.
That being said, some users have also noted that the front sight wears out much more quickly compared to some of its competitors.
It’s not like that the front sight is just going to quit working entirely after extended use, but you can expect it to become slightly dimmer the more you use it. (Most users report that they begin to dim a little after around a year of use).
Specs
- CNC-machined
- Fortress finish coating
- Green front and yellow rear sights
As with the Trijicon night sights, the Tru Glo TFO sights are also very expensive, and you can expect to pay well over one hundred dollars for a set. But then again, you’re also definitely getting what you pay for, as these sights deliver on both illumination and durability.
XS SIGHT SYSTEMS BIG DOT TRITIUM EXPRESS SIGHT SET
Last but not least is a more unique entry: the Big Dot Tritium Express Sight Sets from XS Sight Systems. Otherwise known simply as the Big Dot sights, these are exactly what the terminology describes: a big white dot on the front of the gun.
- Big white dot makes target acquisition fast
- Good-sized white ring for contrast
- Very high quality and durability
- No empty space
- Extremely expensive
The idea is that the big white dot on the front of the sight (or green when illuminated) makes it very easy to quickly acquire your target.
This set consists of both a rear and front sight with two tritium inserts, both of these are white and then bright green when illuminated. The rear sight has a vertical tritium bar with a white ring around it for better contrast.
Meanwhile, the front sight just has that trademark XS big dot, but it also has a white ring around it to help aid in accuracy as well.
That being said, the XS Big Dots are also by far the most expensive and costly option on this list, so you can expect to definitely pay a premium price for them (yes, these are even more expensive than the Trijicons and the Truglos).
They may not be a budget friendly option, but they are military grade and you get what you pay for.
Specs
- Vertical tritium bar for rear sight
- Big white dot for front sight
If you’re willing to put down the money for them, the XS Big Dot Sights can end up as a very valuable investment for you. At the very least, they are high quality, and they are a solid and more unique alternative to the traditional three dot sight system that is far more common.
Pros and Cons of Nights Sights For the Glock 43
There are pros and cons to using night sights for the Glock 43 (as there are for any other sighting system), but there’s no question that the pros outweigh the cons.
With that said, here is a list of the pros and cons for night sights in general:
PRO – YOU CAN SHOOT ACCURATELY IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS
Fundamentally speaking, this is the primary reason to use night sights to begin with: you can still see and use them in the dark. Especially for a home defense scenario, this is simply invaluable.
No, it may not brighten up your target, and for that you’re going to need a light. But at the same time, you won’t be just raising your pistol and shooting blindly either.
PRO – YOU CAN USE THEM DURING THE DAY
Night sights may not glow during the day, but you can still easily use them because then they’ll just act as normal sights. A lot of people are under the impression that night sights cannot be used during the day time, but this simply isn’t true at all.
PRO – HIGH QUALITY
So long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer, night sights will generally be higher quality and better made than normal factory sights. It’s becoming an increasingly popular occurrence for major gun manufacturers to use polymer for their factory sights, including big companies like Glock and Walther.
Night sights are always made out of metal, which is obviously far more durable and better made.
PRO – SIGHT COLORS
Not all people do well with all night sight colors. Some people prefer green, others yellow, others red, others orange, and so on.
Is one sight color intrinsically superior to another? Not really. It all comes down to what your personal preference is. But what matters is you have options to choose from, and like the old adage goes, options are good.
CON – EXPENSE
There’s no question that night sights are going to be a major expense for you, and they can regularly cost up to, if not over, one hundred dollars depending on the specific sights that you choose.
So yes, night sights are a lot of money, and if funds are tight that may be a problem, which is why it’s a con.
How to Choose Night Sights
How do you go about choosing the best night sights for your Glock 43 pistol? Here are some examples of things that you will want to look for:
FRONT SIGHT PROFILE
The best kind of front sight for a pistol will be large enough to see and aim with accurately while also being small enough to greatly reduce snagging when it is drawn from a holster. You’ll also need to choose between a sight that is serrated or one that has a flat and smooth surface.
One disadvantage to a flat and smooth sight is that it can potentially create glare. On the other hand, though, a serrated front blade sight will not be able to have a tritium insert, because the paint will bleed into the serrations during painting.
Therefore, a plain and smooth front sight will be preferable over a serrated one for night sights.
GO WITH BLACK SIGHTS
The best kinds of night sights are black with the colored and illuminated colors. The reason why black sights are the best is because a black sight with colored inserts will provide you with the best target picture for shooting against different background.
That being said, you will most certainly want to avoid entirely black sights, as they will be a very poor choice for shooting against a darker background.
GET TRITIUM AND FIBER OPTIC
These days, tritium is the standard for night sights. With a service life of around a full decade, the tritium insert will allow you to quickly line up your sights in the daylight while also shining brightly in the dark. Most tritium inserts will have a diameter that measures around three quarters of an inch in total length.
A fiber optic is also considered to be standard equipment these days as well. Regardless of what color you choose, fiber optic sights will not become difficult to see in bright days; regardless of what color the background is, they will really jump out at you.
PROPER WIDTH
The most common width for a front sight is .125 inches, which is a good all-purpose size to go with. If you want smaller and more minimalistic sights, that’s certainly fine, but you won’t want to go any less than .1 inches. .125 and .115 inches are by far the most common and in-demand sizes, with the former being more popular.
