Hello, fellow shooting enthusiasts. Welcome to my Best FN 509 Night Sights Review.
I’ve had the privilege of testing night sights for the superb FN 509. Finding the right night sight for this reliable sidearm has been a journey, but after an exhaustive search, I found my top pick: the MEPRO Hyper-Bright.
This article aims to share insights from my journey of finding the perfect night sight for the FN 509. By the end, you’ll understand why the MEPRO Hyper-Bright took the top spot, how it stands apart from its competitors, and how it can elevate your shooting experience, especially under low-light conditions.
Top 5 Best Night Sights for FN 509
1. MEPRO Hyper-Bright – Top Pick
The MEPRO Hyper-Bright is a premium night sight with Swiss-made tritium vials for both front
and rear sights, providing optimal visibility in low-light conditions. Its durable metal construction is both shock and drop-proof, making it ideal for demanding environments.
Benefits: Notably, the Hyper-Bright sights are battery-free and maintenance-free, always ready to serve round the clock. The U-notch rear sight subtly guides your focus towards the front sight, allowing quick target acquisition.
Why to Buy: With its durable design and always-on illumination, the Hyper-Bright sight provides exceptional reliability. Moreover, its high-contrast ring options ensure rapid target engagement, day or night.
Why Not to Buy: While this sight offers a plethora of features, professional fitting might be required, which could be a deterrent for those looking for a plug-and-play solution.
Who Should Buy: The MEPRO Hyper-Bright is an excellent fit for anyone seeking an upgrade for their FN 509, particularly for those who often find themselves shooting in varying light conditions.
My Experience
On my FN 509, the Hyper-Bright sights proved to be an excellent addition. They facilitated quicker, more accurate target engagement, irrespective of the lighting conditions. The tritium vials ensured optimal visibility in low-light situations, a definite advantage.
Pros
- 24/7 visibility with no battery requirements
- Highly durable and reliable construction
- Swift and accurate target acquisition
Cons
- It may require professional installation
2. XS R3D – Great Value for Money
The XS R3D Tritium Night Sight, a blend of traditional 3-dot tritium, notch, and post design, comes with high-contrast colored front sights and photoluminescent glow dots. It’s a CNC-machined masterpiece made from solid steel bar stock, ensuring durability and precision.
Benefits: The photoluminescent glow dot absorbs ambient light and glows in low light, offering excellent visibility. The rear sight’s overhang minimizes glare, and the anti-reflective rear tritium lens aids accurate alignment without overshadowing the front sight.
Why to Buy: R3D’s unique design allows the tritium’s light to charge the Glow Dot, creating a brighter front sight. This helps maintain focus downrange. Also, the company offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a 12-year warranty on tritium.
Why Not to Buy: While the XS R3D offers fantastic value for money, it might require professional installation, a potential downside for DIY enthusiasts.
Who Should Buy: The XS R3D is an ideal choice for shooters looking for an affordable, high-quality night sight for their FN 509, particularly those operating in varying light conditions.
My Experience
In my field testing with the FN 509, the XS R3D sight showed its strength. The high-contrast colored front sight and glow dot ensured quick target acquisition and alignment in any light scenario.
Pros
- Durable CNC machined steel construction
- High-contrast colored front sight
- Photoluminescent glow dot for low light conditions
Cons
- Might require professional installation
3. XS DXT2 – Big Dot Sight
The XS DXT2 Big Dot Sight is a premium defensive tritium sight designed with a photoluminescent Glow Dot on the front sight, which intensifies in low light. It’s a big, bold sight offering great visibility, especially beneficial for those with aging or deteriorating vision.
The rear sight offers a simplistic, low-profile V design, promoting a wide field of view, and the sight system is CNC machined from solid steel bar stock for durability.
Benefits: The Glow Dot’s ability to absorb ambient light and glow brightly in low light ensures an accurate aim even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. The rear sight’s low-profile design aids quick and efficient target acquisition, which is critical in high-stress situations.
Why to Buy: Apart from the highly visible sights, the XS DXT2 comes with a 12-year warranty on tritium and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, ensuring quality and satisfaction. The company also provides easy DIY installation instructions, making the process less daunting for users.
