10/25/2017 SIG Sauer Sight Heights and Sight Numbers - Real Gun Reviews

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SIG SAUER SIGHT HEIGHTS AND SIGHT NUMBERS

By Ferrari Steve on APRIL 26, 2016

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To help ease confusion, Ive written this brief reference guide for SIG Sauer sight numbers and sight heights.
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Keeping them straight can be confusing, so I wrote this guide as much for myself as anyone else.
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WHICH SIGS USE WHICH HEIGHTS?
For classic P-Series pistols, the general rule for what are considered the standard SIG sight numbers is actually
based on the guns caliber, not the model. The standard SIG sight numbers for particular calibers are:

9mm & .357 SIG: #8 front / #8 rear

.40 S&W & .45 ACP: #6 front / #8 rear

For the SIG X-RAY sights (like the ones that come on the Legion series pistols), things seem to be a bit different,
and the model does seem to matter:

P226 Legion 9mm (DA/SA & SAO): #8 front / #8 rear

P226 Legion .40 DA/SA & P229 Legion 9mm DA/SA: #6 front / #6 rear

Notice above that I put the words general and standard in quotes because these are generally what SIG uses,
and what they say is the standard but in practice, Ive actually seen all sorts of variability. Both the 9mm and .40
versions of the SIG P320C come with #6 front / #8 rear from the factory, while the full-size P320 comes with #8
front / #8 rear. The 9mm SIG M11-A1 also breaks the rule and comes with #6 front / #8 rear.
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So if your P229 .40 came with #8 front and #8 rear, but shoots fine as-is, theres no need to rush out and change
your front sight to a #6. These are the general rules, but if you come across an exception that works for you go
with it.

Whatever the reason for all the variability, it should be obvious by now to refer to the above rules in general terms
only. Chances are, your factory sights will be either #6 and/or #8, with the only guarantee being that the front wont
be a higher number than the rear. But beyond that, it almost seems like anything goes!

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10/25/2017 SIG Sauer Sight Heights and Sight Numbers - Real Gun Reviews
For example, in preparation for this article, I recently asked members of the SIG Sauer Legion Owners Facebook
Group to post their Legions sight numbers. Two members, both with 9mm P226 Legion SAO pistols posted
Tweets by @RealGunReviews
different front sight numbers:
Real Gun Reviews @RealGunReview
The West German @SigSauerinc P6
a bargain - realgunreviews.com/sig-sa
p6-w #guns #2A

Jul
P226 Legion SAO (9mm) with a #6 front sight from the
factory
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P226 Legion SAO (9mm) with a #8 front sight from the

factory

Whats most important is to know what your SIG currently has, and whether those work for you. To find what sights
your SIG currently has, look for a small number, usually on the left side of the front sight, and the right side of the
rear sight (on the SIG X-RAY sights, both are on the right).

Some shooters prefer non-standard sight heights, and whatever works for them (or you) is fine. If you want to
change your sight heights to move your groups up or down, its your gun. Do what you want with it.

SIG SAUER SIGHT NUMBERS AND HEIGHTS

With SIG sight numbers, a #6 front sight is not the same height as a #6 rear sight. The system seems counter-
intuitive at first, but if you look at the following table and can see the patterns, youll figure it out. And if you cant,
dont worry I explain everything after the table.

This table shows the actual heights of each SIG front and rear sight number. The front heights shown are the
actual heights of the sight including the dovetail base, not just the blade.

SIG Sight Number Front Sight Height Rear Sight Height

#4 N/A 5.24 mm / 0.210 in

#5 6.01 mm / 0.235 in 5.52 mm / 0.220 in

#6 5.88 mm / 0.230 in 5.80 mm / 0.230 in

#7 5.74 mm / 0.225 in 6.07 mm / 0.240 in

#8 5.60 mm / 0.220 in 6.35 mm / 0.250 in

#9 5.46 mm / 0.215 in 6.62 mm / 0.260 in

#10 5.32 mm / 0.210 in 6.9 mm / 0.270 in

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10/25/2017 SIG Sauer Sight Heights and Sight Numbers - Real Gun Reviews
Note from the table that:

The higher the front sight number, the lower the sights height.
The higher the rear sight number, the higher the sights height.

