Reliability problems with XS Sight Systems 24/7 Express Sights (VANITY)

The Night-Sight Chronicles ^ | 11/1/2006 | Joe Brower

[Joe Brower]

Reliability problems with XS Sight Systems 24/7 Express Sights

Howdy, shooters,

Sorry for the vanity, but I wanted to relate to you RKIs the continual troubles that I’ve experienced with the 24/7 “large dot” Express Sights that I installed on my Sig P229 earlier this year, get your opinions, and also ask what other tritium night-sights you might have to recommend.

Here’s a link to the product in case you’re wondering what exactly I’m describing: http://www.xssights.com/store/handgun.html

To make a long story short, I have now had three of the rear sights go dead on me; that is, the tritium capsule leaks until it no longer glows. The front sight has been fine the whole while, but three dead rear sights in ten months’ time seems a bit out of control, especially seeing as how these are for a combat pistol. If they can’t stand up being in the safe, I’d hate to see how they perform in the field.

The first set was installed by a pistolsmith, and the rear sight went dark within a month of installation. When I called XS Sight Systems, they were very helpful and immediately sent a replacement, which I myself meticulously installed. This second rear sight went dark after about six months, in which time I probably ran about 500 rounds through the pistol on three separate occasions. So I got another replacement, which I again installed. Now, two months’ later, this one has gone dark too, making it three-for-three. Has anyone else experienced continued problems like this? Are there similar reliability issues with their other offerings, which may indicate a pattern?

It is worthy to mention that when I called for the third set, the guy I spoke to went on and on about how “the Sig P229 has a strange dovetail” and how that made installations difficult, and a couple other caveats, to which I asked “Then why do you sell the things?”, which he didn’t really want to answer. So at this point, confidence is low. A shame, really, because I really like the product itself -- the configuration of these sights works better for me than anything else I’ve tried.

Which leads me to my final question: Can anyone recommend any other night-sights that have a similar configuration? Lacking that, how about any others? Any particular brands you’d recommend? I’d appreciate the input.

Thanks,

Joe B.

P.S.: As an aside, when I got my first set for the Sig I also got a set for my Glock 23. That also had the rear sight go dark on that gun after about eight months, and has since been replaced. Again, not very impressive.

[Joe Brower]

[Joe Brower]

Any input would be very much appreciated.

[Hazcat]

Sorry, don't know much about them, but it seems as though they at least service the product. Suggestion if you get the guy about the dove tail problems point out to him that your Glock also has problems with the sight.

[absolootezer0]

for $120, you can send you sig back to the factory and they'll install the factory night sites for you.

[SJSAMPLE]

Leaking tritium capsules?
IIRC, companies that use tritium are licensed to do so by the DOE. Leaky vials might be a big issue.

I'm a Trijicon guy. They've never let me down.
And the meprolights that came with my Glock 22 are very nice as well.

[fireforeffect]

From your post the rear sight is "going out".

Is it no longer glowing or will the sight not hold a zero?

[Mad Dawg]

I've got 'em on a p226 and a p239. So far so good. Had 'em over a year.

Sig sights, though otherwise excellent) don't get it for us geezers. It's hard enough to see the Big Dot 24/7's without reading glasses.

[Joe Brower]

"Is it no longer glowing"

Yes, this is the problem. The zero is fine.

[5Madman2]

Meprolight seems to hold up well with Police service Glocks


They are also recommended at the Glock Armorer school

[Gritty]

I use the Tru-Glo Tritium Fiber sight. It seems to be a nice product at a good price.

You can get them here

[fireforeffect]

Ventilate the area.

The post above about DOE is right. This is a major problem.

XS should be profusely apologizing. Hammer them hard.

Call your State's Health Department (Radiological regulation is usually done through them but it may be your State's EPA) and complain if XS does not give you satisfaction. If the sights were mail order, call DOE. Make sure XS knows this is an option.

Of course, XS could have bought some cheap tritium vials.

I have tritium filled devices that are 40 years old that still glow. My watch is 10 years old and still glows. I can not read at night in the field with it any more, but I do not need a light to see what time its either.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Joe, those sights are definitely leaking as Tritium has a halflife of 12.3 years. I wouldn't worry about the exposure too much, as it is a weak beta emitter (stopped by clothing or skin - the main means of introduction to the system in inhalation, but the old method of tritium decon is to drink a 6 pack and literally pee it out). It's clear that this a QA problem on the sight maker side. Either they'll make it good or switch to another manufacturer. I had good luck with Trijicon.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Even though we are dealing with a radioactive material here, there are thresholds of quantity and activity that are literally below the radar as far as regulation is concerned. I'd bet this is the case here, considering the paperwork I go through for items above the limits.