Why Not to Buy: Though the XS DXT2 is a high-performing sight, its size could be an issue for some users preferring a more minimalistic design.
Who Should Buy: This sight is ideal for users needing a large, easy-to-see sight system. Particularly those with vision issues, as it offers greater visibility day or night.
My Experience
During my hands-on experience with the FN 509, the XS DXT2 Big Dot Sight’s high visibility and
easy-to-see sights made target acquisition remarkably straightforward, regardless of the lighting conditions.
Pros
- High-contrast colored front sight
- The glow dot absorbs ambient light and glows in low light
- Durable CNC machined steel
Cons
- Big dot design may not be suitable for all shooters
4. XS F8 – Fast Target Acquisition
The XS F8 Night Sights are designed for the FN 509 pistol. It boasts a tritium front sight with a photoluminescent orange Glow Dot and a figure-8, 2-dot alignment system for fast sight acquisition. Made from solid steel, it ensures durability, and the taller profile adds versatility.
Benefits: The F8 Night Sights offer a high-contrast front post and wide-notch rear sight, providing enhanced visibility. The Glow Dot absorbs ambient light and glows in low-light
situations, ensuring target focus even in challenging environments.
Why to Buy: This sight offers a 12-year warranty on Tritium and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. It provides a more intuitive sight alignment leading to improved shooting accuracy, and fits standard holster options.
Why Not to Buy: It might be a bit too tall for those who prefer traditional, lower-profile sights.
Who Should Buy: Shooters needing a highly visible, easy-to-see sight system for fast target acquisition, especially in low-light conditions, should consider the F8 Night Sights.
My Experience
With my FN 509, I found the XS F8 Night Sights to offer fast and precise sight acquisition, regardless of the lighting conditions, enhancing my shooting experience.
Pros
- High-contrast colored front sight
- Tritium powered front and rear sight
- Glow dot enhances visibility in low light
Cons
- Taller than traditional sights
5. DXT2 Standard Dot – Good for Amateur Shooters
The DXT2 Standard Dot Sights are tritium-powered, high-contrast sights perfect for EDC pistols like FN 509. With a photoluminescent Glow Dot, standard dot front measures 0.140″, a choice of tritium or non-tritium rear, and a low-profile V rear, these sights offer quality and versatility.
Benefits: The DXT2 sights provide a highly visible dot that glows in low light conditions, increasing front sight visibility. Their simple dot-the-“i” sight picture reduces confusion during high-stress situations, enhancing aiming and shooting performance.
Why to Buy: The sights come with a 12-year tritium warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Made from durable CNC machined steel, they fit standard holster options and are a superb choice for both defensive and low-light situations.
Why Not to Buy: Installation of the sight might require professional tools.
Who Should Buy: Amateur shooters who need an easy-to-use, versatile sight with high-contrast visibility will find the DXT2 Standard Dot Sights beneficial.
My Experience
I was impressed with the DXT2’s performance on my FN 509. Its bright glow and simple dot-the-“i” sight picture helped me focus quickly on my targets, even in low-light conditions.
Pros
- High-contrast colored front sight
- Tritium powered front and rear sight
- Glow dot enhances visibility in low light
Cons
- Installation might require professional tools
Final Verdict
After rigorous testing of these five night sights on the FN 509, each stood out in its unique way.
However, the MEPRO Hyper-Bright emerged as my top choice due to its unparalleled illumination, durable construction, and swift target acquisition.
For those seeking the best balance between quality and cost, the XS R3D offers great value. The XS DXT2, with its large, visible dot, is ideal for those with vision issues, while the XS F8 caters to shooters needing fast target acquisition. For beginners, the DXT2 Standard Dot provides simplicity and versatility.
FAQs
Does FN 509 have night sights?
Yes, the FN 509 can be equipped with night sights.
What sights are compatible with FN 509?
Many night sights, including MEPRO Hyper-Bright, XS R3D, XS DXT2, XS F8, and DXT2 Standard Dot, are compatible with FN 509.
Does the FN 509 midsize come with night sights?
Yes, the FN 509 Tactical comes with 3-dot tritium suppressor height night sights.
What night sights does FBI use?
The FBI uses the AmeriGlo’s Agent night sight set for their standard-issue.
