I am always tinkering with guns as a way to deal with deer season being several months off. I hunt with virtually any type of handgun but it seems like I am drawn to Glocks. Knowing they are ugly, have weird grip angles and the rest of the adjectives that are normally associated with them but I have a few adjectives of my own to add to the list. Accurate, tuneable and reliable come to mind.
I am a certified Glock armorer but as even my last instructor said, “there is room for improvement.” I have to agree with him.
The TAG Precision sights are a huge improvement over Glock sights.
As delivered Glocks are certainly functional. The main issue is when you decide to improve one for a specific purpose. As for home defence I don’t think you can do better than a good stock G23 or G17 loaded with good ammo.
They are absolutely reliable and plenty accurate for that task. It is when you decide you want to hunt with one or shoot unlimited in GSSF matches that you really see the need for improvement. The first thing that needs to be improved on Glocks are the sights. These sights from TAG Precision are an instant improvement. Offered in two styles and with multiple color choices it is a huge improvement over the factory sights which are rudimentary at best.
Running a stock Glock next to one that I just installed the TAG Precision sights on was eye opening. I shot them in daylight and right at dark. In both scenarios I was able to get on target much faster with the TAG Precision sights.
TAG Precision sights are built like a battleship.
I have had fiber optic rods come out of the sight bodies multiple times. The front sight is usually the culprit. The method of retention is usually the issue. In order for them to stay put, the end of the fiber rod must be heated and pressed or flattened to expand it so the rod will not pull back through the sight.
I have used these with good success but I have also had them come out when the heated and flattened end of the sight becomes brittle and shears. I was actually hunting one evening from a tree stand when I drew my gun as a doe walked by and I realized the fiber rod was gone. It was already getting dark and I realized I didn’t have the best sight picture so I passed on the shot.
Of course when I got home I went to my parts box and retrieved a new fiber rod and I was good to go again. Still this wasn’t the best situation. The TAG Precision sights eliminate that issue by using a design they call FiberLok™. The fiber rod that is fit to the sight body is retained with an Allen set screw. It is a simple and fast operation. By using one of their service packs you can change the colors on your sights in the same manner. They are manufactured from billet steel so they aren’t going anywhere.
So how are they built?
I tend to dissect things to see what makes them tick. In the case of these sights the sight bodies are CNC machined from billet steel including the tunnel that holds the fiber rods. They are then QPQ Nitride coated for protection from the elements.
Upon examining the sight bodies and rods closely I noticed a step at the ends of the fiber rods. It only took 10 seconds to realize that the rod was machined to fit the tunnel. The way the sight body retains the rod is simple but effective. TAG Precision uses a patent pending design known as FiberLok™.
The tunnel is bored to the size of the rod, but the exposed end of the base that gives you the sight picture is bored to form an aperture where the smaller machined end of the rod fits precisely, when the rod is fully inserted. Simply tightening the set screw to retain it finishes the rod installation. The sights are impressive on a close examination. Things like this make me really appreciate CNC machining.
Who is TAG Precision?
A few weeks back I saw a post on Facebook about TAG Precision sights. It was enough to intrigue me. I went to their website and checked out their offerings. After looking things over I contacted them about their sights.
It turned out they have been making sights for nearly 20 years supplying them to manufacturers. They started selling them under their own brand, “TAG Precision” in 2024. Anyone that reads my writing already knows I love American made products. These are made in Dallas, Texas. They were Recognized as the “Best Fiber Optic SIght of 2024” by Pew Pew Tactical.
The good news is they have more products coming. In the near future they will have some more innovative products such as an adjustable rear sight featuring the FiberLok™ technology. The best way to keep up with what they are doing is to go to their website (see link at the end of the article) and sign up for their newsletter. When the new products drop they will post it there first.
Putting them to work.
With newfound knowledge and sights in hand it was time to install the sights on some of my guns and put them through their paces. I just happened to be in the middle of another specialized Glock build and was undecided about the sights for this particular gun.
The gun is a G20 10MM that will be used to hunt and for defense against dangerous game such as bears and upset wild hogs. This type of gun requires fast target acquisition. This gun will be exposed to extreme conditions and everything on it will be required to hold up to such conditions.
I pulled out several more of my Glocks for installation of the new sights. Among the group is a G23 running a reflex sight. One of the sets of sights was just for this gun. It is a test mule of sorts. The TAG Precision sights for guns with reflex sights allow you to co-witness your sight picture. The “Optics Ready” sights should work well on this gun. Altogether five of my Glocks will be running TAG Precision sights.