This seems weird at first, until you realize how the different sight numbers will affect a rounds point of impact.
Always remember that:

As numbers go up, your groups go up.

As numbers go down, your groups go down.

This is true regardless of whether you change only the front sight, only the rear sight, or both. Again, higher
numbers (for either sight) mean higher groups, while lower numbers (for either sight) mean lower groups.

OPTIMAL SIG SAUER SIGHTPICTURE

Modern three-dot SIG Sauer pistol sights are set up from the factory in a combat sight picture configuration so
that when all three dots are aligned, the POA (Point of Aim) is in the center of (or behind) the front dot, as shown
in Sight Image 3 below:

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SIGs are set up at the factory with Sight Image 3

Earlier West German SIGs used Von Stavenhagen sights, which are similar in that when properly aligned, they
place POA directly behind the front dot:

Von Stavenhagen sight picture

SIG Sauer pistols are also set up from the factory so that at a distance of 25 yards, the Point of Aim (POA) is the
same as the Point of Impact (POI) meaning that with a target at 25 yards, the round should impact the target
exactly where the sights were aimed, with no compensation needed for bullet drop. At distances beyond 25 yards,
the POI will be progressively lower than the POA.

HOW DIFFERENTSIGHTS AFFECTPOI

If youre considering changing your sights to move your groups up or down, understand that changes to the
rear sight affect your 25 yard point-of-impact twice as much as an equal change to the front sight.

To figure out exactly how different numbered sights will change your POI as compared to your current sights, keep
in mind that at 25 yards, each sight number change is worth one inch for the front sight and two inches for the
rear sight. So at 25 yards:

Raising the front sight one number raises the POI by 1

Lowering the front sight one number lowers the POI by 1

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10/25/2017 SIG Sauer Sight Heights and Sight Numbers - Real Gun Reviews
Raising the rear sight one number raises the POI by 2
Lowering the rear sight one number lowers the POI by 2

Again, the front sight is worth 1 and the rear sight is worth 2 for every number change. This means that at 25
yards, the following sight combinations should all have the same POI on the same gun:

6 front / 8 rear
8 front / 7 rear
10 front / 6 rear

If you understand why the above is true, then youre well on your way to understanding the SIG sight numbering
system!

Also, because a single number change in the rear sight affects POI greater than a single number change to the
front sight, if your 25 yard POI is off by more than two inches, its best to change your rear sight first, then fine
tune with changes to the front.

HOW TO ADJUST OR CHANGE YOUR SIG SIGHTS

Any qualified gunsmith will be able to remove, install, and/or adjust the sights on your SIG Sauer pistol. Some
owners prefer to do it themselves in the old school style with a hammer and punch. I prefer use a SIG Sight
Pusher like this one. The following video (taken from my P226 Upgrade Video Series) shows how easy it is to
remove, install, and adjust SIG P-series sights with a sight pusher:

#4: Installing Trijicon HD Night Sights - Upgrading a West German P226 to Legion Specs

In 2002, SIGARMS (which became SIG Sauer Inc. in the United States in 2007), published this card with tips on
sight adjustment and replacement:

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10/25/2017 SIG Sauer Sight Heights and Sight Numbers - Real Gun Reviews

As always, I welcome your questions, comments, corrections, and feedback below!

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Related Posts:
1. Theres NO Trigger in a Short Reset Trigger Kit
2. Upgrade a West German SIG Sauer P226 to Legion Specs
3. Why you cant use Original West German P226 Grips with a Looped Trigger Bar Spring
4. Get a Grip: Which Grips Should I Put on my SIG Sauer P226?