[Gideon Reader]

I have XS/24-7 Big Dot Trits on my Glock#30 & Glock#21,(both .45acp) as well as on my Browning HP(9mm). The integrity of the Trit Capsules have not been compromised at all, even after some rather hard range/event usage.
To be sure, I do NOT have trits installed on the rear sights.
For an older person who requires a little assistance in sight acquisition/pickup in IDPA or other practical scenario style activities, the XS Big dot has been a huge help if not the perfect answer. A gold bead installed on the front sight is yet another solution to the problem. And the gold does not leak. Ever.
I would consider it on my Sig#228(9mm)if I used it often enough. It is the piece I use when the others are being serviced.

May I suggest that you have Wayne Novak or one of the excellent and expert gunsmiths at Louder Than Words (LTW) reinstall your sights. I think that installation of sights by oneself (if you are not an experienced and skilled gunsmith) is a lot like self dentistry.
May I further recommend the Novak lo-mount,0.140 semi ghost ring rear and the single XS BigDot Trit or Gold Bead front to match. Turnaround is about three weeks and the cost pretty reasonable. Leave the rear trits off for best pick up and acquisition.
Good shooting.
Gideon Reader

[TXnMA]

The sight manufacturer needs to install and use one of these

Mass Spec Fine Leak Detector

...tuned for hydrogen. (Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen.)

[ExSoldier]

Interesting. I put a set of these on my wife's 45 Commander years ago and they still work fine. I don't really like the rig and neither does my wife. Supposedly the sight picture with the "BIG DOT" set into the "shallow V" rear allows for a faster sight picture. But we just can't seem to get acclimated to them. Result, that gun has become a safe queen. My Sig P245 has a great set of meprolights and I used a bright green front dot with two yellow dots on the rear for a nice contrast in very dark conditions. This won't let me mistake my front sight for maybe one of the rear in the dark and guarantee that the shot is off. Of course the other way to correct that simple error is to simply raise the front sight a bit and present a triangle sight picture. So you hit the perp high in the chest plate rather than COM. No problem.

[Joe Brower]

What installation procedure did you use to install the rear sight? I'm now questioning my gunsmithing skills. Although the original install on the Sig was done using a special installation tool when the gunsmith did it, and that went kaput within a month. Plus my own install on the Glock 23 used the armoror's "press" tool for this and that still went out after several months...

[Joe Brower]

"I think that installation of sights by oneself (if you are not an experienced and skilled gunsmith) is a lot like self dentistry."

Yes, I am thinking that myself! Thanks for your informative post. Please look at my post #17 and tell me what you think.

[Blue Jays]

Hi Joe-

This is an extremely interesting thread as I was considering the purchase of these exact same night sights for my SIG SAUER P229 in .40 S&W as we speak. This has given me food for thought.

You sound like you are being extremely fair and reasonable in your interactions with this vendor. My temptation now is to send my P229 back to the factory for new sights and then mail the refurbished pistol to Walter Birdsong for his wonderful and proprietary Black-T coating. Keep this thread pinged with how the whole thing works out. We may learn it was just a bad batch and that the folks at XS SIGHTS are a fine group of people with whom to do business!

~ Blue Jays ~

[Gideon Reader]

Sir,
I have been an avid shooter and a "man at arms" since 1953.
(That means I have earned my bread by carrying arms for a living as a military man and professional law enforcement officer)Thirty seven years worth.
Except for those times on holiday when wearing a weapon was not on the menu, armed with a large bore handgun. Or two.
I do a LOT of shooting.
Often.
Wife annoyingly often.
You would think she would be numb by now. Uh-uh!
I know most handguns and shoulder arms pretty well by now. I also know enough not to perform any gunsmith work beyond that needed to keep the weapon running.
Anything more than routine cleaning and maintainance I leave to those who earn their bread in that profession. (smart division of labor as well as foolishness prevention technique)
Do not get me wrong. I have made many dumb weapons errors, but thankfully that was early in my life. I avoid them now in my silver haired years.
Chances are that *you* have damaged the integrity of the tritium capsules during the install and on more than one occasion.
I am not throwing rocks at you, just the likely circumstances.
I know a lot of folks that have used Ashley's XS and never had a problem. The lamps hold their integrity very well as history has shown. Some like them and some do not. I do.
Personal taste like Lambghorgini or Ferrari, or VW.
I cannot point a bony finger at you and say you screwed the pooch, but it seems so.

There are LOTS and LOTS of good smiths that can fix the problem. It is not a biggie nor very costly. Get it done and move along. Shoot well fella and enjoy the day.
Your sig is a good piece. Not a BHP or 1911, but what the heck. :-)

Gideon Reader