Installing the sights.
Please refer to TAG Precision’s installation instructions which provides a great general guide for installation of these sights. Follow their guidelines in fitting the rear sight to the dovetail when installing the sights.
I am a certified Glock armorer and have a lot of tools available to me that you may not have. I have included more instructions that if you have the tools available makes this job a little easier. TAG Precision provides an allen wrench to tighten the set screw on the rear sights. The other tools you will need are a 3/16” nut driver for the front sight screw. It takes a very narrow driver to reach the screw.
Several companies offer drivers made for this job. Most are magnetic which is a great help to maintain control of the screw. Personally I ground down a deep well 3/6” socket to aid in the removal of the factory screw and to snug down the screw after running the screw into the new sight with the magnetic driver. For the rear sight I use a sight press. A hammer and punch will work but the sight press makes it easier if you have one.
The Right Tools.
You don’t have to have an expensive one. I have several and the simple ones work just as well. Before pressing the factory sight out of the dovetail, put a drop of 3 in 1 oil on the side that you are sliding it out of and tilt the slide to allow the oil to reach the sight. Leave it a minute or two so that gravity will allow the oil to penetrate the crevices. This makes the operation easier and prevents scarring of the slide. After removing the old sight just reverse the operation to install the new one.
Remember to clean the oil out of the dovetail. Use a q-tip with alcohol to clean the entire surface before sliding in the new sight. After you get the sight close to the center, tighten the set screw. When you get to the range you simply loosen the set screw and use your sight press to adjust windage. When you are lined up, tighten the set screw and you are done.
Shooting with the TAGs.
The recently added G20 10MM is a multi role gun for hunting and defense so it is fitting that I should try it on deer targets as well as a bear head target. Up first was the deer target. With three pulls of the trigger my question was answered.
Next up was the bear target. I practiced drawing, getting on target and shooting, exercising both accuracy and speed.This was fun so I did it several times. No complaints. I was able to get on target fast and make killing shots easily. While I had the bear set up I pulled out my G22 and used the same draw aim and shoot scenario. Pretty much the same results. I even practiced double taps and I could easily find the front sight and squeeze the trigger as fast as any sight I have ever used.
When shooting the bear target with the G20 and G22 I was able to put the first shot on target easily then fire two more as fast as I could recover. My split times with both guns averaged 1.25 seconds. Aside from the target pictures I shot several targets. I had a blast. I pulled out a hog target and shot it with the G22 while trying another load.
The point of impact was slightly right of the first but elevation at 25 yards was fine. It would be a simple matter of sliding the sight over to continue with that load. On both guns the POI was regulated well at 25 yards with 180 grain bullets which is fairly standard in the 10MM and 40 S&W.
Shooting the optics ready sight.
It was time to try the optics ready sights. I had already been shooting a DA Targets silhouette with this one. A cool feature of the co-witness sight is the ability to change the color rods on the sights. After some playing with them I used two green dots on the rear and a red front.
Using a DA Target and simulating a defensive situation against a two legged threat I was able to get on target instantly and double tap the target quickly. We set up a scenario just for the optic sight gun. I didn’t turn the red dot on. I would pull up and make a shot then follow up with a double tap. This was done at 7 yards. I was able to follow the front sight to the target and just as easily get back on target.
I took a picture after running this drill and I circled the cluster I shot, with the last three bullet holes still changing colors back to red. Split times were right at 1 second to just under a second. It’s obvious there was no problem with quick target acquisition. After shooting with these sights for a few weeks I am impressed. While not in time for this article I am planning on using one of the guns equipped with these sights for the next GSSF indoor match. I can see where I can cut my split times with them.
My take on TAG Precision sights.
If I had to sum it up in one sentence It would go something like this: I like them a lot!
This is a well made and well thought out product. It is another one that after using them I wondered why I didn’t think of it. They are easy to install and certainly easy to maintain. The service packs offered by TAG Precision not only allow you to get back in the game quickly but allow you to tailor the sights to your eyes and purpose.
They may be a newcomer as their own brand but they have had it figured out for a long time. Since I received the first sights I have learned that there are more products coming. Among the new products will be an adjustable rear sight featuring the same FiberLok™ technology.
That is going to be great for guns like my 45 Super since it will allow me to fine tune the load and gun and especially at longer ranges. I will definitely have guns equipped with these sights in the woods this year. Watch their website for information as the new products are released.
Stay safe and happy hanging hunting!- RDY