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Tags: #6, #8, front sight, P220, P226, P229, rear sight, Sig, Sig Sauer, SIG sight height, SIG sight number, sights

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aka SigFreak a year ago

Great article, Steve. Sad part is I was in a Large Local Gun Store (Shooters World) for the opening of the
Sig Elite Store in Tampa Florida. The Sig rep told me the one set of XRay Sights (8/8) U-Shaped they had
left for $96 would not work on my P226 or P228. He even called a "Sig Armorer" on the phone and he
agreed with him. I was kicking myself for not knowing.
1 Reply Share

Phillip Redding > aka SigFreak a year ago

I think it was me who bought them up that day. I just finished upgrading my P229 to Legion specs. I
just need to do the aesthetics parts, lever and grips etc..
Reply Share

A.R. Patriot a year ago

Great write up. My U 641 german framed, P226 9mm was made in 2000-2001 in NH. Factory, it has a #6
front, and a #9 rear. Really kind of made me bummed, as I bought a #8 front night sight for it. Just goes to
show...not all of these were sighted equally, and there is never any reason to assume one way or the
other.
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Mr B J Mann a year ago

Don't know if anyone here can help with this, and probably totally off topic, but I was Googling for info on
the Sig Sauer (own brand) P226 (Mk25 - Seal) *AIR* pistol inaccuracy and most owners complaining it
shoots low.

Having found this page, it got me thinking:

Could it be that because the AIR pistol is marketed as being built to the *EXACT* same dimensions as the
original firearm that the (fixed) sights are actually marked identically to the original centre-fire pistol and so
are completely wrong for the air pistol's ballistics?!

Does anyone know if the sights on the centre-fire original and air pistol clone are, in fact, identical, and, if
this is so, would it, indeed, lead to the air pistol pellets typically grouping 4 inches low?!

Thanks in advance.

Bob
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Leon Pesenson a year ago

I don't think it is the X-Ray sights that are any different, it is the Legion pistols which for whatever reason
shoot differently than other Sig pistols. I put #6/#8 f/b sights on my older Sig p229 and they work as well
as the original SigLites that came with them with the same numbers. For my Legion however, I ended up
with $8/#6 f/b to get the Image #3 POA/POI at 7 yards.
By the way, these POA/POI pictures should come with a distance, since the bullet does travel on a
ballistic trajectory...
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Fred223 > Leon Pesenson 8 months ago

Leon, I have a P229 (not legion) which part number did you use on the SIG Xray3 sights? It is very
confusing trying to order one online. Would really appreciate the help.
Thanks!
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aka SigFreak > Fred223 8 months ago

The basic rule of thumb for the sights is 9mm/.357 sig use #8/#8 and .40/.45 use #6/#8.
These are of course not 100% guaranteed since other factors can affect POA/POI.
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Leon Pesenson > Fred223 7 months ago

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10/25/2017 SIG Sauer Sight Heights and Sight Numbers - Real Gun Reviews
SOX10001 for the old Sig p229, which gives you the #6/#8 for 40S&W.
For the Legion, which came with #6/#6, however, I replaced the factory sights with the
equivalent of SOX10007, which are #8/#6, but in reality I bought SOX10003 which are
#8/#8, and simply flipped things around to get what I wanted.
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Chris Miller 10 months ago

My German P220 and P6 have the dot and post using #8 front and #7 rear with sight picture 2 as the
aiming point. Whereas my American P220 and P245 have #6 front and #8 rear. The P245 uses sight
picture 2, but the American P220 uses Sight picture 3. I do prefer sight picture 2 as that is what I grew up
being taught.
Reply Share

Jean Xavier > Chris Miller 7 months ago

My German p226 has also #8 front and #7 rear with sight picture 2, so I'm considering buying the
#6 front #8 rear X-ray sights.
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Bruce Doughty 8 months ago

I am searching for a Red Dot sight for Sig P229. What is the spec for the rear sight dovetail? I have a
Kimber and the rear sight dovetail is called a "Novak" dovetail. Does the rear sight have a similar name or
cut & angle spec?
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Chris Miller > Bruce Doughty 7 months ago

No. There is no such name. Just have to find something that fits into a classic series Sig rear sight
dovetail (using that as a name).
Reply Share

Mike Stacy 6 months ago

Does anyone know if the P226 shares the same Slide as the P226 Scorpion?
Reply Share

Andy Fernandez > Mike Stacy 6 months ago

Just bought a P320C and it's the exception as far as the 9mm goes. 8R and 6F. It is low and now I
know why. I called Sig and was told that if I wanted to get new sights to adjust the sight picture to
image 2 I would have to get 10R and 6F moving my POI 3 " higher on target. BTW I'm Also from
Tampa.
Reply Share

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