Top Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Glock 43 Sights
There are serious mistakes you will want to avoid when choosing sights for your Glock 43. These are:
1. CHOOSING THE FIRST SIGHTS YOU LIKE
Not all sights are created equally, and they all vary substantially in terms of their build quality and in terms of how luminescent they are. You will be much better served by investing in the time to properly research sights (which you should be doing since you’re reading this article).
2. NOT IMPROVING YOUR SIGHTS
As has been mentioned previously, the factory sights that come on Glock pistols are very minimalistic and polymer. Therefore, if you are going to upgrade your sights, you should actually improve them by buying night sights that are constructed out of steel and that glow at night or in darkness.
3. NOT TRYING THEM OUT FIRST
Buying sights online without trying them out first could be a big mistake because you may not like them. A better approach will be to go to your local gun or sporting goods store and to try out different sights that they have available instead of just buying online right away.
FAQ
In this section, we will answer a handful of common questions that exist in regards to Glock sights:
HOW DO YOU ADJUST AND REPLACE SIGHTS ON THE GLOCK 43?
Adding and removing sights to any Glock pistol is a very simple process, and the Glock 43 is no exception to this rule.
1. Start by field-stripping the G43 until you only have the slide, without the barrel and recoil spring. Proceed to remove the front sight, which is incredibly simple can be done with nothing more than a nut driver.
2. With the old factory sight removed, proceed to screw in the factory front night sight. Even if you screw it in all the way until it’s fully tight, you should still add some Loctite or something similar for extra security. Allow that to sit for at least twenty-four hours in a dry location in order to fully settle.
Of course, double check to make sure that the sight is straight and in alignment.
3. Place the slide into the jaws of a vise. You’ll want to set it so that you will hammer downwards. You’ll need to use a small hammer and a factory Glock rear sight removal nylon punch in order to remove the rear sights. This shouldn’t be too difficult at all.
4. You can then place in the new factory rear sights. Hammer it back in with the nylon punch. Just as the factory rear sight should have removed easily, the new night sights should go in fairly easy as well.
As with the front sight, conduct a visual confirmation on the sight to make sure that it is straight and in alignment.
For more in-depth explanation please see our: How to Install, Change & Test Glock Night Sights
HOW DO YOU AIM GLOCK 43 STOCK SIGHTS?
Aiming and lining up the sights on your Glock 43 should be very simple. The most common rear sight system is a two dot rear sight, and then with a single dot for the front sight.
When you raise the weapon, the rear sight should not be in focus while the front sight should be in focus. The front sight should be held between the two dots in the rear sight, with the entire gun also held level.
The idea is that the front sight will serve as the midpoint between three focal planes. Your eye is only capable of focusing on one of those three white dots at once, and it should be the front sight that it should be focused on the most.
The rear sights should be in what is called ‘soft focus,’ and while you should be fully aware of your target and what is beyond it, it should be in soft focus as well.
Some people prefer a two dot sight system for their Glock 43 or other defensive pistol instead.
Rather than have two white dots on the left and right of the front sight when the sights are lined up, instead, there will be only one dot on the rear sight located in the center of the sight. Then, you have to line up the two sights together for a slightly faster acquisition than the three dot sight system.
WHAT SIGHTS FIT MY GLOCK 43?
Most of the major gun sights manufacturers make sights for the Glock 43 because it is one of the most popular concealed carry pistols in existence today.
To that end, each of these major manufacturers currently makes sights that will fit your Glock 43:
- AmeriGlo
- Heinie
- ICE Training
- Trijicon
- XS Sight Systems
- Truglo
- Wilson Combat
- Vickers Elite
- Novak
Conclusion
Hopefully this article helped teach you about the pros and cons of night sights, showed you what to look for in a pair for your Glock 43 pistol, and gave you some solid ideas on the best makes and models of night sights for you to consider.
Remember that high quality night sights will be one of the very best upgrades that you can make to any defensive pistol, including the Glock 43. Even though night sights may be an added expense, it’s an investment that will be well worth it.
Make sure to find a suitable Glock 43 holster that would fit your night sight!
I would love to have a model 43, unfortunately I have to live in the People’s Republik of Kalifornia and the Morons running this state seem to think that only a police officer should have a gun like that. So, I just carry my model 26 and leave it at that. As for the pistol being low capacity, very rarely do gunfights go on and on with a high amount of ammunition being fired, especially for civilians that carry concealed. Not saying it can’t or hasn’t happened, just that it’s rare and thank God for that. Most shootings that take place the total amount of rounds fired by both people put together is 4 to 8 rounds. The reason of course is no one wants to be shot. Not even bad guys. They don’t want to be shot either. So, in reality, it’s really not much of a disadvantage to only have 6 rounds plus one in the pipe. And most of us carry extra magazines. At least one anyway, so to me it’s not an issue. Obviously this is my $0.02 cents worth and others may not see it that way. And I respect anyone’s opinion on that. Everyone has what’s acceptable to them and what isn’t. For me though, if I can ever get my hands on a model 43, I’m going to have a new EDC gun on my side.
Stay safe everyone,
larry k brown